I’ve been waiting 2-1/2 years for an appointment. Every time I call them to ask when I will receive notification, they tell me that I never requested an appointment.
One huge reform for VA - rather than keeping all patient treatment and care in-house, with a vast physical plant that is in fact almost never utilized to full potential, outsource the treatment to existing medical facilities that are not part of the VA system of hospitals, clinics and domiciliary housing. This is not “privatizing”, it is a more rational use of existing facilities, and should greatly expedite the disposal of pending treatments.
Even home visits through an outsourced nursing service would be a vast improvement over the current system. At least somebody would be in direct contact with the patient and could keep an account of the infirmities encountered.