Facebook post on VA treatment of patients causes uproar

The Associated Press ^ | February 28, 2017

[2ndDivisionVet]

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — A former Marine and his wife say the scene inside a Veterans Administration hospital in Durham, North Carolina, was so shocking that they felt compelled to take pictures and post them to Facebook.

Now thousands of people are expressing outrage and the head of the medical center says an employee involved has been removed from patient care pending an internal review.

Hanna and Stephen McMenamin posted photos of two veterans who were struggling in the waiting room. They said both older men were ignored for hours despite complaining of severe pain. They said one practically fell out of his wheelchair, and the other finally lay down on the floor after being denied a place to rest....

[2ndDivisionVet]

My wife and I waited 23 hours one time in a V.A. emergency room. I never did get to see a doctor.

[Steely Tom]

One would think this incident would enable President Trump to go after reform of the federal labor regulations that enable government employees to ignore their jobs and survive for years, with no fear of any sort of action on the part of their boss.

[NonValueAdded]

Medical Center Director DeAnne Seekins has thanked the couple for alerting them to the problem, and said disrespecting veterans will not be tolerated. "It is an honor to serve America's heroes and actions that do not align with our core values will not be tolerated," she said in a statement. "We pride ourselves on providing the highest quality care to the Veterans we serve and being responsive to our patient's needs. Veterans deserve nothing less."

THEN SEEKINS, WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED???

[Ace's Dad]

The VA hospital system is one of the main reasons I stuck it out in the reserves until I retired; with Tricare for Life. That’s the supplement for Medicare patients and, so far, it’s worked perfectly for my many medical problems. If you’re a Vet (Thank you) I’d consider joining the reserve. I’m now 75.

My feeling, is that if Trump or anybody else improves the VA, it will just get more overcrowded, and wait times will expand. JMHO.

[Secret Agent Man]

They say the things people want to hear, but keep doing what they really want to do.

[Terry Mross]

I saw a guy fall over in a wheelchair once at a VA and orderlies were walking by him as he laid in the floor. I tried to help him up then finally some people came and got him back in the wheelchair.

[vpintheak]

Complete and utter bull squat!!!!!!!
End the VA health care system now! They can simply review and process paperwork! Let us veterans go to the free market and the VA picks up the tabs. Government workers in a government union just don’t cut it.

[BipolarBob]

Amen. They are killing my father as we speak. Worst health care ever. They’ve even tried to keep him from seeing other outside doctors. Unbelievable.

[PubliusMM]

“...the head of the medical center says an employee involved has been removed from patient care pending an internal review. “

Not buying it. This kind of willful neglect doesn’t come from one front-line staff member. This is evidence of a neglectful mindset that extends from the top, down.

Drastic action will be required if this is to be truly corrected.

Our veterans deserve the best. And, this is NOT it.

[dixiedarlindownsouth]

My father is a Viet Nam vet. Every single time he goes to the VA it’s a fight. Fortunately for him, I still have some fight in me because it’s taken a toll on him. To ensure he receives his medications on time often requires a Congressional complaint. Fortunately, we’ve had a very responsive Congressman.

[GailA]

Veteran dies after medication error at NC VA hospital
http://wncn.com/2017/02/28/veteran-dies-after-medication-error-at-nc-va-hospital/

VA Nurse Refused to Get a Veteran in Severe Pain a Bed, So He Laid On The Cold Floor
https://townhall.com/tipsheet/katiepavlich/2017/02/28/another-veteran-left-to-die-on-a-va-floor-n2291905?utm_source=thdailypm&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl_pm&newsletterad=

Veterans Administration under fire after horrifying photos of neglected vets go viral
https://www.rawstory.com/2017/02/veterans-administration-under-fire-after-horrifying-photos-of-neglected-vets-go-viral/

Photos showing patients being ignored at North Carolina VA cause uproar
https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/articles/photos-showing-patients-being-ignored-at-north-carolina-va-cause-uproar

Phoenix V-A scandal: First lawsuit alleging malpractice heads to court
http://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/arizona-news/238342124-story

Sec. Shulkin Says the VA has Embarked on New Territory
http://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/2017/02/28/sec-shulkin-says-va-has-embarked-on-new-territory.html

The Long History of Discrimination in Pain Medicine
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/02/chronic-pain-stigma/517689/

[vpintheak]

I am sorry to hear that. I’ll say some prayers for him and others hurting so badly.

[BipolarBob]

Prayers for all of the vets treated in his hospital. IF everybody knew, they would be shut down for good.