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It is time to shut down the VA?
RP Members what do you think? There are some points that the author makes that really hit home with me. Just looking for your feedback on this one!
LET ME CLARIFY THAT I'M NOT PERSONALLY RECOMMENDING THIS COURSE OF ACTION - THIS IS AN ARTICLE ONLY TO CREATE DISCUSSION, IDEAS, AND RESPONSES.
http://nypost.com/2015/09/24/a-permanent-solution-to-the-va-problem/
There is only one guaranteed way to get fired from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Falsifying records won’t do it. Prescribing obsolete drugs won’t do it. Cutting all manner of corners on health and safety is, at worst, going to get you a reprimand. No, the only sure-fire way to get canned at the VA is to report any of these matters to authorities who might do something about it.
That, at least, is what the US Office of Special Counsel recently reported to the president of the United States. The Special Counsel’s Office is the agency to which government whistleblowers go to report wrongdoing.
“Our concern is really about the pattern that we’re seeing, where whistleblowers who disclose wrongdoing are facing trumped-up punishment, but the employees who put veterans’ health at risk are going unpunished,” Special Counsel Carolyn Lerner recently told National Public Radio.
Now, obviously, this shouldn’t happen. Everyone, except perhaps the managers at the VA, probably agrees with that. So by all means, let’s have some reforms and further protections for whistleblowers.
But that’s not a real solution. The real fix is to get rid of the VA entirely.
RP Members what do you think? There are some points that the author makes that really hit home with me. Just looking for your feedback on this one!
LET ME CLARIFY THAT I'M NOT PERSONALLY RECOMMENDING THIS COURSE OF ACTION - THIS IS AN ARTICLE ONLY TO CREATE DISCUSSION, IDEAS, AND RESPONSES.
http://nypost.com/2015/09/24/a-permanent-solution-to-the-va-problem/
There is only one guaranteed way to get fired from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Falsifying records won’t do it. Prescribing obsolete drugs won’t do it. Cutting all manner of corners on health and safety is, at worst, going to get you a reprimand. No, the only sure-fire way to get canned at the VA is to report any of these matters to authorities who might do something about it.
That, at least, is what the US Office of Special Counsel recently reported to the president of the United States. The Special Counsel’s Office is the agency to which government whistleblowers go to report wrongdoing.
“Our concern is really about the pattern that we’re seeing, where whistleblowers who disclose wrongdoing are facing trumped-up punishment, but the employees who put veterans’ health at risk are going unpunished,” Special Counsel Carolyn Lerner recently told National Public Radio.
Now, obviously, this shouldn’t happen. Everyone, except perhaps the managers at the VA, probably agrees with that. So by all means, let’s have some reforms and further protections for whistleblowers.
But that’s not a real solution. The real fix is to get rid of the VA entirely.
Posted in these groups: 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
What Would You Do
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) What Would You Do
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 51
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The VA (in the recent year or two) has done a huge turn around and excellent job at expediting Educational benefits and disability for many soldiers. I think the days of wait 3 years for a response are gone, and what I have heard lately are 3-6 months, which is understandable and acceptable to me considering the amount of VA employees versus the large amount of veterans they care for. They are also hiring at a large quantity.
With all of that being said, I question the way they provide CARE for the veterans who may suffer from mental health issues. My brother has been admitted several times to the VA Psych Hospitals and they usually let him go within days, but his mental health is far from acceptable to be out in the world on his own. I just do not understand it, but I could just as easily blame the ridiculous HIPAA rules and regulations, as I could blame the VA
With all of that being said, I question the way they provide CARE for the veterans who may suffer from mental health issues. My brother has been admitted several times to the VA Psych Hospitals and they usually let him go within days, but his mental health is far from acceptable to be out in the world on his own. I just do not understand it, but I could just as easily blame the ridiculous HIPAA rules and regulations, as I could blame the VA
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Actually this week I have an example of my Department of Veterans Affairs care, I just moved to the area and began a new job which offers medical insurance. I actually took this medical insurance, it’s great medical insurance, although the healthcare system that I’m able to access was not able to give me into a new patient appointment until November 2, 2015. On the other hand I went to the local VA, and they were able to give me a new patient appointment within a week for mental health services, and many of their services were available on a walk-in basis. For example the new patient appointment for primary care you simply showed up at 8 AM on any given day provided you had fasted the night before and you could accomplish your new patient in processing.
This afternoon after my appointment in which my physician and I decided to change one of my medications I had an adverse reaction and had to go to the emergency room. The wait in the emergency room was long, but one of the things I noticed is that veterans often use the emergency room inappropriately just as much a civilians do. The VA’s emergency room is the only one where I’ve ever seen the nurses calling patients back have to go outside and check the smoker’s area, I guess my problem as a nurse is that if you are so comfortable that you go outside and smoke, maybe you don’t need the emergency room. Please don’t take this as judgment on those of the veterans, there may not have been another service available that would’ve been more appropriate, although our hospital does have an urgent care.
There are people who need the VA more than I do, and as soon as available I will be switching out of the VA healthcare system to make room for those is more appropriate for. Primarily because I’m not actually treating any service-connected issues, but for all the years that I have been receiving VA care while they may not have been perfect they have taken care of me. I do think that sometimes veterans have poor expectations of what the healthcare system actually is capable of doing in the current healthcare climate.
This afternoon after my appointment in which my physician and I decided to change one of my medications I had an adverse reaction and had to go to the emergency room. The wait in the emergency room was long, but one of the things I noticed is that veterans often use the emergency room inappropriately just as much a civilians do. The VA’s emergency room is the only one where I’ve ever seen the nurses calling patients back have to go outside and check the smoker’s area, I guess my problem as a nurse is that if you are so comfortable that you go outside and smoke, maybe you don’t need the emergency room. Please don’t take this as judgment on those of the veterans, there may not have been another service available that would’ve been more appropriate, although our hospital does have an urgent care.
There are people who need the VA more than I do, and as soon as available I will be switching out of the VA healthcare system to make room for those is more appropriate for. Primarily because I’m not actually treating any service-connected issues, but for all the years that I have been receiving VA care while they may not have been perfect they have taken care of me. I do think that sometimes veterans have poor expectations of what the healthcare system actually is capable of doing in the current healthcare climate.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs Every heard of a tear down? When it's more cost efficient to start completely over than to try to fix what is wrong. We may be at this point with the V.A. as it is right now.
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The VA should not be shut down! Overhauled is a better answer. The VA is a cost the country must bear if it wants a viable military. I am sure that there is fat at the top that can be eliminated. Put the money where the vets are not in the top offices. Eliminate ways for the lazy and cheaters to not get caught and fired.
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Of course, don't shut down the VA but here's something to throw out for discussion--combine the VA, military health care system/TRICARE into one system and one bureaucracy. Due to economies of scale you would have one bureaucracy instead of 2--and would facilitate coordination of care from recruit and veteran or retiree with one medical record system and one bureaucracy. As with any change you would have to work out the kinks, and set the procedures, benefits, but, while I am not claiming to be an expert, i'm wondering if it would save and enhance benefits in the long run. Combine the VA choice concept with TRICARE civilian care. Such merger shouldn't change benefits; if anything the savings from combining into one system should allow room to increase/enhance benefits. Both systems deal with people who are or who have been in the military; why have two systems? Interested to hear any input.
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The quick answer is a resounding YES.
But if you think about it then the answer is NO. And that is because even if you close the VA, then what is going to happen? Where will all the veterans who are receiving care and payments report to? Even if as some propose to reassign the VA under another government entity your only going to shift the current problems to another Department Head.
Someone really just needs to step up and start fixing the problems with the VA instead of smiling, frowning and giving speeches at the appropriate time.
But if you think about it then the answer is NO. And that is because even if you close the VA, then what is going to happen? Where will all the veterans who are receiving care and payments report to? Even if as some propose to reassign the VA under another government entity your only going to shift the current problems to another Department Head.
Someone really just needs to step up and start fixing the problems with the VA instead of smiling, frowning and giving speeches at the appropriate time.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
MAJ Keira Brennan I have great service as well, but there are problems and we (a group of us) feel that the current VA is not big enough or manage in the proper manner to handle the capacity that we have now and we will have int he future. I value your opinion and you may have some valid points, but I do also believe that there are some veterans that have received less than adequate service as well. Let's hope that the VA can continue to improve over time. Thanks
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MAJ Keira Brennan
LTC Henry Barber - probably a little of both. Again sir, if ppl expect crap that is what they are going to get. I dont think the VAMCs are like the typical CIF "Take it and move down the line..." The VA med side has clearly been under equipped since 9/11 for the numbers of new vets with new type injuries while sustaining and improving services for aging vets. I think both Congress and the last former regime secretaries let us down. Yes, i was a fan of GEN Shinseki, but he was not able to turn the ship around.
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PFC Donnie Harold Harris
My last visit, I had a frightening encounter with my Primary care doctor. I was in such shock I had to Hold onto something to keep from giving completely up. Now I have almost stopped eating for Fear I will soon choke to death. I have had 5 times when I could feel close to Passing out from no air. I had almost gone to the Emergency Room 3 time. Am on liquids Until I go to see my foot doctor. Will get advice then. I need a new Primary care Doctor asap. Real worried about dying from a small throat issue. So If I die soon it will be from Fear to Use what I have earned. VA help. don
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First, I realize that the VA can definitely be a screwed up. That said, I don't believe that it is the right thing to do to completely shut it down. Especially without a real and valid replacement ready to roll. Far to many veterans would be impacted. You don't simply abandon those who gave you their everything in your hour of need. Instead, you take care of them in theirs.
My concern is that if it's shut down, without a valid, consistent replacement program already up and running, it simply makes things worse, not better in the short term at a bare minimum. Since it is a cabinet level position, it is the responsibility of the Veterans Affairs Secretary. That office needs to exercise a little more initiative and do the hard work to fix the root cause of the problem. We all recognize that it's systemic, and a change in the "culture" of the VA is what is needed to fix it. Change the culture from the top down, force feed ethical behavior if needed, those who can't or won't comply should be eliminated. Start by actually rewarding the whistle blowers and give further incentives for blowing the whistle to eliminate FWA. Do everything you can legally do to make it uncomfortable for those who are "slackers" to continue working there and are providing substandard services. Furthermore, don't just fire those who are found guilty of fraud, but actually send them to prison. And finally, use a measurement system that includes the actual veterans, where the veterans rate the care received, and in turn, use that to determine pay for performance for the local and regional managers. If they fail, adjust the individual manager's pay scale down...yeah, I said down... Make them compete for better ratings from the veterans they serve to create any increase in pay. Ultimately, if the Veterans Affairs Secretary really can't do anything to fix the problem, fire their ass, and bring in somebody who will.
That, or simply tie Congressmen to exactly the same level of benefits and care that veterans get. You do that, and something tells me that you'll have a lot of problems fixed in a real hurry.
My concern is that if it's shut down, without a valid, consistent replacement program already up and running, it simply makes things worse, not better in the short term at a bare minimum. Since it is a cabinet level position, it is the responsibility of the Veterans Affairs Secretary. That office needs to exercise a little more initiative and do the hard work to fix the root cause of the problem. We all recognize that it's systemic, and a change in the "culture" of the VA is what is needed to fix it. Change the culture from the top down, force feed ethical behavior if needed, those who can't or won't comply should be eliminated. Start by actually rewarding the whistle blowers and give further incentives for blowing the whistle to eliminate FWA. Do everything you can legally do to make it uncomfortable for those who are "slackers" to continue working there and are providing substandard services. Furthermore, don't just fire those who are found guilty of fraud, but actually send them to prison. And finally, use a measurement system that includes the actual veterans, where the veterans rate the care received, and in turn, use that to determine pay for performance for the local and regional managers. If they fail, adjust the individual manager's pay scale down...yeah, I said down... Make them compete for better ratings from the veterans they serve to create any increase in pay. Ultimately, if the Veterans Affairs Secretary really can't do anything to fix the problem, fire their ass, and bring in somebody who will.
That, or simply tie Congressmen to exactly the same level of benefits and care that veterans get. You do that, and something tells me that you'll have a lot of problems fixed in a real hurry.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
Like most other posters, I don't think the VA should be shut down.
Yes it's broken and yes it needs to be fixed, but there is just too many resources dedicated to it, not to mention too many veterans dependent upon it, to literally start from scratch.
I myself am lucky that all of my health care needs can be handled by any competent doctor and are not necessarily strictly military-related disabilities (bad knees, hearing loss/tinnitus in both ears, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and sleep apnea), but a lot of vets do have conditions that are best handled by VA docs.
There's also the fact that the VA is all many vets have in the way of health care and insurance. I'm lucky being retired Navy that I have Tricare Prime but not everyone is in that situation. I also make enough money where I could afford private health insurance if I needed it but again, I'm lucky in that regard and not all vets are.
Like most other posters, I don't think the VA should be shut down.
Yes it's broken and yes it needs to be fixed, but there is just too many resources dedicated to it, not to mention too many veterans dependent upon it, to literally start from scratch.
I myself am lucky that all of my health care needs can be handled by any competent doctor and are not necessarily strictly military-related disabilities (bad knees, hearing loss/tinnitus in both ears, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and sleep apnea), but a lot of vets do have conditions that are best handled by VA docs.
There's also the fact that the VA is all many vets have in the way of health care and insurance. I'm lucky being retired Navy that I have Tricare Prime but not everyone is in that situation. I also make enough money where I could afford private health insurance if I needed it but again, I'm lucky in that regard and not all vets are.
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I don't think so. Casting aside the issue of taking cues from a non-veteran from the Upper West Side of Manhattan, shutting it down serves no purpose. What's the alternative? Overwhelming the Military Health System by combining the two? Who will have the priority...active duty, vets, retirees, family members? Or do we outsource everything to the private sector? Who would we hold accountable? The government would have to go after healthcare providers/organizations on an individual basis.
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LTC (Join to see)
I made a separate entry just to evoke discussion to combine the two in order to facilitate continuous care from recruit to veterans. TRICARE already outsources--we can outsource for veterans when the system cant handle everyone or when a veterans to too far away just as with TRICARE. TRICARE already prioritizes active duty but it seems to work pretty well for dependents, retirees, and retiree dependents as well. Again , just throwing it out there for discussion.
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