Posted on 03/28/2014 12:56:41 PM PDT by Nachum
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) blocked the release of the names of hospitals where 19 veterans died because of delays in medical screenings, leading to calls for transparency from news outlets and a bipartisan group of Capitol Hill lawmakers.
Earlier this month, the VA denied a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request from Tampa Tribune reporter Howard Altman, who had been investigating the deaths.
CNN reported in January that 19 veterans died as a result of delayed gastrointestinal cancer screenings, while another 63 were seriously injured. CNN obtained internal documents from the VA listing the number of “institutional disclosures of adverse events”—the bureaucratic phrase for a mistake that gravely harms or kills a patient.
However, the documents did not list the names of the hospitals and clinics where the deaths took place. When Altman asked VA for the names of the hospitals, he was told he would have to file a FOIA request. His subsequent FOIA request was denied.
(Excerpt) Read more at freebeacon.com ...
The list, Ping
Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list
let me guess how many of these hospitals are in red states...
...the most transparent administration in the history of the republic...
This is a tough nut to crack and one I am very sympathetic towards. The VA is an excellent example of gov’t bureaucracy and the debilitating effect it has on patients health. The list of vets keeps getting longer and attempts to alleviate the crush are falling on deaf ears.
It is coming up on 2 years since my retirement and I have not had a determination of my claim. It took 11 years to get a 10% rating when I left active duty in ‘98 (went into the Reserves and returned to AD in 2001) and that is basically an administrative rating. Friends of mine have waited 3-5 years for a rating and were medically retired with combat wounds.
A good friend from my church is a retired MD and AF Colonel that sits on the review boards as a voting member and he relates the multiple onion layers of bureaucracy that people have to go through just to receive due treatment.
The only solution I can see is allow more MDs access to vets outside of the VA system. Any other thoughts?
Or, a voucher system that may be used by vets to get treated outside the VA when necessary.
Just another example of how completely dishonest and corrupt our government has become.
Precisely what I was thinking, you just said it better. Thanks.
“Delete, delay, deny and hope they die.”
There are some good people in the VA, but they need to start firing people at the top to build a sense of urgency in the organization.
The MSM refuses to report on this.
/s
Thanks for the link.
My VA in my home state was excellent. I have since transferred
and I have been informed that I have no medical records even though having surgery at the last station of medical care. My last appointment was cancelled due to DR on VAC. No reschedule and no contact!
Less and less would I care to entrust my long term health to anything involving the government. The VA may be okay for a Band-Aid or something, but I’d try to have private specialists monitor my medical issues as much as I could.
Thank God soetorocare hasn’t gotten me yet.
I’ve heard similar stories.
In support of the VA hospitals, I had cataract surgery last week (I can see, I can see! - only down side is that both the guy in the mirror and the babe across the breakfast table from me now have more wrinkles) Thanks, Ophthalmology team!
Secondly, as a preliminary to the cataract surgery, they gave me a ECG, which showed abnormalities. There is normally a four month wait for a cardiac stress test. My VA cardiologist got me worked in after a 10 day wait.
I studied hard and managed to pass the test yesterday....
Just kidding about studying, but I did pass.
Thank you, VA and American taxpayer!
The MSM refuses to report on this.
CNN reported in January that 19 veterans died as a result of delayed gastrointestinal cancer screenings, while another 63 were seriously injured. CNN obtained internal documents from the VA listing the number of “institutional disclosures of adverse events”—the bureaucratic phrase for a mistake that gravely harms or kills a patient.
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