My VA care is exceptional.
Far better than any I have received in the private sector.
Ours was also
What regional center are you part of?
VA healthcare can be exceptional here and there but in general, it’s not and it all boils down to government culture which cannot be avoided, There is on escape.
Most of the VA care providers are quite content and likable as long as things follow policy. As soon as a situation arises that clinic policy isn’t clear, then problems occur. Problems occur because it’s a vertical command structure with very little lower level decision support. Competent careworkers will mill around not knowing what to do because someone somewhere needs to give the ok. A vet can die in that environment.
In my recent incident, it wasn’t going to cost the VA a dime because the transportation assistance was funded by a county vets program. All I needed was a note. But the PA at the VHA center was following a mantra he was programmed to follow which is don’t say yes unless someone in the chain of command says yes for you. When you don’t have to say yes, you don’t need to risk issues of accountability.
In government healthcare, it’s much more important to be ‘accountable’ to policy than to the patient. If the patient suffers or dies, you can’t get in trouble if you followed policy.