[ZASHAGALKA]

Originally Posted by spacenurse

Our veterans deserve excellent healthcare.
We the people should insist on it.

I agree. We should scrap the VA system and spend the money so that they can be treated at the facility of their choice.

There wouldn't BE an issue of substandard long term housing if they didn't have to seek care hundreds of miles from home.

~faith,
Timothy.

[ZASHAGALKA]

Originally Posted by HM2Viking

Some examples:
Social Security
Traditional Medicare
The Public Library

The VA system actually has developed/earned a reputation for high quality care.

SS and Medicare can only be considered good systems when you don't compare them to what you COULD HAVE HAD, for less money.

~faith,
Timothy.

[pickledpepperRN]

Originally Posted by ZASHAGALKA

I agree. We should scrap the VA system and spend the money so that they can be treated at the facility of their choice.

There wouldn't BE an issue of substandard long term housing if they didn't have to seek care hundreds of miles from home.

~faith,
Timothy.

Yes the VA should pay for veterans to go to the doctor, clinic, and/or hospital of their choice.
During the transition those close to a VA facility may choose to be treated there. I've had so many over the years tell me they like the military culture, VFW meetings on site, and general comeraderie with fellow vets.
As they realize they have a choice many may choose private doctors and hospitals. I agree they should be able to choose.

[ZASHAGALKA]

Originally Posted by spacenurse

Yes the VA should pay for veterans to go to the doctor, clinic, and/or hospital of their choice.
During the transition those close to a VA facility may choose to be treated there. I've had so many over the years tell me they like the military culture, VFW meetings on site, and general comeraderie with fellow vets.
As they realize they have a choice many may choose private doctors and hospitals. I agree they should be able to choose.

When I worked for the VA, we had many vets come up on the VA bus from the Rio Grande Valley to San Antonio to seek inpatient care. They were referred from the local clinic to be inpatients. The result was that they were literally hundreds of miles from home, often away from spouses with no means to come and be with them. (elderly and unable to drive or stay long distances from home, etc.)

I always thought of that as completely cruel. THAT is where I formulated the idea that the VA hospital system was not in the best interests of vets. There is something wrong about requiring vets to be stranded from home in order to get care.

THAT, and constantly having to tell my boss that I wasn't a bureaucrat, I was a patient advocate and that I wouldn't enforce arbitrary rules if it detracted from the care my patients deserved.

Plus, I couldn't stand the staff attitude of: "What are you gonna do, fire me? I'm a federal employee!"

I'm not a fan of Medicare, as you know. I consider it UnConstitutional. But, SINCE we DO have Medicare, just initiate a part V for vet and let it pick up the tab for our vets to seek care that includes the family dynamics that aid in recovery.

THAT would be more compassionate care.

~faith,
Timothy.

[pickledpepperRN]

Absolutely right!
My uncle rode a bus 2 1/2 hours one way to the VA.
He died at a local hospital because there was no way he could survive the trip.

I think your idea is a good one.
I was just speculating on the transition period. I think all veterans should get this choice. It shouldn't be limited to those who live a specified distance away.

[HM2Viking]

I know in MN that there is a movement to establish satellite VA clinics in the outstate areas.

[Shamira Aizza]

Originally Posted by HM2Viking

I know in MN that there is a movement to establish satellite VA clinics in the outstate areas.

This is not new news; this administration has been doing this since 2000.

This issue has been addressed properly by this administration, and politically by the opponents of this administration, hence the constant policy of criticism politics without valid alternatives and recognition of the real progress that has been made.

[blueheaven]

In the VA there are CBOCS which are community based outpatient clinics. Like some other posters have said, then with the vet requires hospital care, they may go to a community hospital (if they have insurance) or they will have to go to the nearest VA Hospital (if they don't). Only case where a non-insured vet can go to a community hospital is when it is a condition considered "life threatening" and believe me, as soon as they are "stabilized" they are turfed out of that hospital and transferred to a VA ASAP.

[jyoung1950]

Originally Posted by ZASHAGALKA

When I worked for the VA, we had many vets come up on the VA bus from the Rio Grande Valley to San Antonio to seek inpatient care. They were referred from the local clinic to be inpatients. The result was that they were literally hundreds of miles from home, often away from spouses with no means to come and be with them. (elderly and unable to drive or stay long distances from home, etc.)

I always thought of that as completely cruel. THAT is where I formulated the idea that the VA hospital system was not in the best interests of vets. There is something wrong about requiring vets to be stranded from home in order to get care.

THAT, and constantly having to tell my boss that I wasn't a bureaucrat, I was a patient advocate and that I wouldn't enforce arbitrary rules if it detracted from the care my patients deserved.

Plus, I couldn't stand the staff attitude of: "What are you gonna do, fire me? I'm a federal employee!"

I'm not a fan of Medicare, as you know. I consider it UnConstitutional. But, SINCE we DO have Medicare, just initiate a part V for vet and let it pick up the tab for our vets to seek care that includes the family dynamics that aid in recovery.

THAT would be more compassionate care.

~faith,
Timothy.

Alot of the problems at Walter Reed appeared to be on the order of maintenance and housekeeping. The general got fired because he couldn't fire those who weren't doing their jobs right. Why can't federal employees get fired?

[ZASHAGALKA]

Originally Posted by jyoung1950

Alot of the problems at Walter Reed appeared to be on the order of maintenance and housekeeping. The general got fired because he couldn't fire those who weren't doing their jobs right. Why can't federal employees get fired?

You've obviously never worked for the Federal gov't. That's not a putdown, just a frame of reference.

Dealing with a political scapegoat is NOT the same thing as the day-in, day-out operation of the Federal gov't. It is very difficult to fire Federal employees. If it weren't, the party in power would have complete control of the process. The checks in the system are designed to prevent this. It just has unintended consequences.

THAT is why we have the phrase, "Close enough for gov't work".

The problems with Walter Reed were in long term housing for vets that had to be far away from home to seek care. Why not just let our vets get care, close to home? Problem solved.

~faith,
Timothy.