I almost fell off the couch when I saw this logo. Then I remembered that I am a Paratrooper and we don't fall. WE JUMP! Of course the real logo isn't ripped but it's still funny as hell. I'm getting tired of hearing about how we need to fix the VA. First of all, people need to realize that the VA is more than just health care; however, that is what I want to concentrate on today. Just remember that they are dealing with education benefits, VA home loans, VA and active duty medical records, service records, etc.... I don't know when the VA thought of this philosophy or came up with this logo but it's all a crock of shit. Below is a list of "I Care" core values that I stole from the VA's web site.- I care about those who have served.
- I care about my fellow VA employees.
- I care about choosing “the harder right instead of the easier wrong.”
- I care about performing my duties to the very best of my abilities
Lemme tell you an "I care" story. Wanna know what I care about? I care about my money, about your money, about everybody's money. I can't stand waste of any type, even if it isn't my money. I go to the VA in Louisville, KY and one of their satellite clinics it's the only one I've been to so my experience is limited but from what I've heard from other Vets it's the same across the board.
So I'm at the VA for two appointments. I get there early because there are some other things I need to do while I am there. I need to change out some wrist braces and get a picture taken for my VA ID. I should add that I'm 10% plus loss of an organ. They don't want my braces which sucks because now they're just a waste in the closet but they order me new ones. Cool got that one done, still have time to get my pic done before my first appointment. I get to admissions which is adjacent to the ER check in and sure enough the chick that runs the department sends me packing. "Nope, get out of here, I've told you before they are mailing it to you (about eight times before but who's counting"). This has been going on for about eight or nine months now!! Every time I walk in the place the first thing they ask me is, "Got your ID". I just got tired of saying no. I mean I was using all of my ninja shills and was at a whisper to the girl behind the counter and the head girl still heard me and popped her head out of that cubical. I was like damn, OK. When I first got there it was slightly before 0700 as I parked in the handicap spot out front next to the valet parking making my to the main entrance the trash can was over flowing to the point people had just starting to throw trash on the ground next to it. Now it was before 0700 so the morning shift had not started yet but the car parkers were there and you'd think someone could police that shit up, but nope. So after the ID Nazi told me no I went outside to grab a smoke. At this point it was about 0730, still trash all over the freaking place. I go back in and make my first appointment, get it finished and go up stairs to audiology and check in. I asked that women what does it look like about getting me in early? Her reply was not a chance. I was like Fuck because now I have three/four hours to kill. I go back outside for yet another nail (in the coffin, for you slow folks) and still trash. I just shook my head and had my smoke. Go back in to mess around a bit, now because of traffic/construction I always have to leave early, It can take me forty-five minutes or two hours and forty-five, you never know, so I always pack food and drink. After awhile I decide to go to my car for an early lunch, still trash, on the way back in, still trash. When I finished the day it was about 1345 and yes, still trash. Now I always fill out one of those "Tell the Director" comment cards. Good or bad but most have been good. I'll tell you what happened at the end of this.
As I was hobbling my way though the hospital checking things out, I came across a library. I thought cool, let's check this out. A couple of empty tables and several sparsely filled book shelves I probably was there thirty seconds before I heard "can I help you" from the librarian. We talk for a bit and I told her I was just looking for a place to chill until my next appointment. She was cool and helpful but then she tells me they don't have any books for me. ???Right? It wasn't a library for patients or visitors, it was for the medical staff to do research. Now everyone I've seen in the VA has a computer and half of those have tablets, all VA of course. These people could look up anything on-line in one tenth of the time it would take just to get to the place much less navigate the 1980's card catalog that I used in my one room school house when I was in grade school for God's sake. Don't quote me on this but I want to say their hours were like 0700 to 1800ish. That's at least two librarians per day plus trying to cover sick time, vacation time, etc... These are unionized government workers, I don't know how much a librarian makes but I'm sure the cash isn't bad for the work load. And the benefits, I mean holy shit, think about what that cost the tax payers. If it was a skeleton crew of three people, times two for the number of hospitals that we have in my small state (pop wise) of KY then times by fifty, that's a lot of retirements to pay for. A lot of vacation days, sick days, thirteenish holidays per year. I say ish because last year and/or the year prior No' Bama gave them another. I don't know if it was permanent. I'm low balling here because the VA's site reads 1899 facilities but I'm sure not all have libraries.
Back to the hospital (structure) which by the way is getting renovated. Fixing this, building that, making this look pretty and so on. Millions upon millions just so the VA can abandon it. Millions already spent in EPA environmental impact, traffic studies, site selection and what ever else comes with that BS. The city was all for it, I mean who wouldn't be, a brand new hospital being built. That's a ton of cash for the city. Until the other day when the residents got their panties in a bunch because of "traffic and noise". Can't really blame them. Who wants drug pushers and homeless next door. That's what you're going to get, I've heard but never seen, Vet walks in sees the Doc goes to the pharmacy walks outside and sells his or hers pills. Just comes with the territory. Part of the Reno was these nine million Kiosk that we have all over the place including clinics. So you don't even go to the counter anymore, just stick your ID in there and push some buttons to check in. Eventually the nurse or doc will come out and get you.
Here's my bitch. The God blessed system will not let you check in no more than one hour prior to your appointment. So if you're someone like myself that has to leave way early or risk being late, you're just gonna waste some time. Now if we have a Vet that doesn't mind being late or gets in a wreck can't or just doesn't make it, I could take their place if they happen to come in, stick them in my spot. Either way it's a win win and I get to get out early, the doc is ahead of schedule. It's been several months but something came up and I had to cancel an appointment. It was after hours so I called the main line and got the automated system (which I hate) I cancelled the appointment and a couple of days after said date, I check my mail and sure enough I have a nasty gram from the VA. You should have called and cancelled another Vet could have used that time, bla, bla, bla. That sorta crawled under my skin so I called the clinic and was like WTF Over? I did call and got the automated system and cancelled that way. Chick says and I shit you not, "well we don't have access to that". Really??? Then why in the hell have it? Are you Fucking kidding me? You don't have access. People, the hospital doesn't talk to the clinic and vice versa. Computer wise or voice. Just not there. My head shrinker makes her own appointments. Sometimes they know, sometimes they don't.
I was in the hospital for a couple of days in December. Upon discharge the nurse and the instructions remind me to keep all scheduled appt.'s. So I do, I had three scheduled back to back. Traffic was super light so I'm there almost two hours early. I wait in the car (it's still dark outside) till about one hour early, go upstairs, stick my card in that machine and they cancelled all of my appt.'s. That time they'll talk to each other. I was livid and it didn't help I was already pissed off, I took a deep breath and went home.
When my wife first saw me having a seizure and had my happy ass in the ER, I know it was time for the disability claim. I fought it for about two years prior to that, I just didn't want to get on the system. Because my wife works 10, 12 or better a day, I really don't know how many I have had. We just don't see that much of each other. Sometimes I feel like roommates but that a different story. So, I'm exploring the wonderful world of VA claims and the guy at Ft. Knox told me he wouldn't touch it unless I had all records. Hard copies only, nothing digital. NP, I go down to IACH at Knox and the chick was like we'll call you in about two weeks you can come pick them up. Hell yea, Awesome. Then I'm off to VA Med Center Louisville, KY. After thirty minutes trying to find the right office and another twenty waiting for this girl she gives me a form to fill out which I do, she checks my driver license and says you'll get them in 30 to 60 days via mail. Sixty days rolls by no records. My anxiety is going though the roof but I give it some more time. Another fifteen days roll by and I'm in Louisville for another appt., go back to the office and explain to the girl that it's been like 75 days and still no records. She give me another sheet and we do the hole thing over again. Another sixty rolls by and I'm like WTF? Over??? Couple of days later I'm back for another appt., I hit the office yet again, this time different chick. I tell her I'm there to request my medical records and that this might be redundant because this makes the third time that I've filled out this piece of paper and still no records. Her words, not mine, "yea she's been out, things have been pilling up on her desk". Wow, thought I was going to lose it. I was like it's been like five months already!!! I mean I'm not requesting these because of lack of reading material. I need them to file a disability claim. She said oh honey I'll take care of this one myself. Finally after another couple of weeks I got my records. Then I got started on my claim and that's a whole nother story.
Back to the comment cards. Remember I always fill one out and I did for the day of the trash. Couple weeks later I got a call from some patient advocate trying to explain that they are doing renovations and people are going everywhere and this and that etc... All I said was look, it's no skin off my teeth, I'm was just trying to let you guys know. I mean we're not talking about a side door or back. It's the freaking main entrance, the front door that everybody sees.
Bottom line, the VA does not need to be in Health care, AT ALL. Period. Close them down. All of the hospitals, clinics everything related to health care. If the buildings are VA owned turn them over to the states and let them make shelters or low income housing out of them. If not owned pay off the lease and take the lose, we'll save money in the long run. Keep just enough employees to audit the health care system. Other employees should be transferred to other branches, if they don't want to move then they lose their job. Period. Veterans should receive a card much like a Medicare card or a Medicaid card. Vet gets the cards, finds a Doc that accepts it, goes, services are rendered just like you went to the VA. I am on a means test, which means my health care depends on my house hold income. Nothing is "free" unless you're service related disability is the issue or you're dirt poor. I owe the VA about a grand right now and write them a check every month. Just look at the new hospital going in Denver. It was supposed to be a couple hundred billion dollars and it's over a Trillion with a T now. Think about it people!
That's all for now, more to follow, Out!!!
