Patients at Fayetteville VA Medical Center have longest wait times in the country, audit says

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Patients at Fayetteville VA Medical Center have longest wait times in the country, audit says
Posted: Monday, June 9, 2014 5:30 pm | Updated: 6:54 pm, Mon Jun 9, 2014.
By Drew Brooks Military editor

Patients at Fayetteville's VA Medical Center have the longest wait times in the country, according to a nationwide audit released Monday.

Patients wait an average of 29 days for a primary care appointment at the medical center on Ramsey Street, the audit found. New patients wait an average of 83 days.

Despite the findings, the Fayetteville VA Medical Center was not on a list of facilities that need further review, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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The longest waits

VA medical facilities with the longest average wait times as of May 15 for new patients seeking care, in number of days:

1. Honolulu: 145
2. Harlingen, Texas: 85
3. Fayetteville, N.C.: 83
4. Baltimore Hsc: 81
5. Portland, Ore.: 80
6. Columbia, S.C.: 77
7. Montgomery, Ala.: 75
8. Providence, R.I.: 74
9. Salt Lake City: 73
10. Richmond, Va.: 73
...

23. Puget Sound: 59

Sources: AP, McClatchy

In all, more than 57,000 veterans have been waiting 90 days or more for their first VA appointments, according to the report. Another 64,000 have enrolled in VA health care over the past decade but have not been seen for an appointment.