Why the Veterans Death Toll will keep rising?

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 12:45:05 -0400

Why the Veterans Death Toll will keep on rising?

Will Robert McDonald, Head of the Veterans Administration make the Death Toll go down. Controversial Article. Would like to get RP Members thoughts on this one?

My hope is that he gets it turned around for our veterans!

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2015/09/16/why-the-veterans-administration-death-toll-will-keep-on-rising/

Why the Veterans Administration death toll will keep on rising

Robert McDonald, head of the Veterans Administration, claims he’s making “great progress” delivering health care to vets and turning around the agency’s mismanagement and corruption. Don’t believe him.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Sep 19 at 2015 12:59 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 12:59:12 -0400

He may say so; however, we need results more than words.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Sep 19 at 2015 1:01 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 13:01:56 -0400

Did you know that the national collegiate debate subject of 1960 was healthcare in America? I remember it well since I was a member of my university's team that year. That is why I have been aware that the debate raged in state houses as well as Washington in all the years since. Actually, it had been raging even before 1960. Long before Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reed discovered it, better minds were wrestling with the problem. Sadly, those in a position to influence the outcome were rarely those best prepared to deal with it. For example, Hillary Clinton approached it as a lawyer might. She gathered panels of lawyers across the nation to craft a solution. It became known as "Hillarycare" and failed to be enacted. Then came Pelosi and Reed who approached it as a political issue. Sadly, they succeeded through legislative legerdemain to enact a solution that dealt with everything but the real problem (paying for healthcare) and exacerbated the things that weren't previously problematic. Even worse, they sucked the life out of other health care delivery systems including the VA. There are just so many resources: Health care providers and health care facilities. The Affordable Care Act has had the effect of diminishing both and the cost of healthcare to all Americans is rising while availability is suffering. Thus, you can't divorce the problems of veterans healthcare from national healthcare problems. We desperately need to scrap the ACA and start over, and involve healthcare professionals in crafting a real solution that works for everyone.

Response by Cpl James Waycasie made Sep 19 at 2015 1:53 PM

Cpl James Waycasie — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 13:53:11 -0400

Sounds like this cat needs to be replaced and someone with better management skills need to fill his position. It's a shame that a lot of "civilian positions" dealing with the Vets and other areas are filled by people who are just there for a paycheck and do as little work as possible. Wed them out and get motivated individuals in these positions.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Sep 19 at 2015 1:57 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 13:57:02 -0400

Well to honest one of the main reasons the death toll keeps rising is that we are aging COL Mikel J. Burroughs and that many of us are dealing with health issues directly related to our military service.
Since WWII and Korean War veterans are counted among the veterans and many die each day, I do not expect the veterans death toll to drop until all of the WWII and Korean War veterans have died on gone on to meet their Maker.
No matter who is change of the VA, all they can do is improve administration, care, and treatment of veterans which could reduce the number of veterans who die from complication experienced during medical treatment

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Sep 19 at 2015 2:14 PM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 14:14:55 -0400

COL Mikel J. Burroughs This statement says it all, "First, he said, “We’ve terminated over 140,000” in the past year. What? That would be nearly half the VA workforce. An incredulous Sen. Johnny Isakson, head of the Senate Committee of Veterans Affairs, asked, “But isn’t it true that it’s almost impossible for you to fire somebody under current law?”
McDonald squirmed and said, “That actual number fired is 1,800.” A few minutes later, he stammered, “I mean 1,400.”
IMO people just give up after a while.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Sep 19 at 2015 2:54 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 14:54:43 -0400

We don't have the time for this. We need to consider all those refugees from Syria. (Sarcasm)

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2015 3:38 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 15:38:58 -0400

IMHO. He won't. He's a Political appointee. Until they get someone in charge of the VA that has a clue, AND they get rid of all the beurocratic and political BS things won't change.

Here's a concept. How bout getting a good retired SR NCO in there and do some good old fashion house cleaning.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 19 at 2015 6:31 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 18:31:55 -0400

COL Mikel J. Burroughs, Just another big disappointment for the Vets. This proves nobody in DC gives a hoot. McDonald was supposed to be the real deal. It's all lip service and not much of that. I can't understand why veterans are treated so badly. Is there anyone out there who cares?

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Sep 20 at 2015 4:20 AM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 04:20:39 -0400

The VA Hospital in Palo Alto had a study a few years ago & they discovered some of the medications prescribed for PTSD had adverse effects for some veterans that included taking their lives.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2015 8:58 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 08:58:25 -0400

My dad had a name for this kind of rube.... He called them 'shitbirds'.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2015 8:59 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 08:59:18 -0400

Good article and thanks Col Burroughs....

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Sep 20 at 2015 10:37 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 10:37:11 -0400

There are several factors that need to be addressed in this issue.

1) The VA failed to adequately plan for the demands of Vietnam vets after the Nehmer decision allowing Agent Orange presumptives, and again, after OIF/OEF they were taken by surprise with the number of vets seeking care from the current history.

2) There is a national shortage of doctors, due to a number of factors. This results in more PAs and NPs seeing patients. These providers are skilled, but don't have the same level of training or specialization as physicians.

3) Congress doesn't want to pay for taking care of our veterans. They have no problem sending us to quagmires like Iraq, but when it comes time to pay the bills...

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2015 1:52 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 13:52:07 -0400

COL Mikel J. Burroughs This is exactly what I am getting at when I talk about a lack of national policy over V.A. centers. There needs to be a policy which will provide consistency across all centers. The fact that the enrollment process is broken needs to be addressed. Our government took notice of and fixed the enrollment process for Obama Care so why can't that happen here. The reason it isn't a precedent is because it is not embarrassing for the administration. If it were it would have already been fixed.

Does the fact that they died here as a result of injuries incurred overseas negate them from the number of Soldiers we lost in war? They are collateral damage of the wars they fought in and should be counted as such.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 24 at 2015 5:39 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 17:39:38 -0400

1. Soldiers are getting discharged for bad conduct while having PTSD.
2. No one in the chain of care is monitoring or helping the soldier.
3. VA gives ineffective or untimely treatment.
4. Veteran is clueless on who can help them.
5. Veteran has immense hatred for the government and the VA.