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http://ascension.org/news/news-articles/2016/07/18/16/47/veteran-danny-kennedy-at-sacred-heart?platform=hootsuite
RP Members here is some positive news about the Veterans Choice Program
Is there hope for the program?
Danny Kennedy suffers from heart disease that has challenged his family for decades. His older brother, his twin brother and his mother all died of heart-related conditions.
Like them, Danny, 55, struggles with heart problems. He has been on a heart transplant list and has undergone a triple coronary bypass. A catheter ablation procedure successfully reset his irregular heartbeat, and 11 stents help keep blood flowing through his arteries. For Danny, Sudden Cardiac Death Syndrome is a possibility that leads him to live life to the fullest -- when he is able.
Danny is a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Germany from 1979 to 1983, where he served as a vehicle mechanic and tow-truck driver, transporting missiles by vehicle.
Several years ago, while in San Francisco, Danny had excellent experiences with medical care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). His cardiology specialist, who earlier in his career had helped develop a technique called contrast echocardiogram imaging, was able to locate the area of Danny's heart that was misfiring and restore normal heart rhythm.
After the recent death of another family member, Danny and his wife, along with his 82-year-old father, decided they needed to make a fresh start. They chose Northwest Florida for their new home because it offers better fishing.
"The doctor said I had to retire and sell my Harley," Danny said. "He told me I should buy a boat and go fishing. That's just what we did."
Early this year Danny had another coronary blockage. He needed to see an expert interventional cardiologist, and he had no time to waste.
The closest qualified VA cardiologist was at Keesler Air Force Base, beyond Biloxi, Miss.-- a two-hour drive from Danny's home in Pace, Florida. He waited six weeks just to get a call from the office to set up an appointment, and the wait to see the doctor would have been two months more.
During the wait, Danny learned about the Veterans Choice Program, which gives veterans the opportunity to receive healthcare outside the VA network if they face wait times in excess of 30 days or have to travel farther than 40 miles from their home. As part of the Ascension Gulf Coast Ministry Market, Sacred Heart Health System is a participating provider in Veterans Choice, working to ensure timely access to high-quality care for veterans.
RP Members here is some positive news about the Veterans Choice Program
Is there hope for the program?
Danny Kennedy suffers from heart disease that has challenged his family for decades. His older brother, his twin brother and his mother all died of heart-related conditions.
Like them, Danny, 55, struggles with heart problems. He has been on a heart transplant list and has undergone a triple coronary bypass. A catheter ablation procedure successfully reset his irregular heartbeat, and 11 stents help keep blood flowing through his arteries. For Danny, Sudden Cardiac Death Syndrome is a possibility that leads him to live life to the fullest -- when he is able.
Danny is a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Germany from 1979 to 1983, where he served as a vehicle mechanic and tow-truck driver, transporting missiles by vehicle.
Several years ago, while in San Francisco, Danny had excellent experiences with medical care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). His cardiology specialist, who earlier in his career had helped develop a technique called contrast echocardiogram imaging, was able to locate the area of Danny's heart that was misfiring and restore normal heart rhythm.
After the recent death of another family member, Danny and his wife, along with his 82-year-old father, decided they needed to make a fresh start. They chose Northwest Florida for their new home because it offers better fishing.
"The doctor said I had to retire and sell my Harley," Danny said. "He told me I should buy a boat and go fishing. That's just what we did."
Early this year Danny had another coronary blockage. He needed to see an expert interventional cardiologist, and he had no time to waste.
The closest qualified VA cardiologist was at Keesler Air Force Base, beyond Biloxi, Miss.-- a two-hour drive from Danny's home in Pace, Florida. He waited six weeks just to get a call from the office to set up an appointment, and the wait to see the doctor would have been two months more.
During the wait, Danny learned about the Veterans Choice Program, which gives veterans the opportunity to receive healthcare outside the VA network if they face wait times in excess of 30 days or have to travel farther than 40 miles from their home. As part of the Ascension Gulf Coast Ministry Market, Sacred Heart Health System is a participating provider in Veterans Choice, working to ensure timely access to high-quality care for veterans.
Veterans Choice
Health
Edited 8 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
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Thanks for letting us know COL Mikel J. Burroughs that U.S. Army veteran "Danny Kennedy suffers from heart disease that has challenged his family for decades. His older brother, his twin brother and his mother all died of heart-related conditions."
My own father went through multiple bypass surgeries before he had a heart-transplant in 1992. At that time he was the second oldest person to go through that surgery. He lived three more years after the transplant.
Transplant surgery and recovery have made leaps and bounds in improvements and recovery rates since 1992.
Hopefully Danny Kennedy will get the help he needs through the VA directly or the VA Choice Program.
My own father went through multiple bypass surgeries before he had a heart-transplant in 1992. At that time he was the second oldest person to go through that surgery. He lived three more years after the transplant.
Transplant surgery and recovery have made leaps and bounds in improvements and recovery rates since 1992.
Hopefully Danny Kennedy will get the help he needs through the VA directly or the VA Choice Program.
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