Veterans with severe ailments face long waits for care

[unhappycamper]

Veterans with severe ailments face long waits for care
STELLA M. HOPKINS


Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans suffering traumatic brain injury, grave wounds or serious illnesses often wait longer for outpatient appointments than the 30-day VA standard, according to an Observer analysis of two internal VA reports.

The analysis of 283,000 recent outpatient appointments showed that the VA scheduled 93 percent within 30 days, a key measure of the agency's ability to meet demand. That left 20,500 waiting longer.

At issue: Patients needing critical care accounted for 10.5 percent of total appointments scheduled, but 20 percent of those with longer waits.

The Observer's findings could signal that the VA is struggling to care for the neediest of the new veterans. Critics and veterans advocates say the system is overwhelmed, poorly managed and lacks medical specialists.

The Department of Veterans Affairs disputed the analysis, saying the reports are not an accurate measure of total service. The agency has said it can serve patient needs.


Rest of article at: http://www.charlotte.com/local/story/327488.html



uhc comment: I call bullshit on Stella and the VA.

The current wait for VA services is 177 days.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=259&topic_id=5072

400,000 veterans are on hold for VA services.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=259&topic_id=4055