What's wrong with the VA is not fixable by the usual 'band-aid' remedies tried in the past. The entire system is based on providing income and security for those employed in the system. The director should be fired, every executive position should be fired, and every worker should have to re-compete for the jobs. Every doctor should be re-evaluated by peer review, and those (and there are MANY) who couldn't meet private sector standards should be fired. As the system currently stands, most people who would be eligible for VA healthcare simply won't use the VA system, because the care is too difficult to get, and too substandard when you finally get it.
David Wenzek, MSGT, USMC, RETIRED - 10 years ago
The current VA debacle should be addressed immediately by those in power to do something about it. The VA has two major problems. First is the tremendous backlog for evaluating veterans for VA benefits. Second is the long waiting lists for those seeking healthcare.
The backlog for evaluation could be eliminated if the evaluations were completed by military doctors prior to the veteran being discharged. Issue the veteran an ID card that contains what healthcare the veteran is entitled to and allow them to go to any healthcare facility or hospital anywhere in the country. The VA would then reimburse the provider for the care given. This would also eliminate the long waiting lists for care.
Our federal government should not be running any sort of business, especially hospitals, because they simply do not know how to do it. Do I think this would happen? Probably not. The VA, like other government bureaucracies, will fight to the death to protect their little empires even if it means letting our veterans die. The American people need to put federal government back in its place. They work for us and it is about time they did. If we think the VA is having problems providing healthcare, wait for OBAMACARE to kick in and all of us will feel the frustration our veterans are feeling now.
Kate - 10 years ago
The whole VA system needs to be shut down!
When they closed the hospital on Malmstrom AFB, the military started going to the local hospital and doctors.
The veterans should have the same option.
There are some good nurses, doctors and staff at the VA but most of them have left better paying jobs, most not willingly! The staff is overworked with chronic shortages of equipment and supplies.
Our veterans deserve better than this treatment. Scrap the VA program and let our veteran's have the same care as the rest of us!
What's wrong with the VA is not fixable by the usual 'band-aid' remedies tried in the past. The entire system is based on providing income and security for those employed in the system. The director should be fired, every executive position should be fired, and every worker should have to re-compete for the jobs. Every doctor should be re-evaluated by peer review, and those (and there are MANY) who couldn't meet private sector standards should be fired. As the system currently stands, most people who would be eligible for VA healthcare simply won't use the VA system, because the care is too difficult to get, and too substandard when you finally get it.
The current VA debacle should be addressed immediately by those in power to do something about it. The VA has two major problems. First is the tremendous backlog for evaluating veterans for VA benefits. Second is the long waiting lists for those seeking healthcare.
The backlog for evaluation could be eliminated if the evaluations were completed by military doctors prior to the veteran being discharged. Issue the veteran an ID card that contains what healthcare the veteran is entitled to and allow them to go to any healthcare facility or hospital anywhere in the country. The VA would then reimburse the provider for the care given. This would also eliminate the long waiting lists for care.
Our federal government should not be running any sort of business, especially hospitals, because they simply do not know how to do it. Do I think this would happen? Probably not. The VA, like other government bureaucracies, will fight to the death to protect their little empires even if it means letting our veterans die. The American people need to put federal government back in its place. They work for us and it is about time they did. If we think the VA is having problems providing healthcare, wait for OBAMACARE to kick in and all of us will feel the frustration our veterans are feeling now.
The whole VA system needs to be shut down!
When they closed the hospital on Malmstrom AFB, the military started going to the local hospital and doctors.
The veterans should have the same option.
There are some good nurses, doctors and staff at the VA but most of them have left better paying jobs, most not willingly! The staff is overworked with chronic shortages of equipment and supplies.
Our veterans deserve better than this treatment. Scrap the VA program and let our veteran's have the same care as the rest of us!