True, but having experienced both VA and civilian ER care and in-patient care, the civilian hospital (Texas Health Presbyterian) was outstanding at all levels, they have to, as sub-standard care results in accountability and people can be fired and/or the hospital can lose patients and the hospital will go out of business. The VA is a headless bureaucrat heaven where nurses can’t be fired and the VA hospital can’t be sued eitherill try to dig out my VA hospital experienced and post to you. Amazing I survived my 5-days with the VA.
The point I was trying to make (badly,for sure ) is that there are several Federal laws which apply to *just* this kind of situation...people who seek care at a hospital ER.It's certainly possible that the VA is exempt from these laws but if this man had presented to a civilian ER he would have been assessed and,if they were unable to care for him for any reason,he would have been transferred,by ambulance,to a facility that *could* care for him.
I have heard that vets are allowed to go to non VA hospitals but that the VA tries to keep it a secret.
The 3rd was just a few months ago in the new clean bright VA facility in the south suburbs of Grand Rapids, MI.
The difference in attitude of staff in these two places, was night/day; up/down; yin/yang; Hillary/Melania. This last time I was treated with respect as a person, and even more so as a Vet. In Detroit (anyplace in MI east of Lowell is Detroit,) I was cattle interrupting their paid working vacation.
I have only praise for the GR VA.
Hopefully, the Detroit (Allen Park) VA has improved in the 36 year interval.