Thank you for your perspective. I'm going to tag on, if you don't mind.
While stationed in Japan, our military hospital served active duty, retired, and dependents. It was, without question, the best medical facility I've ever been in. The doctors, nurses, and staff were mostly active duty or reservists. They UNDERSTOOD what their mission was. The CO of the hospital was a Full Bird, and the place ran with military precision. Patients were treated with respect.
Likewise, when we were stationed in Maryland, our base had a good size clinic, although not a hospital. It, too, served retirees and dependents. The care was excellent.
The solution is two-fold. VA hospitals should be run by the military. If they are run like the ones in my experience, veterans will prefer them over "regular" hospitals. The second part of the solution... treatment for veterans outside the range of military hospitals has already been addressed.
“VA hospitals should be run by the military.”
Agreed. And I would add, we should blue hat all military docs so they can serve any service anywhere...
*** I love the voices on this thread. Thank you all.
” treatment for veterans outside the range of military hospitals has already been addressed.”
Good luck getting enrolled in that program. I have been trying, unsuccessfully, for months. I just don’t like that 95 mile, one way, drive any longer.