The VA

[oflguy]

We've had Veteran's healthcare provided by the federal government since the first domiciliary and medical facility for veterans was opened in 1834.
The first federal government healthcare was the opening of the Marine Hospitals for sick seamen. "The origins of the system of Marine Hospitals can be traced to the passage, by the 5th Congress of the United States, of "An Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen" in 1798. This act created Marine Hospitals to care for sick seamen. The Marine Hospital Fund was placed under the Revenue Marine Service (a forerunner of the present-day Coast Guard) within the U.S. Department of the Treasury."--Wikipedia

Another attempt to deflect from the discussion. The VA hospital system has been a joke, a disgrace and an embarrassment for decades. Trump improved things but as always, anything run by the government will always be inefficient when run by government employees, who have historically been incompetant.

[Nero]

Another attempt to deflect from the discussion. The VA hospital system has been a joke, a disgrace and an embarrassment for decades. Trump improved things but as always, anything run by the government will always be inefficient when run by government employees, who have historically been incompetant.

There have been scores of years when the Republicans controlled all three branches of government. They have never seen fit to dismantle the Veterans Administration/Veterans Affairs healthcare system.
The system has been underfunded for decades, now we're playing catch-up. Its one of the few things that nearly all congressional Republicans and Democrats agree on.

[oflguy]

There have been scores of years when the Republicans controlled all three branches of government. They have never seen fit to dismantle the Veterans Administration/Veterans Affairs healthcare system.
The system has been underfunded for decades, now we're playing catch-up. Its one of the few things that nearly all congressional Republicans and Democrats agree on.

It's not a matter of money. The sad truth is, ANYTHING run by the government will always be inefficient, wasteful, and administered by incompetant people. What the VA has done to our military veterans is a disgrace.

[Nero]

It's not a matter of money. The sad truth is, ANYTHING run by the government will always be inefficient, wasteful, and administered by incompetant people. What the VA has done to our military veterans is a disgrace.

Veterans feel differently.
Veteran trust in VA health care rises above 90 percent for the first time
April 30, 2020

Veteran trust in VA health care rises above 90 percent for the first time
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released survey results showing Veteran trust in VA health care outpatient services has increased more than 5% since 2017, reaching 90.1% as of April 12.
VA received surveys from 4,030,438 Veterans since June 2017 to the present via the Veterans Signals customer feedback program which asks Veterans about their care experience and to rate their trust in VA.
“These improvements are a testament to not only VA’s investment in patient experience programs but also the dedication of our employees.” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “Even during a pandemic, our VA team has continued its steadfast commitment to delivering the highest quality care for our nation’s Veterans.”

edited by moderator for fair use, two paragraph rule. This applies in the comments as well, Nero.

Boadicea
https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressre ... fm?id=5435

[Nero]

And for inpatient services:
Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs

Newly released survey data shows VA leads in patient experience
March 10, 2022

Newly released survey data shows VA leads in patient experience

Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals outperform community hospitals, on 10 of 11 metrics, in Medicare’s latest Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems patient survey report.
The Jan. 26 report found 54% of VA medical centers received 4 or 5 HCAHPS Stars for the Patient Survey Rating compared to 35% of community hospitals.
“VA has seen significant improvement in our patient experience scores since first being included in Care Compare in 2018,” said Deputy Under Secretary for Health, performing the delegable duties of the Under Secretary for Health Steven L. Lieberman, M.D. “Four years ago, only 26% of VA hospitals received 4 or 5 HCAHPS Stars for Patient Survey Rating — rising to 54% — in the latest January 2022 results.
edited by moderator for fair use, two paragraph rule

Boadicea
https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressre ... fm?id=5773

[oflguy]

Veterans feel differently.
Veteran trust in VA health care rises above 90 percent for the first time
April 30, 2020

Veteran trust in VA health care rises above 90 percent for the first time
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released survey results showing Veteran trust in VA health care outpatient services has increased more than 5% since 2017, reaching 90.1% as of April 12.
VA received surveys from 4,030,438 Veterans since June 2017 to the present via the Veterans Signals customer feedback program which asks Veterans about their care experience and to rate their trust in VA.
“These improvements are a testament to not only VA’s investment in patient experience programs but also the dedication of our employees.” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “Even during a pandemic, our VA team has continued its steadfast commitment to delivering the highest quality care for our nation’s Veterans.”
This delivery of quality care reflects VA’s priority mission of customer service and its goal to ensure a positive patient experience. In the past three years, more than 95,000 Veterans Health Administration employees have been trained on VA’s customer experience training program called Own the Moment. VA has also implemented programs like Red Coat Ambassadors nationwide to improve the Veteran’s navigation of care facilities across the country. Initiatives such as VA Patient Experience Week share best practices in culture changing patient experience tools, technology and training with institutions and providers across the country.
According to the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS), the results of these and other improvements, has been an increase in the VA patient experience by 4% in the past four years while private sector’s national average has increased by only 1%.
Since the VA began offering Veterans the option to respond to Veteran Signals surveys with free-text feedback, 68% (918,873) of their comments have been complimentary, 18.9% (255,351) have been concerns and 13.3% (179.902) are recommendations. VA uses this feedback at the national, regional and local levels to make improvements in the way VA provides care and services.
https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressre ... fm?id=5435

That's after Trump improved things. He started to allow veterans to access care outside the VA hospitals, paid for by VA benefits. But government entities will always be inefficient and incompetent.

[Nero]

That's after Trump improved things. But government entities will always be inefficient and incompetant.

Republicans in the 117th Congress pushed for and overwhelmingly voted for increased funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs, post-Trump.

[oflguy]

Republicans in the 117th Congress pushed for and overwhelmingly voted for increased funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs, post-Trump.

So?

Is it possible to pass a law that makes government employees give a damn?

[Nero]

So?

Is it possible to pass a law that makes government employees give a damn?

Every member of the United States Armed Forces is a government employee. They don't need a law to give a damn.

[Boadicea]

A friend of mine did the same job as you. She retired last year. Had a dozen years in, before that she was a bookkeeper/ accounts payable / office manager.

Bought a new Dodge Challenger as her retirement gift to herself.

I've done it all as well, it's part of the reason I want to get out, but if my current employer makes me a good enough deal, I'll go into management.

[uncledad]

I've done it all as well, it's part of the reason I want to get out, but if my current employer makes me a good enough deal, I'll go into management.

While we are on the subject, if the VA is close by, see if they are hiring for your specialty. You can compare $ numbers and benefits.

[oflguy]

Every member of the United States Armed Forces is a government employee. They don't need a law to give a damn.

You know who I'm talking about, and it's NOT the poor VA patients who for decades have had to put up with terrible health care.

[Nero]

You know who I'm talking about, and it's NOT the poor VA patients who for decades have had to put up with terrible health care.

The VA has the highest percentage of veterans working as government employees of any federal agency. I think veterans working to insure and improve the health of their fellow veterans DO care.

One more time, the majority of veterans are happy with their healthcare through the VA.
"NEW SYSTEM ALLOWS VETS TO SEE PATIENT SATISFACTION RATINGS FOR VA HOSPITALS"

A federal website now lets veterans compare patient reviews of care at VA and non-VA hospitals using industry-standard ratings.

The ratings for VA hospitals were recently published for the first time and a tool called Care Compare on Medicare.gov now lets veterans see the results alongside those of non-VA hospitals in their areas.

The VA discontinued its own ranking system, which used different standards from those of other hospitals, in late 2019 in an effort to increase transparency.

60 out of 121 VA hospitals listed on Care Compare earned at least four out of five stars in patient satisfaction. VA medical centers with too few patients or data were not included.

Roughly 40% of the total 3,462 hospitals (not just VA medical centers) surveyed in 2019 were rated at least four stars, according to Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems data.

Patient satisfaction is just one factor in the overall star ratings, which also take such quality measures as death and infection rates into account. Currently, overall star ratings are not available for VA or Department of Defense facilities. VA officials say they’re on track to include more measures on Care Compare and ensure the site features overall star ratings for veterans facilities in 2023.
https://www.coffeeordie.com/va-hospitals-ratings