Posted on 05/10/2014 8:01:26 AM PDT by darkwing104
VA Cover-up
This week the House Veteran’s Affairs Committee unanimously voted to subpoena all emails and documents from Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki and VA senior leadership. The Committee, headed by Florida Congressmen Jeff Miller (R), has been requesting all documentation pertaining to any “waiting list” abnormalities which are said to have resulted in the deaths of up to 40 Veterans from the Phoenix, AZ Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center.
Background
Committee subpoenas were issued in response to a revelation by Dr. Sam Foote, a retired Department of Veteran’s Affairs doctor, that patients had been placed on an “off record” waiting list in order to make it appear that the VA hospital/clinic in Phoenix had reduced its patient wait times. In case of exceptionally long wait times for referrals and follow ups, patients were either given “off record” appointments or simply had their names removed from the off-line list. More often than not, wait lists were kept in order that patient appointments might be penciled in at later dates, just prior to appointments, making it appear that wait time to see a doctor had been reduced. It’s a practice which lead to the death of an unknown number of patients nationwide. As it stands, the American public are only aware of the Phoenix deaths.
(Excerpt) Read more at coachisright.com ...
In standard economics the phrase, “You get what you pay for” is valid. With government sponsored, government mandated, and government run programs, It’s Not Even Close.
Maybe we should demand that politicians receive only VA healthcare at taxpayer’s expense, starting with the commander in chief.
Time will tell, but IMO Phoenix VAH "waiting list" was but one of many....
Do you really think that Obama care is going to be as good as the VA? I think it will make the VA look like the best health care that the richest person alive to day can buy at the best hospitals.
But then, I’ve been known to be a optimistic person.
“Maybe we should demand that politicians receive only VA healthcare at taxpayer’s expense, starting with the commander in chief.”
Because politicians always do what we demand.
Oh, uh, no, that’s the way it’s supposed to be, but we commoners do what politicians demand in the real world.
Simply .gov healthcare. WRAMC was performing poorly for our guys a few years ago, and .gov can’t even properly maintain ANC.
Back before ObamaCare’s feckless roll-out, some Democrats were bragging about the government’s wonderful VA system as a talking point to his detractors.
I don’t hear any of that crowing now.
The problem will only get fixed when people are fired and federal unions outlawed. Government services should only hire the best and brightest, not the well connected.
BINGO!
Been sayin for years. Historically, governments have only done 2 things proficiently, collect taxes and kill people. Do we really want them in charge of healthcare? I think not.
It is obvious that the Democrats have told the VA executives to stall everything so that the Democrats can use that money to buy votes.
Every Veteran should notify his/her congressman by phone & in writing every time they are made to wait for any VA service. And notify the local news (paper & TV) and follow up daily. America MUST be made aware of this tragedy & we can’t wait for Congress to move on it.
That is a real good point. One that many, including myself, have forgotten. From my experience, the closer a vet gets to a large urban area, the worse the care...
Several years later I was sent to get an echo cardiogram and that came back okay (to a point). Two years after that my Dr. sent me for another echo cardiogram and after trying to get an answer to the results for about 2 weeks, I gave up and figured "no news is good news". Well, about 3 or 4 months later I ended up in the local hospital and had open heart surgery and got a new Aortic valve.
When I finally got back for my annual check up I thought I was in the wrong clinic, I didn't know anyone there and I had a new Dr. assigned to me (the original one was no longer there and no one would tell me what took place in the clinic.) Needless to say I haven't been back. One thing, my first Dr. was one of the best GPs I had ever been to anywhere. I have no idea where she is but I feel certain she is not in the VA system.
I no sooner posted #4 when allegations re:San Antonio and Cheyenne VAH “waiting lists” made the wire. Snow balling now.
Let’s remember that the care received from the VA is healthcare. ObamaCare is about health insurance, not care.
If the news reports about the actions of the Phoenix VA are accurate, then someone should go to jail, not just resign. But I resist in painting the entire VA system with too broad of a brush. I am a veteran and receive my healthcare from the VA facility in Gainesville, FL. It serves north central Florida and southern Georgia. My wife (she is a vet too) and I have received 100% of of our healthcare for the last three years from this facility and it’s healthcare professionals and have nothing but great things to say about them. For urgent needs, there is not any unduly long delay in getting appointments or to be seen and for routine things, we go with the flow and allow the system to work on its own without pressing it. But in either case, the Malcolm Randall VA Hospital here is outstanding in their service and treatment of vets. There may be anecdotal evidence of some delays or poor treatment or cases we have not heard about, but we see no evidence of either from our experience.
I have to say that we are both pleased with our care and treatment and timeliness of our appointments and can’t just condemn all VA facilities for the deficiencies of a few others in the system.
Tricare fixed it. The VA didn't do squat, even tough they recognized as a service related disability. I haven't forgot and never will. This happened in NW Florida.
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