Posted on 05/24/2014 3:44:26 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Veteran James Root says he has to wait two months for a desperately needed dermatology appointment
NBC 7's Omari Fleming speaks with San Diego-based military veteran James Root, who says he's getting "substandard" care from the local VA hospital. San Diego Vet Gets Substandard Care at VA LINK E Service medals and pictures on his wall make Retired Petty Officer James Root look like a real life G.I. Joe.
From his Combat Action Ribbon showing courage under fire, to the numerous medals he earned during his 20 years in the U.S. Navy, Root proved himself to be an American hero.
“This shows you’ve been in a combat zone and engaged with the enemy,” explained James Root as he pointed at the honor above his fireplace. But now, he is setting his sights on another battle -- this time with the Veteran’s Administration San Diego Health Care System. He claims he is not getting the timely medical attention he so desperately needs. Officer-Involved Shooting Shuts Down Border Crossing
His allegations come amid a growing scandal within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs over delayed and substandard care at its facilities. Fighting in four tours of duty – including Desert Storm and Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom – has cost the 47-year-old Root. He suffers from PTSD, severe back problems, a possible cancerous growth on his lip and what he and his wife call the VA’s misdiagnosis of warts on his knuckles.
“They hurt,” Root said, looking down at the warts. “You want to just cut them off.”
He said he’s tried to do just that with a razor blade. In early May, Root tried to get an immediate appointment with a dermatologist for the problem. The closest appointment he could get was on July 15.
Calif. Shooting Rampage: Video Promised "Retribution" When asked if he’s getting a hero’s treatment these days, Root said, “No, it’s substandard.”
He and his wife Diana are now in a constant battle with the VA over timely treatment.
“My worst fear is he’s not going to get the help,” said Diana.
The San Diego VA Medical director said they’ve been recognized by their accrediting body as a top performing institution.
“We try to see most patients within a 14-day period, but that’s not always possible. Specialty services like dermatology aren’t always able to get immediate appointments,” the director said in a phone interview with NBC 7.
According to officials, the San Diego VA sees about 75,000 patients a year.
As for Root and his wife, Diana said she only had time to take her husband to appointments on Fridays because she’s become the family’s breadwinner, since his PTSD won’t allow him to work.
“Veterans, they go to serve their country, but when they come back, their country don’t serve them,” said Root.
The scandal embroiling VA facilities across the country was prompted when a whistleblower alleged that as many as 40 veterans died while waiting for appointments in a VA hospital in Phoenix, NBC News reported.
The fallout has led to the resignation the department’s Undersecretary Robert Petzel on May 16.
Some lawmakers have also called for the ouster of VA Secretary Eric Shinseki.
Yes,even with “Cadillac” insurance, I can’t get dermatology appointments in less than 4/6 weeks,if I am lucky. It took me over 4 weeks to get a GI appt when I was dealing with the after effects of a superbug that almost killed me. Specialists are hard to come by in civilian life, too. Obamacare is making it worse.
BTW, did anyone catch the information about how Congress had passed legislation/regulation/authorization for the VA to allow Veterans, “during a time of backlog” to allow Veterans to seek healthcare treatments at private hospitals and doctors not in the VA network???
And that the VA to this day has not notified Veterans during this time of this provision???
Now, Shinseki needs to go, that provision should have been the first thing out of his trap the other day...
It should have been the first thing out of the yap of Obama even after his obfuscation till he mentioned it the other day in his presser...
Just my opinion...
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