Your boy, GW Bush.......

[theoddz]

As a female veteran who is 100%+ service connected with a female-specific disability, I still prefer getting my care from the private sector.

While the VA has certainly made progress in the arena of treating female vets, they still are way shy of really being truly "female friendly".

I recall being sick as a dog 3 days before Christmas in 1996. I had a horrible asthma attack and had to be taken by ambulance to the Richmond, VA, VAMC. I am sure I had a whopping pneumonia that triggered the attack, as I had a 102.5 fever. Instead of admitting me to the hospital, these dorks sent me home in an ambulance by myself when I was so sick, I could barely stand up. I later found out that, in order to admit a female to the Richmond VAMC, it was necessary to book one of the very limited private rooms well in advance. I know damned well that, had I been a male vet, I would have been admitted and treated.

Ever since then, I have tried to go above and beyond the call to duty to care for my fellow vets and to give just a little more of myself to them. I know what it feels like. I'm bitter, but I'm bitter at the system. My personal experiences are the reason I prefer to use the private sector (and my private insurance) for my own personal care.

Peace.

[Arrow]

and I understand your bitterness. Sheer stupidity on the person's part makin the decision to send you home. And absolutely should never have happened.

Again these are things that just should not be but really come down to piss poor management practice and not enough attention to detail, concern and compassion by the Adminisrators at the top within the region. I have had equally poor treatment in a local setting and contribute it to the same type problems.

No pat answers I know. But I do know that many Vets feel a sense of safety going into a VA simply because they know their brothers are there. And there is always Article 99

[Gimpy]

You and Griz are BOTH right!

[Arrow]

er.. um...sorry what I meant to say..great minds run together...

[reconeil]

I guess the debate about Veteran Care for Service Connected Disabilities between well meaning Fellow Veterans boils-down to
semantics. Some believe from history and experience that the: "True and Tried" method after WWII of managing and paying for all care, while dispersing same throughout the infinitely much more larger and ALREADY better equipped Private Sector worked quite well.

Whereas, some believe that that the: "True and Tried"(?) and large VA Beaurocracy simply needs more money to make everything hunky-doory for all Disabled Veterans. I don't think so.

Besides, and regarding Veteran Care, why-the-hell should ANY SICK PERSON have to go through some beaurocratic nightmare and/or prove themself worthy of treatment, especially when the job (re. Service to Country) already proves such? Such is great for Legal Departments, beaurocrats and such. But, screw them.
Plus, don't Private Hospitals allow volunteers also?

Also, no one likes ending-up being just another statistic and/or just another horror story. And the absolute truth of the matter in this The Greatest Nation on Earth,...is that great facilities for Service Connected Disabilities or maladies like Bethesda Medical Center and such,...are few and far between.

So Gimpy, I'll just have to stick with the: "True and Tried" Private Sector medical care such as was given after WWII, and for about 20 years. At least then, horror stories were at a minimum.

Neil