At U.s. Military Hospitals, 'everybody Is Overworked'

[allan]

fwd from: Colonel Dan

At U.S. Military Hospitals, 'Everybody Is Overworked'

(USA Today, June 5, 2007, Pg. 1)

Months after the problems revealed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center caused

a massive shake-up throughout the military's system of healthcare, the

service is still struggling to find enough doctors and nurses to care for

troops and their families. The Army operates 36 medical facilities

worldwide. For the past two years, more than half have failed to meet

Pentagon standards for providing a physician within seven days for routine

medical care. And the Army has been forced to spend more money sending

military families to doctors in nearby communities.

Give Vets More Mental Healthcare Funds, Panels Urge

(Miami Herald, June 5, 2007)

Saying they are "very concerned" that the Department of Veterans Affairs is

not spending enough on mental health treatment, congressional members of

both parties are pushing for more money in next year's VA budget. While the

budget and appropriations plan for fiscal 2008 is in the works and will not

be settled for months, veterans committee members in the House and Senate

say more needs to be done to reach out and treat soldiers returning from

Iraq and Afghanistan.

Ex-FW Congressman Faces Host Of Problems As Incoming Army Secretary

(Dallas Morning News, June 4, 2007, Pg. 1)

The Army is mired in Iraq. Combat tours are growing longer. Equipment is

wearing out fast. And the last civilian Army chief got ousted over shoddy

conditions at the famed Walter Reed hospital. Into the line of fire comes

Pete Geren, a former Democratic congressman from Fort Worth who has toiled

at the Pentagon since 2001 and is now President Bush's pick to serve as

secretary of the Army. Soft-spoken, methodical, unflappable, Geren takes

each challenge in stride. He has worn two hats since early March, as

undersecretary of the Army and as acting secretary.

Edited June 5, 2007 by allan (see edit history)