Why would VA Secretary McDonald Compare Health-Care Lines to Disney?

2016-05-23T22:22:38-04:00

SERIOUSLY?!?!

Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald said Monday that the VA should not use wait times as a measure of success, comparing waits for VA health care to the hours people wait for rides at Disney theme parks.

"When you go to Disney, do they measure the number of hours you wait in line? Or what's important? What's important is, what's your satisfaction with the experience?"

Response by SFC Josh Billingsley made May 23 at 2016 10:24 PM

2016-05-23T22:24:22-04:00

The saddest thing about the VA issues is the only ones losing are vets.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made May 23 at 2016 10:24 PM

2016-05-23T22:24:32-04:00

Link to article:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/va-secretary-mcdonald-compares-health-care-lines-disney-39318752

McDonald's comments set off a political firestorm, with Republicans denouncing the remarks as inaccurate and inappropriate.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., called McDonald's comments "flippant" and said they show "just how seriously the Obama administration's VA is taking life or death problems" at the agency.

"This is not make-believe, Mr. Secretary. Veterans have died waiting in those lines," Ryan said on Twitter.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a longtime veterans' advocate, called McDonald's comment "outrageous and completely inappropriate," especially since McDonald himself is an Army veteran.

"Our veterans aren't in line for a theme park ride — they are in desperate need of timely access to quality medical treatment," McCain said. "The VA secretary's statement reflects a fundamental lack of understanding about the serious problems plaguing veterans' health care."

VA Secretary McDonald Compares Health-Care Lines to Disney

Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald said Monday that the VA should not use wait times as a measure of success, comparing waits for VA health care to the hours people wait for rides at Disney theme parks. "When you go to Disney, do they measure the number of hours you wait in line? Or...

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made May 23 at 2016 10:44 PM

2016-05-23T22:44:17-04:00

Really...Hey I got this life threatening condition....Lets go ride the "It's a Small World Ride at Disney for mental therapy?

And some of you question my intense desire to take the liberals running this country and drill holes in their heads to pump out all the flipping stupid.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made May 23 at 2016 11:28 PM

2016-05-23T23:28:40-04:00

Simply amazing ignorance and stupidity. I'm speechless. And the guy is a VET.

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2016 11:31 PM

2016-05-23T23:31:38-04:00

With this, I predict a new VA head within weeks. The amount of stupid in this ONE statement is astounding!!

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made May 23 at 2016 11:48 PM

2016-05-23T23:48:21-04:00

Would it be wrong of me to say fucktard?

Response by SFC Grant Ross made May 24 at 2016 1:41 AM

2016-05-24T01:41:35-04:00

He should be publicly fired and not allowed to quietly resign.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made May 24 at 2016 6:26 AM

2016-05-24T06:26:35-04:00

Probably due to the length of the line you in, or the money they are taking from your wallet.

Response by LTC Marc King made May 24 at 2016 9:26 AM

2016-05-24T09:26:13-04:00

This is why government needs to get out of the veterans health care business and privatize the system. Veterans would be better served by competence and not politics. The CinC has not reacted, McDonald is confused about his own service so why should he care about anyone else's service. This is a national disgrace.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2016 9:28 AM

2016-05-24T09:28:38-04:00

Except that Disney DOES indeed measure wait times, and posts them at the rides and online. There are apps that you can download to see them yourself.

While at Disney, we noticed that there are personnel who are specifically assigned to measure wait times on rides. It happens.

So if Mickey Mouse can measure wait times, then why can't the VA? I guess you can't call it "Mickey Mouse shit" anymore, because Mickey does it better and faster!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2016 10:28 AM

2016-05-24T10:28:26-04:00

It's like he took a Mark 19 and decided to shoot himself in the foot with it.

Response by MSgt James Mullis made May 24 at 2016 10:34 AM

2016-05-24T10:34:41-04:00

Comparing Disney to the VA can only make Disney look bad. I wonder if Disney will send him a cease and desist order.

Response by MSgt John McGowan made May 24 at 2016 10:48 AM

2016-05-24T10:48:05-04:00

SGM- I would say he doesn't have to be in those lines and isn't doing a great job running the VA. They wanted to change something recently but had to get the union's OK to do it. So I guess it unions before vets. I got out after 20 with no disability so I don't use the VA but my dad was in the nurseing home at a VA. He was treated well.

Response by Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM made May 24 at 2016 11:31 AM

2016-05-24T11:31:00-04:00

Because he is a Business man and does not understand Health CARE.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made May 24 at 2016 11:36 AM

2016-05-24T11:36:14-04:00

Unfortunately bureaucrats tend to have little common sense... I would love to see a veteran in charge of VA, but that didn't work out so well either...

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made May 24 at 2016 2:23 PM

2016-05-24T14:23:44-04:00

What an unmitigated idiot.

Response by Maj William W. 'Bill' Price made May 24 at 2016 3:18 PM

2016-05-24T15:18:59-04:00

SGM Matthew Quick It's just another misguided green energy effort (sarcasm intended). The good secretary must have been trying to tote water for the Department of Energy. Check out the new solar farm near the EPCOT Center in Florida.

Response by CWO2 John Markiewicz made May 24 at 2016 4:20 PM

2016-05-24T16:20:29-04:00

Unfortunate comment when wait times are very important to our veterans who are waiting.

Response by LTC Andrew Addison made May 31 at 2016 8:31 AM

2016-05-31T08:31:41-04:00

Actually they do have wait times posted at Disney. For some reason the Government expects all of those who served to wait and I believe that the reason might be 1. You give up and go away and in some cases die so they don't have to deal with you 2. There is no penalty for the government worker when you are forced to wait and go through the process like a good little nobody 3. There is no reward for the government worker to help anyone except themselves and their paycheck at the end of the day.
Personally, I waited 4 years to get paid for the time I lost at my civilian job after an injury on active duty and the only reason I got it resolved was a good PA in the military helped push my paperwork through. I waited for 4 years for my disability claim to go through the VA and I am still waiting now for over 4 years to get my leave pay that I am owed from my deployment to Afghanistan. IMO the whole process for claims is broken and needs to be overhauled and this is going to take a very long time because no matter what is done to "fix" the system it will take time to replace the "old" ways of doing business.