The VA has been studied and found to be one of the most efficient health care delivery systems in the country. They have thought of many innovations long before other insurance plans did.
For example--barcoding medicines and matching them to hospital ID bracelets, thereby insuring patients didn't get the wrong medicine.
And now if veterans can't be seen in a reasonable time span they have a card which allows them to go to another local doctor (I think they have to call first, but I'm not sure).
My husband has used the VA for about 10 years. He has Medicare now, but he prefers the VA doctors. His cataract surgery and prostate cancer treatment were outsourced through Humana to eliminate long wait times. His angioplasties were performed at a VA hospital by a cardiovascular surgeon that had received awards for being the best doctor in the local hospital.
The problem I see with the VA involves Iraq and Afghanistan veterans--but it's the fault of the military, not the VA.
Here it is: An active duty soldier gets PTSD while in the war zone. His commanding officers recognize that (s)he is suffering from PTSD. They COULD get him/her the help she needs....or they could do nothing! With a little bit of luck, the soldier will act out while under PTSD. They can then give the soldier a general or dishonorable discharge, thereby depriving him/her of any future educational, medical, or pension benefits through the VA.
Shame on the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines! The information I have is anecdotal, of course, but I have heard it from a number of families. I'm a good listener.
My husband was in Vietnam, and by the time they recognized many Agent Orange disabilities he had been out of the Army for 32 years--and afflicted with for 5.
He never had PTSD--well, maybe for a few months, but he got over it quickly. And fortunately he had an honorable discharge.
The stories my hairdresser and others tell about their brave sons are heartbreaking. If Trump really wants a crusade, he should look for justice for these young veterans.
If you are the parent of a soldier and fear (s)he has PTSD, save every letter and email in which they talk about their symptoms. Ask them to write about and document any signs of PTSD they see in themselves.
My hairdresser knew her son had PTSD in between his two deployments, but off he went to his second tour in a war zone, where his PTSD caused him to act out and get a less-than-honorable discharge. Unfortunately, they didn't have documentation.
If you or your children are between deployments, and you are having adjustment problems, see a psychologist. Get your symptoms documented.
I am embarrassed for America that we are treating our soldiers this way.
For example--barcoding medicines and matching them to hospital ID bracelets, thereby insuring patients didn't get the wrong medicine.
And now if veterans can't be seen in a reasonable time span they have a card which allows them to go to another local doctor (I think they have to call first, but I'm not sure).
My husband has used the VA for about 10 years. He has Medicare now, but he prefers the VA doctors. His cataract surgery and prostate cancer treatment were outsourced through Humana to eliminate long wait times. His angioplasties were performed at a VA hospital by a cardiovascular surgeon that had received awards for being the best doctor in the local hospital.
The problem I see with the VA involves Iraq and Afghanistan veterans--but it's the fault of the military, not the VA.
Here it is: An active duty soldier gets PTSD while in the war zone. His commanding officers recognize that (s)he is suffering from PTSD. They COULD get him/her the help she needs....or they could do nothing! With a little bit of luck, the soldier will act out while under PTSD. They can then give the soldier a general or dishonorable discharge, thereby depriving him/her of any future educational, medical, or pension benefits through the VA.
Shame on the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines! The information I have is anecdotal, of course, but I have heard it from a number of families. I'm a good listener.
My husband was in Vietnam, and by the time they recognized many Agent Orange disabilities he had been out of the Army for 32 years--and afflicted with for 5.
He never had PTSD--well, maybe for a few months, but he got over it quickly. And fortunately he had an honorable discharge.
The stories my hairdresser and others tell about their brave sons are heartbreaking. If Trump really wants a crusade, he should look for justice for these young veterans.
If you are the parent of a soldier and fear (s)he has PTSD, save every letter and email in which they talk about their symptoms. Ask them to write about and document any signs of PTSD they see in themselves.
My hairdresser knew her son had PTSD in between his two deployments, but off he went to his second tour in a war zone, where his PTSD caused him to act out and get a less-than-honorable discharge. Unfortunately, they didn't have documentation.
If you or your children are between deployments, and you are having adjustment problems, see a psychologist. Get your symptoms documented.
I am embarrassed for America that we are treating our soldiers this way.
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