Report: VA Distorts Record On Wait Times For Veterans Seeking Medical Care

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs repeatedly understated wait times for injured veterans seeking medical care and in many serious cases forced them to wait more than 30 days, counter to department policy, an internal investigation shows.

The review by the VA inspector general's office, released Monday, examined 700 outpatient appointments for primary and specialty care scheduled in October 2006 at 10 VA medical centers.

It found that the Veterans Health Administration in recent months falsely reported to Congress that nearly all of its appointments – about 95 percent – were scheduled within 30 days of a patient's requested date. In fact, only three in four veterans – 75 percent – received such timely appointments.
Of the veterans kept waiting more than 30 days, 27 percent of them had more serious service-connected disabilities, such as amputees and those with chronic problems including frequent panic attacks. Under VHA policy, such veterans must be scheduled for care within 30 days of their desired appointment date.

In addition, despite warnings by the IG in 2005 to more accurately report wait times, department officials last year also may have understated the number of veterans on their electronic waiting lists by more than 53,000.


Read more: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20070910-1344-veteranscare-delays.html

[SpiralHawk]

1. republicons HATE our veterans

More proof

I think its because soooo many republicon Homelanders and "leaders" are chickenhawks

[BlueIris]

2. K&R. It sounds like the VA needs a complete overhaul. nt

[Lone_Star_Dem]

3. These people served in good faith and they deserve better

This is not supporting our troops.

All the more reason for an immediate pull out of Iraq. The VA cannot adequately deal with the case loads the have now. Each day this war goes on it increases their burden and more of our battered, maimed and ill military are forced to deal with substandard medical care.

[area51]

4. k&r

As another poster said, see how the republinazis hate our troops.

[Vinca]

5. Surely this must be fabricated. Who would believe our Republican

administration - people who have the market cornered on yellow ribbon magnets for their SUVs - would treat the soldiers badly? You mean it's not enough to say "Support the Troops?":sarcasm:

[Joe Bacon]

6. The Republican version of supporting our troops...

It's very simple. The Republicans just give them a bible and tell the soldiers to pray for Divine protection.

[gratuitous]

7. So what happens? Anyone get fired?

I thought the MBA president was going to run government like a business. So, who's head is going to roll for the poor performance, and who else's head is going to roll for lying about it?

Oooh listen! Crickets!