Content Curator/HadIt.com Elder Vync Posted September 6, 2014 Content Curator/HadIt.com Elder Share Posted September 6, 2014 I ran across this while listening to the controversial Michael Berry radio show the other day. He interviewed Regina Brown, a Veteran who was covered with ticks while in the field during basic training in 1991. The military doctor removed the ticks, but never put her on antibiotics. Over the years, docs thought she had eczema, but she was eventually diagnosed with cancer. After her private insurance ran out, she turned to the VA. That's when the real problems began... News article: http://www.khou.com/story/news/investigations/2014/08/26/cancer-patient-waits-9-months-to-see-va-doctor/14605925/ 35 minute podcast of interview: http://media.ccomrcdn.com/media/station_content/700/2014/08/mp3/default/mb_5p_082714_0_1409167713.mp3 It is worth the time to listen to this entire podcast "If it's stupid but works, then it isn't stupid."- From Murphy's Laws of Combat Disclaimer: I am not a legal expert, so use at own risk and/or consult a qualified professional representative. Please refer to existing VA laws, regulations, and policies for the most up to date information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berta Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 That is an OUTRAGE!!!!!!!!!!! How could they lose her claim AND her lab work? This crap doesn't happen in a vacuum.http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/21/health/21ticks.html?ref=health&_r=0 Ticks bites can cause Lyme disease and other serious problems. I dont know if she could get the cancer SCed but hope she can try to. You can hear the anxiety and stress in her voice that so many here can relate to. If you don't have PTSD when you start out with the VA, you sure might get it from dealing with the VA. Vync and Notorious Kelly 2 GRADUATE ! Nov 2nd 2007 American Military University ! When thousands of Americans faced annihilation in the 1800s Chief Osceola's response to his people, the Seminoles, was simply "They(the US Army)have guns, but so do we." Sameo to us -They (VA) have 38 CFR ,38 USC, and M21-1- but so do we. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator broncovet Posted September 7, 2014 Moderator Share Posted September 7, 2014 (edited) This is precisely the kind of stuff that led to Shinseki's resignation. This was not a hoax...Vets being unable to see the doctor in a timely manner is real, and indeed resulted in Veterans deaths. At my Va, I tried to get an appointment. The conversation went like this: Vet: I want to make an eye appointment. (Other doc appointments were similar). VA Employee: We are all "booked up" this month..can you call back at the beginning of the month? Vet: Why dont you just schedule the appointment, now, for next month, then? VA Employee: "The computer" wont let us schedule appointments further than 30 days in advance." Vet: Huh? How come I have other appointments scheduled for more than 30 days? VA Employee: There is nothing I can do about that. You will just have to call back next month and see if there are appointments available. (IN this employees defense, there is no doubt in my mind he was instructed by the VA execs to do it this way. This is not an employee problem..its a systemic problem brought on by greedy VA execs who will do anything to get a bonus..including turning away Vets who could die without timely medical care. How do I know this was a systemic problem and not "just" a lying employee? Because this was repeated again and again and again..in multiple VAMC's...so it was NOT just a lying employee..he had to be coached to do this by VA execs. Sadly those VA execs still work for VA..making decisions affecting Vets. I do not beleive any of those were ever fired or prosecuted. They should have jail time.) This employee was lying. "The computer" does not prohibit scheduling an appointment more than 30 days in advance. Instead, some Va exec wanted it to look like they saw all Vets within 30 days..when they did not..to collect bonuses for "reduced wait times". This is that "secret list" referred to: You see, by making you keep calling again and again, many Vets will simply give up and not get the needed care. The VA is actually "rationing" health care doing this and then giving VA execs bonuses for "reducing wait times" which is a lie and a scandal that led to Shinseki resignation. Of course, I did not die by not getting an eye appointment..fortunately I did not have a life threating medical condition..but, for those who did, this method resulted in bonuses for VA execs, and sometimes death for Vets who could not timely get to see a doctor. Edited September 7, 2014 by broncovet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notorious Kelly Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 Record your calls to the VA (I do) "If you don't have PTSD when you start out with the VA, you sure might get it from dealing with the VA." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Content Curator/HadIt.com Elder Vync Posted September 8, 2014 Author Content Curator/HadIt.com Elder Share Posted September 8, 2014 It makes me want to record all interaction, including doc visits... "If it's stupid but works, then it isn't stupid."- From Murphy's Laws of Combat Disclaimer: I am not a legal expert, so use at own risk and/or consult a qualified professional representative. Please refer to existing VA laws, regulations, and policies for the most up to date information. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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