Veterans Affairs Health Care: Why So Many Vets Are Struggling (VIDEO)

In this year's State of the Union address, President Obama said that "veterans can now download their electronic medical records with the click of a mouse." But, that claim was widely shown to be untrue.

Less than 48 hours later, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping veterans obtain better health care, issued a statement urging the White House to set the record straight. Still, the President has yet to make a correction to his speech.

The Huffington Post recently spoke with Paul Rieckhoff, IAVA's executive director and founder, about the many ways the Department of Veteran Affairs falls short of providing timely, accessible health care for veterans returning home from war.

The VA has excessively long wait-times, a bureaucracy that is difficult to navigate, and "does a crappy job" of outreach, Rieckhoff said.

"It's an antiquated system," he said. "They need to be more like Zappos ... and to get with the 21st century."

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The IAVA was founded in 2004 and is based in New York City and Washington, DC. For more information, visit iava.org.

Comments

[AccezzTom]

08:31 PM on 03/31/2011

MyHealtheVet is a nice site that provides a certain amount of information with occasional articles. Once you get verified in person, you have the ability to keep track of medications you receive through the VA, as well as order those medications. You can keep a brief (very) log of your health issues.

The problem is that the log is very brief indeed. Another issue with MyHealtheVet is that your VA doctor is not aware of the items you input. Mine doesn't have a clue, or the time, to read anything I put onto the site - I stopped using it because of this. It also turns out that many of the generic medications that I had been receiving through the VA are cheaper through Walgreens.

So - what about my medical records? Haven't seen them, personally. The VA has been very good about getting me glasses and now hearing aids, for which I am grateful. Yet despite diagnosis of neuropathy, osteoarthritis in my feet, ankles, and knees - my VA doctor writes, 'body aches,' in my chart. What good would my records do anyway?

Mixed bag to be sure. I am someone who believes the VA tries.

[RightnotLeft]

04:16 PM on 03/27/2011

LMAO "The VA has excessively long wait-times, a bureaucracy that is difficult to navigate, and "does a crappy job" of outreach, Rieckhoff said."

Welcome to government run health care all you supporters of the HCR.

[zwyziec]

01:06 PM on 03/23/2011

Federal Courts should rule it unconstitutional.

The House of Representatives must vote to repeal it!

All Fifty two states should want out.

And every Democrat and Republican Senator who voted to ignore the truth about

…………..The Veterans Administration Healthcare system………….

Must be recalled.

The will of the American people can break the tie between the House and Senate and stop this costly, $320 billion government interference in our healthcare system.

Stand up and be counted.

Sign the petition to close down the VA Healthcare system

The most socialistic program in America.

OR

Let’s think about this.

Why have it restricted to only veterans and their dependents?

Open it to all citizens and establish competition to private healthcare corporations.

[MaryfromIL]

12:30 AM on 03/21/2011

My sis and I was born in a Navy hospital in the early 1950's, don't know if that is the same as VA. They didn't use anything for pain, and they put you to work: my mom had to roll bandages while she was in there :)

[Lurp Eyes]

02:05 AM on 03/19/2011

Just a fact, not to confuse the issue:
Ten comparative studies assessing the use of preventive services, care for acute and chronic medical conditions, and changes in health status, including mortality, showed superior performance–as measured by greater adherence to accepted processes of care, better health outcomes, or improved patient ratings of care–for health care delivered in the VA compared with care delivered outside the VA.

[alongst]

01:25 AM on 03/21/2011

Who said so, who are they and who paid for the studies? Because having worked in a VA and in the private sector, the care is infinitely better in the private sector.
Otherwise, why do 95% of VA employees go to another hospital when they need to be admitted ?
In the private sector , the vast majority of employees prefer their own hospital.

[sferen]

03:36 PM on 03/23/2011

There are many people who have worked in both sectors, including myself; generally the care is equivalent or better within the VA. In fact, much research to define the state of the art in medicine is done within the VA. The bureaucracy is difficult to tolerate at times, yes, and getting anything done is more complicated, but I have personally worked with many VA employees who are also patients. I'm assuming based on personal experience that most VA employees are not eligible for care in the VA, and knowing my medical staff well, I wish I was.

[alongst]

01:27 AM on 03/21/2011

All hospitals also have to release, as public information, their death rates, etc...
Except the VA- they refuse to do so.

[patman77]

09:30 PM on 03/18/2011

because health ins. co. provide no care and take all the profit for the corpocons ?

[Acebass]

04:10 PM on 03/18/2011

Wait a minute. I can only speak for myself but after losing my job I started visiting the local VA hospital here. I personally have no complaints. I am set for surgery next month and everything is going according to schedule. I have visited the clinics and hospital several times and each time, as long as I was on time, I was seen and prescribed treatment in a timely manner.
VA is the closes thing we have to socialized medicine and I like it!

[Michael Little]

12:42 AM on 03/19/2011

Agreed. I have had no issues either

[Acebass]

10:22 AM on 03/19/2011

I'm wondering if this isn't an attempt by the right to cause a problem where there is none, so they can do away with it. Lets face the Republicans think we should make money off everything, including human suffering.
I'm not going to say the VA couldn't use some upgrades but basically they have what I need. At least they want to get you healthy unlike our Health Care system that wants you coming back, as long as you have insurance.

[alongst]

01:26 AM on 03/21/2011

Tell that to the congressman who recently had surgery at the VA and DIED after routine surgery!

[Acebass]

05:37 PM on 03/22/2011

There are a million stories in our health care system. You don't want to start with any of them.

[sferen]

03:38 PM on 03/23/2011

Yes, I agree. Congressman have never died before! ...and certainly never after doing something dangerous.

[HospitalPatient]

11:17 AM on 03/18/2011

The STILL Sad State of the Antiquated US Veteran’s Affairs Health Care System (“VAHCS”) is a Classic symptom of America’s Infrastructure Problems and Priorities. There is a backlog of 1 Million Claims w/ a 6 Month Claim Processing wait-time that is extended to ONE YEAR if a Patient Appeals the Claim Determination.

The general public knows more about the Health Care Benefits of Retired National Football League (NFL) Players than they do of the Men and Women who put their lives on the line for them. That is disgusting. As perhaps one of the Nation’s most experienced Patients with almost 200 Hospitalizations and 16+ Major Surgeries due to my 25+ Year battle with the Auto-Immune and Incurable “Crohn’s Disease,” it PAINS ME to think about the Frustrations and Feelings of Hopelessness that a Veteran undoubtedly encounters when interacting with the VAHCS.

Accordingly, President Obama, I truly applaud your attempts at prioritizing the VAHCS but considering all the other responsibilities you are saddled with and the political realities which affect the manner in which you must prioritize them, I would like a JOB at the VAHCS to help implement Modern “Apple Computer-like” Upgrades to the VAHCS so that these BRAVE & YOUNG Soldiers are given access to the Health Care they so sorely NEED and which they were PROMISED. I am an Attorney and an MBA and have been focusing on Patient Advocacy for 25 years. I would like to help. Please reach out to me on Twitter @HospitalPatient.

[MiamiW89]

11:05 AM on 03/18/2011

The STILL Sad State of the Antiquated US Veteran’s Affairs Health Care System (“VAHCS”) is a Classic symptom of America’s Infrastructure Problems and Priorities. There is a backlog of 1 Million Claims w/ a 6 Month Claim Processing wait-time that is extended to ONE YEAR if a Patient Appeals the Claim Determination.

The general public knows more about the Health Care Benefits of Retired National Football League (NFL) Players than they do of the Men and Women who put their lives on the line for them. That is disgusting. As perhaps one of the Nation’s most experienced Patients with almost 200 Hospitalizations and 16+ Major Surgeries due to my 25+ Year battle with the Auto-Immune and Incurable “Crohn’s Disease,” it PAINS ME to think about the Frustrations and Feelings of Hopelessness that a Veteran undoubtedly encounter when interacting with the VAHCS.

Accordingly, President Obama, I truly applaud your attempts at prioritizing the VA Care System but considering all the other responsibilities you are saddled with and the political realities which affect the manner in which you must prioritize them, I would like a JOB at the VAHCS to help implement Modern “Apple Computer-like” Upgrades to the VAHCS so that these BRAVE & YOUNG Soldiers are given the Health Care they so sorely NEED and which they were PROMISED. I am an Attorney and an MBA and have been focusing on Patient Advocacy for 25 years. I would like to help. Please reach out to me on Twitter @HospitalPatient.

[billhodges]

10:01 PM on 03/17/2011

Welcome to government run health care often called Socialized Health Care. Obamacare is the foundation for this kind of care for all Americans and it will not be good at all. It may be cheap care but you will get what you pay for, Poor Health Care!

[DrMink]

11:39 PM on 03/17/2011

It has nothing to do with health reform that was passed into law last year. It has everything to do with court decisions over the past decade that said that all retirees were "entitled" to lifetime health care and administrative decisions to allow any eligible veteran who meets income requirements to get all their health care through the VA. It was suppose to be for service related medical conditions. The only decent plan that McCain had was putting all veterans into the civilian health care system and shutting down a parallel health system.

BTW, I am eligible for VA care, but would never use it because I don't have a service-related condition.

[farmilyman]

06:55 AM on 03/18/2011

You obviously have an agenda and no idea what you are talking about.

[Kyle Workman]

06:30 PM on 03/17/2011

Dear IAVA, You are a 501-c 3 or whatever. It is your job to help the Veteran's navigate the system. If you're in business to keep complaining about VA Health care move on. If you don't know how to help Veteran's through the system please send them to VAWATCHDOG.Org. Or refer them to [e-mail]

[SouthernYankeeBelle]

05:57 PM on 03/17/2011

The one thing that is VERY IMPORTANT for Vets to remember is before you get out of the service take your medical files and make copies of everything in there. Once you do that make sure you keep it some where safe. If you are smart make sure you always have a complete set on your home filing cabinet and always make copies to give whoever wants them. Of course the most important document is your DD 214. Don't lose that form whatever you do. When thing with the military they always want documented files. You must be prepared to provide it and make sure you always give them copies and never any originals. Hope that helps. Working and growing up around the military environment you learn allot.

[goodmarina]

02:49 AM on 03/18/2011

excellent advise!!

f & f

[Acebass]

04:18 PM on 03/18/2011

But should you need copies here is a good place to go...
http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/medical-records.html

[SouthernYankeeBelle]

10:56 AM on 03/19/2011

I have learned from experience if you do it yourselve you have it all. I used to work with files getting ready for promotion boards. Sometimes you don't have everything. It is difficult to get the files updated if the officer has left one unit and you have to track down the missing evaulation. I just remember before my husband got out I went up to the front desk at the hospital and told her I needed my files. My husband did the same and I did it for my child. I told them I was going to Walter Reed. They gave me the files and I took them to my husband's office and made copies. I knew I had everything and especially for my husband for his medical problems. Cover your own back. Sheets of paper get lost.

[alongst]

05:47 PM on 03/17/2011

Since the VA is purely run by the government, this is the future of ALL medicine run by the government. I can tell you many stories of bungling by the VA- just look at a certain congressman who died from a simple surgery.

[eva07]

07:25 PM on 03/17/2011

I can tell you as many stories about medical mistakes as you want . They happen. It is not an argument against the VA. But VA has the highest satisfaction rate.
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=14560

[billhodges]

10:03 PM on 03/17/2011

Only if you believe the government. I have VA care and it is a night mare more often than not.

[DrMink]

11:41 PM on 03/17/2011

Good thing this is the only medical system the government runs and is planning to run. Unless you listen to Fox News.

[dscollins1]

03:42 PM on 03/17/2011

OK, I'm a vet, I go to a CBOC (Community-Based Outpatient Clinic) and my average wait time is 5 minutes. I get the most courteous, most professional care I've ever gotten - even when I was stuck with the high-priced private health system. The VA is dedicated, very efficient, and honest; I CAN download a lot (but not all) of my medical records. BTW, I'm not affiliated with the VA in any way except being a patient.

[DR2]

04:38 PM on 03/17/2011

Ditto. Over the years I have been very satisfied with my treatment from the VA. This includes the local clinic and the main facility in San Francisco. It sure beats the hell out of the private health system that I had to put up with for my family.

[SouthernYankeeBelle]

05:50 PM on 03/17/2011

Well not all VA hospital are equal friends. I found the VA hospital my dad died in downright awful. Of course that was back in 1970. I worked at a VA hospital in 95. My experience was seeing long lines with patience having to wait to see their doctor then wait awhile to have the meds filled. I remember when my father-in-law was dying he had a hard time getting a bed in the VA hospital. He like my dad were both lifers (over 20 yrs) and both combat vets (WWII, Korea and VN). I think every soldiers promises should be kept. When our parents were in they selling point was free health care for them and their wife and children until the age of 21. Those promises weren't kept. My husband was promised that also so we stayed in until he retired. However, we have to pay for our healthcare now and meds. I live in a civilian community. I have lived with my parents when my dad was in the service and had the benefits. I was civil service and got my own insurance. My husband retired and we have Tricare and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I happen to like my civilian doctors better. I can say I have had a couple of bad experiences with military hospitals. I am sure their are civilian hospital too. I say for me personally I like the civilian doctor better.

[MaryfromIL]

12:28 AM on 03/21/2011

Southern,

I agree, VA hospitals were not always good back in the day, there were many issues. It sounds like there has been improvement, I hope so.

[Bobby Slydell]

05:54 PM on 03/17/2011

I'm not using my care so much as it's hard to get appointments. But I am interested in how you can download records. I thought that project was interrupted for some reason? I tried to do that and got that blu button thing which isn't anything relly. How did you get into your medical records? thanks