CJ VA Anecdote
August 27th, 2009 by CJ
It's pretty common knowledge that the VA has its issues. It's also got its perks. My father is a veteran and hasn't had any issues with the VA or TRICARE, our health care system. But, I can't help but bristle when I read emails like this from retired veteran SFC Frederick Wrede Jr.:
On July 6th, 2009.Dr. Georgy at the Ernest Childers VA Outpatient Clinic here in Tulsa, OK scheduled me for a Ultra Sound examination of my abdomen. It was conducted at the Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center in Muskogee, OK.
On the morning of July 7th, 2009 Dr. Georgy called me and said that I needed an emergency operation to remove my gall bladder or I would die.
Today is August 26th, 2009. Exactly fifty-one days since I was told that I needed an "Emergency" operation to save my life. VA has no dam concern regarding my healthcare. VA is back to the same staff as they did before, under the Clinton Administration: which is "Delay, Deny and Hope you Die". I spent 20 Years of my life defending my Country, was injured often but continued to serve.
Since July 7th 2009 VA has drug me through hell, disrupted my life, caused undo stress and burden upon myself, my wife and my family. This is an example of how VA treats the Veterans of our Country. Sweeps our lives under a carpet, out of sight and out of mind.
This veteran has been hung up on more than three times by the VA as he explained his issues because he was calling the wounded warrior hotline and he was a veteran.
Thankfully, guys like Dave at the Patriot Defenders Network are there for our veterans and trying to help. But, even they are running into brick walls in an inefficient system. Folks, if you think this story is bad, read the rest of it! How is it that we are STILL not taking care of our veterans? I thought these issues were supposed to be fixed as of the appointment of Secretary Shinseki to the post.
Tags: eric shinseki, va medical care, veterans administration
Posted in Military Perspective
Just in from SFC Wrede:
"I tried again to crash thru the impregnable walls of VA this afternoon. Here is what had transpired and my letter to Congressman Sullivans office."
Dear Mr. Wiland,
It appears that I am still crashing into the VA brick walls here again and could use your advice and/or assistance concerning this matter.
In reference to the letter dtd August 20th, 2009 that you had received from Ms. Gracie Specks, Acting Medical Center Director, Dept of Veterans Affairs VAMC Muskogee, OK.
I had called Ms.Sheila Barr, Administrative Officer, Surgical Service at (918) 577-3927 to request an email address to submit a complaint concerning my present medical issues with VA. She was very kind in trying to resolve the questions that I have, yet she could not provide a email address for me to properly file a complaint and maintain a paper trail. She did however direct me to go through the Patient Advocate at the Ernest Childers VA Outpatient Clinic to initiate my complaint.
I recall that in a letter dtd on the 11th of August that you had contacted the Medical Center Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs on my behalf. I would like to know if you would be so kind as to forward a letter that I will present to you listing my grievances/complaints though the channels that you presently have established. This would cut short the time to have these issues resolved and corrections made to the VA Medical record that they hold on me.
Any assistance or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Respectfully,
Frederick Wrede, Jr.
CJ… I've re-posted your link to this topic elsewhere per our conversation today. Knowing that we need to work with Mac to reduce this sad history to short and on-point statements in chronological order, I think the same might apply to his friends and resources.
I leave it to your expertise to review what may be added here soon and decide what is needed for the recoding session. I'm sure Mac's friends will have ideas we've not considered. At the end of the day… I hope we don't need any of this and he gets the immediate medical help he needs.
For new visitors click on my name at the top of this message to open the webpage with the most current information and to volunteer if needed next week.
Discussions are to advance suggestions or a brief statement of what you could offer to the recorded session. We're on a search for experts that have solved VA issues, former VA employees with knowledge of other horror stories and folks willing to make calls, write letters or email when and if the need arises.
1SGT Grisham: God bless you young man and all the military bogglers that have answered the call to assist SFC Wrede. Your offer to record a clear and succinct chronology of Mac harrow story with the VA could well serve a larger purpose for veterans all over this nation. In some area the VA does a great service to our veterans but in many, what a perfect example of the pitfalls of government run health care for the rest of our fellow Americans and in particular, our aging population. SGT Grisham, we have a platoon of patriots, many who are honorable veterans in their own right, ready to be deployed at your direction to assist Mac. Thank you for your service and sacrifices to or nation and the Band of Brothers you are part of.
Hey CJ and company:
Mac is in good spirits today and fighting back with this message:
Today is a Town House meeting in Tulsa, OK, two of them with Congressman Sullivan. Many of you know the past month and a half of the medical issues I have been going through with the VA.
Now don't get me wrong here. Congressman Sullivan's Office has been very helpful in assisting me with my issues. Senators Coburn and Inhofe are my trump cards in the shadows and are well aware.
If given the opportunity to attend and the ability to speak at the Town House meeting this is what I'd like to say before all the local news stations attending. This is a rough draft.
Congressman Sullivan: Not so recently President Obama was quoted as saying that the Goverment HealthCare that the Veterans Affairs Department provides to the Veterans is a great example of the HealthCare Program that he wants all Americans to have.
Yet the Veterans Administration is currently riddled with horror stories of medical misdiagnoses, bureaucratic red-tape and fraudulent spending of tax payers hard earned money.
I personally know of one Disabled Veteran that was informed of needing an emergency operation to save his life. For over 2 Months this disabled veteran was subjected to repeated tests and countless consultations with Surgeons.
Then the lies came, the delays, the denial. Eventually he was told that his condition would need to get worse before the Veterans Administration would help.
He was politely given pain medication and sent home…. to what? Die?
Throughout this process his life was tossed into turmoil and stress upon his family to the point they live in constant fear.
This is not just one Veteran that has fallen through the bureaucratic cracks of Government HeathCare but is the life of Hundreds of Thousands of today's American Veterans. The Presidents proposed HeathCare Bill would only subject Millions of Americans to the same lack of Care.
Please stop this proposed HealthCare Bill before it kills America. By the way, the Disabled Veteran that I had discussed is myself. One of a Hundred Thousands.
My brother lives in your area and has a similar story going on right now with the Muskogee va. He also needs help of any kind before they let him die from delay, deny and down right lying about his health. Please feel free to contact me and I will put you in touch with him! If enough vet come out about the abuses going on in your va the powers to be will have to do some thing to correct the problems that plague your va!