Health Care "report Card" Gives Va High Marks

[allan]

Recent VA News Releases

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Health Care "Report Card" Gives VA High Marks

Peake: Demonstrates VA's Openness and Accountability

WASHINGTON (June 13, 2008) - A new "hospital report card" by the

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) gives the Department's health care

system high marks, with VA facilities often outscoring private-sector

health plans in standards commonly accepted by the health care industry.

"This report is a comprehensive snapshot of the quality of care VA

provides to our veterans," said Dr. James B. Peake, Secretary of

Veterans Affairs. "From waiting times and staffing levels to hospital

accreditation and patient satisfaction, this report demonstrates VA is

providing high quality care to the veterans we serve."

Among the report's findings:

* 98 percent of veterans were seen within 30 days at primary care

facilities, 97 percent at specialty clinics. (Veterans requiring

emergency care are seen immediately.)

* All of VA's 153 medical centers are accredited by the

independent Joint Commission which accredits all U.S. health care

facilities.

* The quality scores for older veterans are similar to those for

younger veterans.

Although screening for breast and cervical cancer for women in VA

facilities exceeds screening in private-sector facilities, women

veterans lag behind their male counterparts in some quality

measurements, the report noted.

VA has already launched an aggressive program to ensure women veterans

receive the highest quality of care, including placement of women

advocates in every outpatient clinic and medical center. Health care

will be a major topic at VA's National Summit on Women Veterans Issues

scheduled for June 20-22 in Washington.

The report also found minority veterans are generally less satisfied

with inpatient and outpatient care than white veterans. That disparity

will be the focus of an in-depth study, based upon input from veterans,

which will be completed this summer.

"Disparities in treatment and satisfaction based on gender or ethnic

background are unacceptable," Peake said. "VA has a robust program to

look at disparities and to deal with the underlying causes."

The report card is available on the Internet at

http://www.va.gov/health/docs/Hospital_Quality_Report.pdf. In February,

Congress directed VA to complete the report card, highlighting

measurements of quality, safety, timeliness, efficiency and

"patient-centeredness."

"This report demonstrates VA's determination to be open and accountable

for the quality and safety of the care we provide," Peake said. "No

other health care organization provides this much information about its

ability to care for its patients."

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[Jayg]

First we have to remember to separate VAMC from VARO.

I don't know that I agree over all. I have experience of only two VA hospitals, Dallas Texas and Shreveport LA.

Dallas I haven't been to in years, thank God. It was simply too huge and over loaded to give any individual attention to anyone. The overall emotion of the place I would call "despair."

Shreveport on the other hand I would call excellent. I have received good care there, most staff are friendly and eager to help. You won't stand in a hall looking lost long before somebody will stop and ask if they can help. I have run into a few dolts but any organization will have those.

Overall, I am satisfied, and in my personal situation, grateful, for my VA healthcare.

[Pete53]

the VA makes up its own report and gives itself good marks. It is sort of like President Bush rating his Presidency.

I have never been asked what I think about service at the Dallas VA. Some is good but the waiting time and preventative care sucks.

[allan]

First we have to remember to separate VAMC from VARO?

The VAMC provides health care and is controlled by benefits for the Vet.

The VARO controls the benefit the Veteran receives, the VAMC C&P dept, contract Dr's for medical opinions, VOC Rehab benefits, etc.

I'm grateful for the health care, but would prefer a coverage card to use in the private sector. There is allot less experiments performed without our knowledge in the private sector. "Medications"

Women Veterans that live in north central washington State have to make the nearly 300 mile trip to Seattle to recieve health care. There are two male Dr's with no experience in womens care. Seems like the VA should atleast have "one" on the staff to care for our Vets. These are the things I see women going through, that males don't. Women that have been exposed to biotoxins have a variety of reproductive problems that need attention. Making long trips will cause them to just put it off.

[jbasser]

You can use their report as Toilet Paper.

The only inspection the VA cares about is the accreditation from the Joint Comitee on Health Orgaizations.

This one can actually shut a hospital down.

The VA also gets inspected by the FDA.

I have seen JHACO close entire floors and shut down an OR at a VA hospital.

J

Edited June 17, 2008 by jbasser

[yoggie2]

Jbasser, I read the first line and lost it, always count on you for a good laugh you and that john999, man you guys are hard.....

[Pete53]

VA Toilet paper is more like wax paper. Not to good if you have hemmies.