How would you improve the VA?

FIRE THE ENTIRE LOT OF THEM and replace every one of the with Disable Veterans.

I would issue vouchers to veterans. That way they could receive treatment in a timely manner from a non-governmental source. It will be cheaper than the overhead involved with maintaining medical facilities staffed by the government. Private sector medicine would be an answer that would best serve the veteran and the tax payer.

Clean house, start new, hire vets that are trained up in admin, and in the medical field.

That's actually a very complex question...I quite honestly need to reflect on that, to be able to think how I'd answer something like that properly, honestly. I'd like to give a satisfactory answer without being unduly long-winded, I'd just need some time to think it out properly, honest, that's all I'm trying to say, hope that is adequate, at least for the moment, I'd just really need to give that some really serious thought, that's all I'm trying to explain.

Give vouchers to see which ever doctor they wish.

I believe all the horror stories I read and hear about the VA. I resigned from my civilian position therefore lost my health insurance, now a patient @ the New York Harbor VA (Brooklyn).

The care, service, compassion, professionalism and ease of making appointments etc. actually shocked me based on the negative press.

This site is a 5 Start facility, from the appearance, to the technology , timeliness and follow up...absolutely the best. Surpasses any civilian facility I either worked in or was a patient at

I was so impressed I sent a letter to NY executive leadership & DC. Apparently the letter went 'viral' within the VA system. A former flight nurse now works for the VA, received the letter via VA intranet & thought it was me but was confused as the letter changed my gender from SHE to a HE.

That's ok! Still highly recommend this site. I also enjoying flirting with all the Vets:)

1. Eliminate the unions - I have seen the unions protect those who violate various laws i.e. HIPPA
2. Utilize a new scheduling system, not a DOS based system
3. The voucher system is flawed for this reason: when a vet goes to an outside provider, that provider is being paid the medicare rate (one of the lowest rates), and therefore most community providers don't want to deal with medicare rates
4. many, many C&P claims are frivolous. As a C&P examiner I see a multitude of asinine claims i.e. I have PTSD b/c my DS yelled at me; I had an ingrown toe nail in 1977; and the list goes on. C&P is based on functioning and not on whether or not something happened, so I could have a concussion in service but and doing well now so I would most likely get 0%.
5. the "hire vets" is a good idea, to a certain point. Where are you going to find mental health providers with military/combat experience? The Army has about 200 psychologists at any given time, I know in my cohort of 30 that about 5 work in the VA and the other 25 are either in the Army or not working with vets at all.
6. properly inform those getting out of the military that the C&P process is a LEGAL process and subject to the presentation of evidence. Unfortunately I know that being a paratrooper is hard on the back/knees, but if a vet shows up and never went to medical it is hard for a forensic examiner to say: this person has XYZ issue due to his jumps, but I have no medical evidence/jump logs etc. to back it up your honor"

I have a wonderful relationship with the VAMCs I visit. I wouldn't change a thing, as it relates to the treatment I receive.

MSG (Join to see) Put myself in charge. :)

I would offer vets a special debit card that only works at medical facilities, but on a few conditions. 1. They would still need to have biannual checkups at the va 2 they would have to agree to share with the va their medical records electronically and 3. They would forfit any travel pay unless they are going to a va facility.