SEATTLE -- The Veterans Administration is still reeling from allegations earlier this year that veterans died while waiting to receive care at VA hospitals. This week, local leaders will meet with veterans to see if care here is improving at all.
“Some of the waits were weeks, some were months,” says veteran Frank Selden, who tried to get care at the VA Puget Sound after suffering a severe back injury in Iraq.
He said it was hard to get appointments, because the facility was understaffed and underfunded.
“If I can only see a physical therapist every other month, but I need physical therapy three times a week, that’s not working for me.”
Selden eventually used private insurance to find doctors outside of the VA system.
“I’m standing, walking today because I had an alternative. I firmly believe that if I had to rely on the VA system for the care for the injury I had, I would not be mobile today.”
He knows other veterans aren’t so lucky. An audit earlier this year found new patients at VA Puget Sound were waiting nearly two months to be seen by a doctor.
“Hiring more doctors has really been our biggest issue,” said Chad Hutson, a public affairs officer for VA Puget Sound. “And hiring staff to support those physicians.”
But the VA said they are committed to providing better care for veterans. That’s why this week they’re hosting two town hall meetings.
“The only way we’re going to be able to improve care for veterans is to reach out to them, talk to them and get firsthand experiences from them,” said Hutson.
Selden said local providers are doing the best they can. He thinks they’re just overwhelmed by the number of veterans coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan and the type of care they need. That’s why he says what needs to come out of these meetings is the call for more funding.
“I really hope Congress is taking a serious look at that part of the problem,” said Selden.
If you’d like to attend, the first meeting will be Tuesday at the American Lake campus in Tacoma. The second will be Wednesday night at the Southcenter Doubletree. Both will run from 6-8 pm.