I recently (Feb. 12) watched an article on Fox News Network where they were talking about the Navy SEAL that actually pulled the trigger on Bin Laden, and the trouble he was having getting medical and veterans benefits from our Veteran’ Affairs (VA) system.
This veteran is not alone.
VA healthcare and benefits have continually gone downhill in all aspects since Mr. Eric Shinseki was appointed as VA Secretary by President Obama. This broken system echoes itself at the VA Hospital in Minneapolis as well as all around the country.
I was recently at the VA hospital in Minneapolis (Feb 11) for medical attention. In virtually every clinic and, with all appointment letters, they have signs and verbage that says,”please be on time for your appointment out of respect for fellow veterans. If you are not seen within 15 minutes of your appointment, please come to the desk.” I was 15 minutes early for my appointment at 9 a.m. and was not called in to see the doctor until 10:30 a.m. This was after fasting with no solid foods or diabetes medications for two days.
Other veterans were also in this position and complaining. The receptionist told us that two of the four doctors didn’t make it in that day. After finally getting in to see the doctor, the nurse told us that the reason was that the previous patient had problems with his treatment and that was the reason for the delay. Now, who was lying? This goes on in every clinic. There are lines in the hallways where veterans are waiting to be served for over one hour at times. There is no seating, just stand up in hallways. Take a number and wait. Spouses and guardians are also standing with their veteran. These are veterans in wheelchairs, quadriplegics, paraplegics, seniors, veterans w/canes, deaf, blind, chemical dependent and mental health issues. Veterans are treated like animals at the VA hospital.
After waiting in line for extended periods of time and you finally get to the front of the line, you have some clerk harass you and treat you like garbage just to accomplish your appointment. Veterans’ travel pay has been cut, through a failed system and some veterans are not even allowed to be treated at the hospital. This after seeing the same doctor for years. You are now required to be seen elsewhere. You can go just about anywhere in this hospital and see discouraged veterans being mistreated. Veterans are not alone. In a recent congressional inquiry by Congressman Cravaack’s office, his representative was told he was not on the agenda for that month and he would have to come back. This was by the VA Regional Director in St. Louis. This is a United States congressman, ladies and gentleman. This shows the boldness and brashness of the VA leadership under the current Secretary of the VA, Mr. Eric Shinseki, in Washington, D.C. This type of treatment is echoed throughout the VA system nationwide.
Since nothing is being done, one can only assume that President Obama concurs with this treatment of our veterans. Waiting lists of over two years still exist for new claims. As you can see, this is not the only issue.
The VA hospitals play games in the management of medical records also. Any veteran should be allowed to be seen at any VA facility in the world. Not so, without harassment. Above, are listed only a few of the terrible treatment issues in the VA system. The Minneapolis VA hospital is no stranger to this mistreatment of veterans. This poor care and treatment is in the administration as well as the direct medical care of our veterans. Media personnel, TV, radio, newsprint etc, are kept arms length from these VA facilities and are not allowed in without permission or escort, thereby eliminating any investigating of these issues. The VA states that this is to protect the privacy of veterans. Wrong, it is to keep the public from actually seeing what is going on with America’s finest, our veterans.
Recent studies show that 20 veterans per day are committing suicide, nationwide. One trip to the mental health clinics will answer this question. Veterans’ medical records are not protected as they once were. They are made available to a multitude of people. This problem will not go away under the current leadership of the VA in Washington, D.C.
To the citizens of this great country, I ask that you take issue with this failed system and demand an immediate fix for it. To our Minnesota congressional delegation, I ask that you take a leadership role in Washington in correcting this problem. Remember, fellow citizens and legislators, your freedom was brought to you by these great people, our veterans. Do not discard them as they wear out. While our veterans pay the price, VA employees continue to go home every Friday with paycheck in hand.
The system is broken. All gave some, some gave all.
Charles L. Makidon, DAV
Former Commander,
DAV Chapter 2, St. Paul
Backus
Comments (13)
Add commentMust be the result of all those spending cuts , Because we..
Have a spending problem NOT a revenue problem.
Or thats at least what I keep hearing every day for the last couple of years.
Here I thought both the Feds & the current MN Gov. ( Mr Mark Dayton) were spending more $ on Veterans benefits/care/programs. ?
Took a while to get that up armour going onto humvees in Iraq as well.
Like Ronald Dumbsfeld said " You go to war with what you have"
VA Cuts & Dayton
Hey Cappy, FYI, Dayton would not sign the bonding bill last session until the legislature cut 29 million from the VA budget. This was also matched with 17 million from the feds. Total loss to MN Vets=46 million dollars. This money was to be used for the final phase of the Mpls Vets Home. He did this at 2am on the final night of session. Where did the money go? Well, we lost the 17 million in federal matching money. The 29 million was used by Dayton for MNSCU, one of his pet projects, and the new Dolphin pool at the zoo got some of it. Rumor, and rumor only, says that the Vikings got some of it also. All more important things than the Vets. Right. By the way, why haven't we ever heard any ranting and raving from John Ward over this issue. Final result: NO NEW Veterans Homes will be built in Minnesota, anywhere, until the Vets home in Mpls is finished. Why wasn't Ward there at the last minute, fighting for the Veterans?
Just wondering
why the cost to take care of the soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan was not figured into the equation from the very beginning?
Is it possible that our system is being overburdened with all of the returning veterans? Didn't anyone think of the fallout from our involvement in these parts of the world?
We need to take care of our veterans. Period. However, Angry Charlie, politicizing it does not help your cause.
I will agree this should be taken care of, right now, if you will agree that this should have been taken care of the minute we sent our soldiers into harm's way.
I agree, however
The VA system has been financially flawed for years. The VA budget for 2012 for example, was budgeted and funded 5 years ago. The VA system budgets five years in advance of its actual needs. An example of a near disaster regarding this was in recent years, the Hmong people sought VA medical treatment. Had this been allowed, there would have been a very large influx of patients immediately, thus creating a serious threat to the funding for our own Veterans that was allotted five years ahead of time. Our US Veterans would have lost much of their funding to this instant influx of patients that wasn't taken into consideration 5 years previous when the current funding was allotted. The funding would have to be spread far further than was planned, thus lending itself to poorer and lesser quality care. You can only stretch a dollar so far. I hope this help clarify some of your questions. As I stated in the title of this article, "The VA Is Broken". Until our legislators take immediate action, both US House and Senate, this system will continue to due harm to our veterans. There is also a great lack of top down leadership missing in our Mpls VA Hospital. I can't speak for others. Disrespect for veterans runs rampant in Mpls. VA, mainly by the administrative staff but it also shows its ugly head in the medical staff also. I don't care about the Veteran. Just give me my check on Friday, seems to be the attitude. You state that politicizing it does not help my cause. Then I suggest you find the answer. A Veteran waiting to receive free medical treatment is not normally going to rock the boat. It is up to our politicians to resolve this problem. If they choose to run from the issue, then the Veterans will have to accept the fact that they are second class citizens and will have to be treated as such. Our politicians are our only resolve. That's why we elected them. Thank You.
Another example of Broken VA
Several years ago (Less than 10) a new Brain Science Study Building was built at the Mpls VA Hospital. The land for this building was taken from the parking lot area. To this day, there has been no enlargement to the parking lot. If you arrive for any appointment after 9am in the morning, you will spend up to 1 hour at times, looking for or waiting for a parking spot. I have been told several times over the years, when inquireing about this, "They are working on the blueprints now for the new parking lot". Still no parking lot expansion. This should have been part of the Brain Science Center project right from the beginning. Again, I can't say it enough, The VA Is Broken. To our legislators, and fellow citizens, Please help us?
Charlie
I really do not know much about this. All I have to say is it is always good to a person with Cast Iron to take care of the Vets!! Thank-You/Good Luck.
Get it out of downtown & to a berb. The only good thing about the big cities is WE dont have to live there or seeing it in the rearview when leaving.
F&B You out on a date with Ma?? Pretty quiet?
Take the Bus, Train & Light Rail
Charlie you could catch the bus at St. Cloud and not need to find a parking spot. And as a disabled veteran you ride for free. Or better yet use the Brainerd VA Clinic and save the gas and the government giving you travel money for the long trip. I know the $130 or so travel pay to get to the appointment allows you to politic at the capital for more benefits. Why is it the that the VA surveys show that 80% of patients are very pleased with the care they receive. Does that make part of the 20%? The VA made the decision to stop taking veterans without disabilities and who had income over $35k a year back in 2003 prior to the invasion of Iraq to allow for veterans from OIF/OEF and New Dawn from overwhelming the VA system. The budget may be for 5 years but they get plus ups if they are providing services to more veterans.
I can only imagine if Charlie was the provider or clerk at the VA, would we be reading about how rude the Veterans are because I am not paid to take all this abuse from patients.
Hey Norskcobber
I worked at the VA Hospital in Mnpls before this one was even built. I also worked at the new (current) hospital. And I worked at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. The operation of the hospital has never before been in this sort of abuse and disarray toward Veterans. You talk about a survey. Kind of like the surveys the dems take to see how much support they have. Who did they survey, the employees or the poor elderly Vet that was standing in line for a colonoscopy. In my 64 years, I have never received a secure survey from the VA. You know, one with no identifiers on it. Besides, if they are doing their job, their should be no need for a survey. Giving you the advantage here, what makes you think even 20% disapproval is okay when dealing with veterans health. You seem to know quite a bit about the travel/pay arrangements for vets. You wouldn't be the guy that wouldn't get transportation for the vet living near Bay Lake so he could get dialysis treatment in Brainerd weekly. That's not you, is it BOB. You wouldn't be the VA employee at the courthouse, would you. Did you get your check last Friday while veterans suffer. I forgot to mention that the mis-treatment of Veterans starts in Washington but it also rears it's ugly head at as low a level as right here in the CWC Courthouse.
VA Broken
Yes, the VA needs a LOT of overhaul. I can put up with a lot, if told the truth. As you read previously, it's no longer a question of who lied. It's a question of who lied first. Which lies are the most accurate?
When I went to the VA to file a claim, I was told I am not allowed to do so, "Just because your Dr. lied to you." You notice it was never denied and they have now gone back to correct records to say what they like.
A couple days ago, I asked for my meds. I was told they would be sent out in March. The prescription clearly ran out a few days before that. It seems Obama-care is dictating to the pharmacies AND the Drs. My Dr. was forced to change the script. I don't know why. It has worked for a long time.
I am thinking of getting rid of the VA system and Medicare. I know some who practice ancient Chinese medicine as well as Native American. At least I can trust them.
DocSourDough and the VA
I can second your problem. Have had similar problems with the VA pharmacy/prescription program over the years. You should see the Veterans waiting at the VA hospital pharmacy for hours until their name comes up on a screen, just to get there meds. There should never be a circumstance where it takes more than 15 minutes to get a prescription filled. I have diabetes and take meds for it. I can only get 4 refills and then I have to go back to the doc to get a new prescription. Like my diabetes is going to go away. You take daily/weekly glucose tests so if your blood sugar changes, you would certainly know enough to go in for an updated prescription. Also, I am required to take 2 blood sugar tests per week however the VA only pays for 50 test strips per year and I have to buy the rest at a local pharmacy. I also have to pay an 8$ co-pay PER MONTH, (That's per month-30 day supply) for every prescription I have. If my bottle of pills has 90 pills in it and I take 1 per day, that's a 3 month supply so I pay triple co-pay, $24. Back to the title of my article: THE VA IS BROKEN. This same scenario plays itself out with eyeglasses. Once again, I plead with the citizens of this great country, Veteran or not, to get behind the Veterans. Make some noise to your congressman. These people gave you the freedom you enjoy today. Let them depart with honor and dignity. Thank You.
What's the rule for letters to the editor?
Isn't there a rule about letters being 300 words or less? What gives?
VA is Broken?
Really are people that are receiving free health services, free prescriptions, and free money for simply showing up to the appointment (travelPay) complaining about the VA Hospitals? I attend the St. Cloud VA and have little to no complaints. The lines are long and scheduling is 1-2- months out. Two very minimal gripes. Im rarely in the facility for more than an hour.
In my opinion the VA is doing a great job dealing with staff and patients. I invite all the (pissers and Moaners) to look elsewhere for FREE Health Care. And don’t ruin it for the rest of us that are grateful to have this in my life, will be happy to see you leave.
VA Health Care
You have part if it right. How dare you say it was free. I was in the Service of the US Military for 4 years, with a 6 years obligation. Where do you get the free part? Can't you read? I see a logo that says it all. "All gave some, some gave all."
Get used to it, NOTHING is free.