The V.A. Medical system is in shambles.

[Danno 1,228]

Don't forget, once The Gov takes over the Medical profession,.... there is no getting it back, just more Gov programs to try and fix-it.

VA Medical System in Shambles, Veterans Groups Say

With Veterans Affairs hospitals giving botched radiation treatments to nearly 100 vets and exposing 10,000 to HIV and hepatitis viruses, veterans advocates and lawmakers say the VA health system is in dire need of proper oversight and funding.

Amid growing controversy over procedures that exposed 10,000 veterans to the AIDS and hepatitis viruses, the Department of Veterans Affairs is now bracing against news that one of its facilities in Pennsylvania gave botched radiation treatments to nearly 100 cancer patients.

Veterans groups and lawmakers say VA hospitals have permitted these violations because federal regulations allow doctors to work with little outside scrutiny. They say the VA health system, with its under-funded hospitals and overworked doctors, is showing signs of an "institutional breakdown," in the words of one congressman.

An official with the American Legion who visits and inspects VA health centers said complacency, poor funding and little oversight led to the violations that failed the cancer patients in Philadelphia and possibly infected 53 veterans with hepatitis and HIV from unsterilized equipment at three VA health centers in Florida, Tennessee and Georgia.

"Lack of inspections, lack of transparency" were likely to blame, said Joe Wilson, deputy director of the Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Commission for the American Legion, who testified before Congress this month on transparency problems in a budgeting arm of the VA.

Wilson said the American Legion is investigating the case of the VA Medical Center in Philadelphia, where doctors gave 92 veterans incorrect radiation doses for treatment of prostate cancer during a six-year span when no peer review or proper oversight measures were in place, the New York Times reported.

(snip)

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/24...ans-groups-say/

[nowhereman 1]

Not an an entirely fair comparison (there are differences in the VA system & what public healthcare would look like) but I agree the VA system overall sucks. Also not all military hospitals are poorly run... the one at Fort McPherson, GA for example is pretty efficient.

[tmma 467]

The nearest VA Medical Center to me is at Shreveport, La. Whilst it's a relativly modern facility-IN MY EXPERIENCE the level of care there is sub-standard. The staff are under funded and over worked, the wait times for treatment are agonizingly long and it's a heart wrencing experience for me every time I visit to see anyone ( let alone veterans) subjected to this low standard of care. It's both infuriating and wrenching. Especially to me when I get 'summoned' there for a glance from them. Treated like cattle.

--Having been hospitalized in the UK ( and being lucky enough to bypass their system and pay privately)-the VA hospital sadly reminded me of what I saw in Britain. I am guessing that like Britain, it depends on the particular area or hospital or 'trust(in the UK)' you are in just like there are good, bad and abyssmal (sp) VA hospitals here.

If illegal immigrants deserve at least decent healthcare-then come on now---don't our veterans????????!!!!!

Edited June 27, 2009 by tmma

[tmma 467]

Not an an entirely fair comparison (there are differences in the VA system & what public healthcare would look like) but I agree the VA system overall sucks. Also not all military hospitals are poorly run... the one at Fort McPherson, GA for example is pretty efficient.

Right---For example, Madigan Army Med Center in Wa is an amazing hospital...None better....BUT that's not a VA hospital-the VA hospital is afew miles down the road at Steilacoom, WA and it TERRIBLE!

[nowhereman 1]

Not an an entirely fair comparison (there are differences in the VA system & what public healthcare would look like) but I agree the VA system overall sucks. Also not all military hospitals are poorly run... the one at Fort McPherson, GA for example is pretty efficient.

Right---For example, Madigan Army Med Center in Wa is an amazing hospital...None better....BUT that's not a VA hospital-the VA hospital is afew miles down the road at Steilacoom, WA and it TERRIBLE!

You're right... I tend to avoid VA hospitals because of their reputation for slow/poor service.

[tmma 467]

Not an an entirely fair comparison (there are differences in the VA system & what public healthcare would look like) but I agree the VA system overall sucks. Also not all military hospitals are poorly run... the one at Fort McPherson, GA for example is pretty efficient.

Right---For example, Madigan Army Med Center in Wa is an amazing hospital...None better....BUT that's not a VA hospital-the VA hospital is afew miles down the road at Steilacoom, WA and it TERRIBLE!

You're right... I tend to avoid VA hospitals because of their reputation for slow/poor service.

I can understand the 'avoidance'...It's hard to do that when you are 'summoned'...plus alot of veterans do not have the choice but to use the VA med facilities.

Those are the folks whose voice needs to be heard. I mean, the active duty installation hospitals and facilities as far as I know are great and efficent-but to those that have already served and are no longer active duty ( alot of them due to service connected disabilities/injuries) are palmed opff to substandard treatment facilities...makes my blood boil and I know from 1st hand experience.

[Dan J 277]

The difference between a VA system and a public health care system is that the VA is basically paid for out of the general tax fund, While a public health system would be funded for the most part more directly by its participants.

The VA system is certianly capable of providing good care, but its not a high priority for tax spending. We would rather spend billions blowing up things in Iraq or Afghanistan than to take care of the soldiers who get hurt serving over there.

[tmma 467]

The difference between a VA system and a public health care system is that the VA is basically paid for out of the general tax fund, While a public health system would be funded for the most part more directly by its participants.

The VA system is certianly capable of providing good care, but its not a high priority for tax spending. We would rather spend billions blowing up things in Iraq or Afghanistan than to take care of the soldiers who get hurt serving over there.

or who have served and been injured wherever......Oh, I could go on and on and on about this. But I won't.

edit-spelling--need more coffee.

Edited June 27, 2009 by tmma

[nowhereman 1]

The difference between a VA system and a public health care system is that the VA is basically paid for out of the general tax fund, While a public health system would be funded for the most part more directly by its participants.

The VA system is certianly capable of providing good care, but its not a high priority for tax spending. We would rather spend billions blowing up things in Iraq or Afghanistan than to take care of the soldiers who get hurt serving over there.

or who have served and been injured wherever......Oh, I could go on and on and on about this. But I won't.

edit-spelling--need more coffee.

Yes retirees & service members wounded in action deserve to be treated much better than they are... it's shameful & before this topic hit the media a couple of years back (everyone loves to blame the media for everything, but they do a lot of good too) it was a non-issue.

[NickD 203]

Our VA hospital is pretty good, they have a piece of old garden hose they use for a stethoscope and a rusty old hammer to pound you with to see if you are still alive. Two kinds of cholesterol pills, can't remember the names but one of them is soon to be condemned by the FDA, other one has all the side effects greatly exaggerated, muscles ached so bad didn't stay on it long enough to see if it would do any good. My cholesterol isn't that bad anyway, probably would be okay if they quit lowering the limits, but believe they can only go to zero. No manufacturers brand on the label, only God knows where it was made.

I have to show up at least once a year to stay current, also have to bring my tax returns and pay for the services, why do I go? Feel like I earned it, also chat with the other guys stuck there, many for years, all banged up, makes me glad I am not them. 140 mile round trip for me. My hat is off to my brother, an MD that could make a huge bundle, but feels he has an obligation to take care of his own, money and supplies is always a problem for him, even uses his own to help out.

As a kid, you are drafted to fight in a war in a place you never heard about and just try your best to survive, so why are we buying stuff from VN today? What was all that about? What changed? What the hell are we doing in Iraq, my neighbor lady was just shipped there, thought Obama was going to cut all of that. But she is a PA, and our guys need women like that, so she didn't mind going. Seems like just our leaders don't give a damn, most of them went to Yale or Harvard, and never had to serve. Arrogrant SOB's.

[tmma 467]

Our VA hospital is pretty good, they have a piece of old garden hose they use for a stethoscope and a rusty old hammer to pound you with to see if you are still alive. Two kinds of cholesterol pills, can't remember the names but one of them is soon to be condemned by the FDA, other one has all the side effects greatly exaggerated, muscles ached so bad didn't stay on it long enough to see if it would do any good. My cholesterol isn't that bad anyway, probably would be okay if they quit lowering the limits, but believe they can only go to zero. No manufacturers brand on the label, only God knows where it was made.

I have to show up at least once a year to stay current, also have to bring my tax returns and pay for the services, why do I go? Feel like I earned it, also chat with the other guys stuck there, many for years, all banged up, makes me glad I am not them. 140 mile round trip for me. My hat is off to my brother, an MD that could make a huge bundle, but feels he has an obligation to take care of his own, money and supplies is always a problem for him, even uses his own to help out.

As a kid, you are drafted to fight in a war in a place you never heard about and just try your best to survive, so why are we buying stuff from VN today? What was all that about? What changed? What the hell are we doing in Iraq, my neighbor lady was just shipped there, thought Obama was going to cut all of that. But she is a PA, and our guys need women like that, so she didn't mind going. Seems like just our leaders don't give a damn, most of them went to Yale or Harvard, and never had to serve. Arrogrant SOB's.

You, me and all the others earned BETTER.

I hang out with the vets there too ( and at the DAV).

[SuperDuper! 230]

VA is closest thing US has to socialized medicine. Obama to the rescue!

[tmma 467]

VA is closest thing US has to socialized medicine. Obama to the rescue!

Honest question, here.....Has Obama even looked at new legislation for our veterans?

...I mean he is changing immigration, opening borders, changing healthcare for those who are uninsured and those who are here illegally... changing the structure of our banking industry, Cap & Trade, having hawaiian parties, dining in Paris, eating burgers yadda yadda yadda.

I hope Obama fixes it all.

Edited June 27, 2009 by tmma

[nowhereman 1]

VA is closest thing US has to socialized medicine. Obama to the rescue!

Honest question, here.....Has Obama even looked at new legislation for our veterans?

...I mean he is changing immigration, opening borders, changing healthcare for those who are uninsured and those who are here illegally... changing the structure of our banking industry, Cap & Trade, having hawaiian parties, dining in Paris, eating burgers yadda yadda yadda.

I hope Obama fixes it all.

Yes there are several things in the works. I don't recall specifics atm but the Army Times has a lot of good info when it comes to what legislation has passed & what is in the works. What I ike about the Army Times is that the coverage is pretty objective... it seems more concerned with the facts than supporting a certain point of view.

[Brad and Vika 129]

The VA has certainly come a long way in the past 20 years. It may have some rough spots and poorly run facilities now, but it was much worse then. I worked at a VA hospital (in Tennessee) when I was a student, and saw some truly scary things, particularly in the realm of elder care. Raising VA to cabinet level was a great idea too. One of the main problems administratively seemed to be the government budgeting process. At fiscal year end, there always seemed to be a need to "spend the rest of the money, or it will be taken away next year", while at the beginning of the year it was tough to get approval for tests, etc. sometimes.

Curious to hear how things are now. Anybody?