I have been going to the Seattle Veterans hospital since 2002. I"ve received hundreds,
if not thousands of hours of great care. Year after year,many medical care folks have taken me from many untreated problems to a feeling that smart people "have my back".
As I walk the hospital floors,I would be blind if I did"nt see how swamped this hospital is
now. Appointments that once took weeks,now take months before I can see anyone. Hundred"s of young Veterans now compete with guys like me and Veterans of the Korean war, even World War Two Veterans are being pushed in wheelchairs. I wonder
how much longer will I see THOSE magical men.
Many Doctors i know are leaving,overwelmed by all of us wanting their attention. I have
no idea how my Primary Care Doctor can deal with several HUNDRED Vets. She has treated me for years and still makes me feel that I am her only customer. She can"t
last much longer under this load.
A fellow Veteran wrote a diary here in which he was not at all happy with the quality
of service he is getting from the VA. Many Veterans pay to see Doctors outside the
VA.
The budget of the Veterans department has gone up well over 40% in the past 10
years. You would have to double the budget and to build more hospitals to REALLY continue giving reasonable Health care to our Veterans.
Iraq and Afghanistan has caused trauma to thousands of returning soldiers. The Bush
lie about Iraq will cost this Country so much money that I fear many OTHER problems
in this Country will take years to fix, roads and bridges will crumble because we waited
so long to deal with them
All Veterans have a card with their picture on it to get care. I suggest Veterans be allowed to use their card at "any" hospital to get care. All Vets know what the
term"last four "means. It"s part of ourSocial Security number. All the information could
easily be put into any computer.
Something has to be done soon to fix an "invasion" of soldiers needing help as they age. Cost of this? I have no way of even guessing. I do know if more hospitals "shared"
our troops,they could be seen sooner and possibly closer to their home. I would think
it would be more practial to have ALL our hospitals and clinics fix a potential health
crisis. You the taxpayer will have a huge bill for decades to deal with real problems
that are here now, no matter what we do.
I wish President Bush would call all the rich folks he knows and get a few hundred million to give to the Veterans department, The Republican fat cats should pay for
their buddies lie.
I know that won"t happen but I have a hospital 4 miles from my home. I now drive
42 miles to get care.If I want to talk to my doctor on the phone,I make an appointment
for that. I have a telephone appointment a month from now to ask her a question.
We all need to think "outside the box" to deal with your sick Soldiers,like your Son
or Daughter.
Mon Jan 27, 2014 at 5:20 PM PT: As of January 27,2014,any appeal a Veteran wants on a benefit decision,
will take 3-5 years for a decision. If you want an eye appointment at the hospital, you will wait until May at the earliest, knee problems? surgery
wait time is between 6 and 8 months. This update is for the folks who
live in the Seattle area.
Vet 63