Why are Urgent Care facilities so far away?

2019-07-25T14:33:07-04:00

Live in largest county in Texas,Brewster County, and closest VA facility is 60 to 150 miles away and only open one day a week. Transportation is an issue for older Vets with closest Urgent care 60 to 150 miles away. Community Care may work for urban centers, but what about rural areas. Talking to VA doctors , that they have never met, in an issue and VA returning phone calls. Many Vets do not have phone service so what happens when VA doctor returns call and no one answers.

Response by SSgt Richard Kensinger made Jul 25 at 2019 2:47 PM

2019-07-25T14:47:50-04:00

And I'm being kind here, based on my many interviews w/ combat vets back to Korea, Many are very satisfied w/ routine medical care they receive. The opposite is the case when seeking urgent behavioral healthcare. Perhaps the option of seeking care from the private sector will improve access and outcomes.
BTW 20 vets a day kill themselves and only 6 of the 20 are being followed by VAC.
Rich

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jul 25 at 2019 3:20 PM

2019-07-25T15:20:03-04:00

Urgent Care providers are a business and unless the business model says they can make money at a given location, it's a non starter. Same goes for McDonalds and Jimmy Johns (they need 25,000 nearby population). That said, I live rural and a small one operating room hospital with a Class I ER is 5 miles away. Lots of Vets go there for urgent care stuff and regular appointments are handled in a contracted provider about 40 miles south. Surgeries typically means a drive to Spokane (2 hours) if you want to whole bill picked up.