Good Topic For Steppen & Broncovet

[carlie]

http://www.vawatchdog.org/09/nf09/nfmar09/nf031609-2.htm

[Pete53]

The Valley is a world of its own and I am pretty sure that in the Winter the Vet Population increases significantly.

[LarryJ]

I fully support the building of a VA hospital in far south Texas.

Folks that do not live in Texas (or those who do, who have not driven from, for example, San Antonio to McAllen) do not realize or cannot conceptualize, the vast distances involved. Some of these folks that live along the Rio Grande are looking at a drive of 6-7 hours, one way, to the VA hospital in San Antonio.

And, as Pete says, the population during the winter more than doubles.

These are veterans just like you and I and deserve the best of care and the demographics (population of vets) does support the building of such a hospital. A hospital of the required size could be constructed so as to serve the population of vets that now exist and could be expanded due to the increase in numbers of Americans of Hispanic descent that are now fighting the War on Terror.

[broncovet]

My son lives in "the Valley"..south Texas. It is a very unique place. Its proximity to Mexico is important. My son told me he ordered a meal and the clerk did not speak English..which was no problem for him, since he is bilingual.

If you do go to "the Valley" dont be real suprised to find that English is a second language.

It is one of the fastest growing areas of the country..it has very heavy migration from Mexico, and it is still very warm, like Mexico.

It could well be that a VA hospital is justified in "the VAlley" because it has had huge population (including Veteran) growth over the past two years and the VA "survey" is way out of date. If there were 45,000 Vets there two years ago, there could be 60,000 or more now.

I would guess the VA is all about money. So, if it costs them more to pay the transportation costs, then they will likely build a VA hospital there. Otherwise, "the Valley" Veterans will have to do like all other Veterans: Choose between locating near a VA hospital, or driving. That is what we all have to do. I havent seen the VA advertise, "If they build it, they will come".

[bbknor]

I know the feeling of driving a long way. Used to drive from the extreme northern portion of the U.P. of Michigan to Milwaukee, Wi appr. 366 miles just to be seen. Rough in the winter storm. After leaving the desolate place they decided to build a clinic. Still got to drive to see a specialist.

[broncovet]

I would like to add that just because the Va does build a hospital there, does not guarntee that Vets will been seen by a physician in a timely manner.

Example: I live in Ohio, and needed the medical services of an orthopedist. I was told the wait is a minimum of a year, and that I have to be put on a waiting list to be called to try to get an appointmenent in a year.

Bottom LIne: The VA wont offer enough compensation to attract top quality physician specialists, such as ortho. Veterans suffer, the VA wins. A couple years ago the VA was supposed to schedule an appointment for the Veteran within 30 days. First of all, if you are contemplating suicide, you could be dead in 30 days..its far, far too long. Secondly, the VA does NOT hold to this policy, it is second to the money issue. They would rather the Veteran wait a year for an appointment than to pay the doctor ten dollars an hour more, so they can recruit more doctors.