Posted on Nov 1, 2016
Expert: Most Private Physicians Untrained to Handle Vets' Issues
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RP Members and Connections most veterans get some health care from private doctors.
What are your comments and feedback on this article? Do you agree or disagree?
But most doctors outside the Veterans Affairs system aren't trained to identify service-related illness, according to a physician working to educate clinicians on the issues.
"While everybody seems to be mostly focused on the health care that veterans are getting at the VA, it sort of went unnoticed that 80 percent of veterans get most of their health care from civilian providers," said Jeffrey L. Brown, M.D., a clinical professor of pediatrics at New York Medical College who also teaches at Weill Cornell Medicine.
While about 40 percent of veterans get some health care from the VA, only about 20 percent of all veterans rely totally on the VA, according to a 2015 government survey of health and health care use.
Dr. Brown, a pediatrician and retired U.S. Army medic, carried a .45 pistol and treated wounded and sick soldiers and, at times, local children in Vietnam. Late in his post-military private practice career, a New York Times article alerted him that anyone who served in Vietnam should consider themselves exposed to Agent Orange, a carcinogenic defoliant used to kill thick plant growth and expose hiding Vietnamese fighters. Those veterans risked serious illness like cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
What are your comments and feedback on this article? Do you agree or disagree?
But most doctors outside the Veterans Affairs system aren't trained to identify service-related illness, according to a physician working to educate clinicians on the issues.
"While everybody seems to be mostly focused on the health care that veterans are getting at the VA, it sort of went unnoticed that 80 percent of veterans get most of their health care from civilian providers," said Jeffrey L. Brown, M.D., a clinical professor of pediatrics at New York Medical College who also teaches at Weill Cornell Medicine.
While about 40 percent of veterans get some health care from the VA, only about 20 percent of all veterans rely totally on the VA, according to a 2015 government survey of health and health care use.
Dr. Brown, a pediatrician and retired U.S. Army medic, carried a .45 pistol and treated wounded and sick soldiers and, at times, local children in Vietnam. Late in his post-military private practice career, a New York Times article alerted him that anyone who served in Vietnam should consider themselves exposed to Agent Orange, a carcinogenic defoliant used to kill thick plant growth and expose hiding Vietnamese fighters. Those veterans risked serious illness like cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
Expert: Most Private Physicians Untrained to Handle Vets' Issues
Posted from military.com
Physician
Training
Healthcare
What Would You Do
Edited 8 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 10
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My husband retired from the Army in 1994. I was medically discharged in 1995. Because we lived in Fairbanks, Alaska, we received medical treatment at Bassett ACH on Ft. Wainwright. The only times we went to the VA hospital were when we flew to Anchorage for our service-connected evaluations. . . Our family dealt with a few incompetent civilian doctors in the Emergency Department at Bassett, but it wasn't about "veterans' medical problems."
There are very few health issues that are unique to military service. For example, my husband has osteoarthritis in his feet, knees and hip. This type of joint degeneration is a direct result of running in combat boots: as a drill sergeant, with an 80-100 lb. loaded ruck sack, or both. On the other hand, he has service-connected hearing loss, but that's not unique to veterans.
We moved to Arkansas six years ago. We are more than 100 miles away from the closest active duty military installation, so about 99% of our medical care is done by civilian providers. We got lucky when we chose our civilian Primary Care Manager here. He is a DO and an Army Reservist who was a paramedic before he went to medical school. Now, the only reason we go to the VA clinic is for annual flu shots.
There are very few health issues that are unique to military service. For example, my husband has osteoarthritis in his feet, knees and hip. This type of joint degeneration is a direct result of running in combat boots: as a drill sergeant, with an 80-100 lb. loaded ruck sack, or both. On the other hand, he has service-connected hearing loss, but that's not unique to veterans.
We moved to Arkansas six years ago. We are more than 100 miles away from the closest active duty military installation, so about 99% of our medical care is done by civilian providers. We got lucky when we chose our civilian Primary Care Manager here. He is a DO and an Army Reservist who was a paramedic before he went to medical school. Now, the only reason we go to the VA clinic is for annual flu shots.
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I thoroughly disagree with the views of the writer COL Mikel J. Burroughs. Very few veterans issues are unique to veterans. the vast majority of issues veterans face are common to many patients in this nation.
Even kinetic weapon injuries and explosions injuries as well as fire-related trauma are far too common in this nation.
Even kinetic weapon injuries and explosions injuries as well as fire-related trauma are far too common in this nation.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
LTC Stephen F. I trust your opinion Stephen - thanks for your feedback and rebuttle to the article! You would definitely have more experience in this area than I would!
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PO3 Rod Arnold
And the more terrorist, some call them Refugees, that are allowed in, the more experience civilian doctors will eventually get!!! Just an old sailor's opinion!!
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LTC Stephen F.
PO3 Rod Arnold - hopefully most of the terrorist wannabes will die in the process and will not be treated :-)
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SSgt Robert Marx
LTC Stephen F. - I agree, sir; however, we are all the product of our experiences which collectivize into a consortium of misogynistic diatribes of ill health. In other words, our health weakens as we age into a few general area diagnostics but our background & genetics probably sets us up for certain diseases.
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Sir,
The approach to medical care has been to long focused on just the physical. The last few years have seen an increase in the awareness of the mental side of the patient. For so long, it has been treat the body and get them back out the door. Sometimes, a doctor would tell the patient go see a councilor.
There is an awareness growing between Hospitals and the community care non for profits that are addressing the needs you have pointed out. It has taken too long. But, it is growing.
The VA needs to be taken out of the civilian contract hands and placed into the appropriate flag Officer and Senior enlisted hands. The civilian pukes are only seeing the money and position. It's a government gravy train to them.
I'm serious, when i write about a few Senior enlisted in BDU's and Smoky Bears tapping out Morse code on a few foreheads to get the FUBAR un-FUBAR. Don't get to close Sir, it might get a little moist on the target of inspection.
Kind Regards,
Mark A. Morris BS, RDMS, RVT
The approach to medical care has been to long focused on just the physical. The last few years have seen an increase in the awareness of the mental side of the patient. For so long, it has been treat the body and get them back out the door. Sometimes, a doctor would tell the patient go see a councilor.
There is an awareness growing between Hospitals and the community care non for profits that are addressing the needs you have pointed out. It has taken too long. But, it is growing.
The VA needs to be taken out of the civilian contract hands and placed into the appropriate flag Officer and Senior enlisted hands. The civilian pukes are only seeing the money and position. It's a government gravy train to them.
I'm serious, when i write about a few Senior enlisted in BDU's and Smoky Bears tapping out Morse code on a few foreheads to get the FUBAR un-FUBAR. Don't get to close Sir, it might get a little moist on the target of inspection.
Kind Regards,
Mark A. Morris BS, RDMS, RVT
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