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FORMER VA DOCTOR SAYS PROBLEMS ARE NOTHING

NEW -- Wants to close all VA facilities and put

service-connected veterans on Medicare.

 

 

Story here... http://savannahnow.com/node/254344

Story below:

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VA problems are nothing new

Opinion

Jack A. Brucher, MD

Veterans Administration hospitals have long suffered the effects of government bureaucracy.

Having served a portion of two medical training programs in VA Hospitals many years ago, I can assure you that the current problems with the VA System are not new and have been the same since at least the late 60's.

The only smart move made in establishing the whole VA Hospital program was to build most of these hospitals close to teaching hospitals at medical centers. The quality of the staff is generally fairly good because they are with the teaching hospitals and the physician care is, in large part, given by university staff, residents and interns in these programs. A small percent of the full time VA physicians were not the best quality and were at the VA because of their own problems or because they could not make a living in the real world. These physicians tended to be involved in the chronic care wards, health clinics, and administration.

The main concern of the hospital administration was next year's budget - "keep the beds full." The attitude of the non-medical staff was similar to the attitude you get when seeking service from any federal organization.

Our soldiers are sick 24 hours a day, not 8 hours on Monday through Friday. Veterans with true service connected serious problems often waited in line behind what I called "professional VA patients" - guys looking for a bed and a warm meal that knew how to work the system.

The service organizations (VFW, DAV) acted like social clubs and defended their own status quo rather than ensuring veterans got good care. They were not much help to anyone. These organizations are part of the problem in the VA system and not part of the cure. Where have these advocate groups been for the last 40 years if the system is so rotten at this point in history - chances are they were having great Friday night parties.

I do have a cure for this illness. Make all veterans with true service-connected disabilities immediately eligible for Medicare benefits with an extended rehabilitation coverage. The word, "true", is key and does not include hemorrhoids, varicose veins, sore feet, normal onset diabetes, arteriosclerosis, etc. Give the VA hospitals to the universities and close all the VA outpatient facilities.

The veterans can then get the same first class care as our elderly population and do not need to wait forever for their care. Believe me - the care received by the average Medicare patient is excellent compared to much of the non-university VA care.

What each seriously injured veteran then needs is a true advocate - perhaps retired physicians, nurses, business men, lawyers, social workers and others that understand how to cut through the VA red tape and get the care needed.

It is unlikely that this would ever happen because it would remove a lot of the worthless administration, bureaucrats, government jobs and the political pork in the current system.

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Larry Scott  --