http://jdpendry.com/2008/01/20/in-times-of-political-campaigns/ Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:41:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 http://jdpendry.com/2008/01/20/in-times-of-political-campaigns/#comment-1824 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 17:32:29 +0000 http://jdpendry.com/2008/01/20/in-times-of-political-campaigns/#comment-1824 As a retired VA nurse, I was proud of the care we gave our vets in Tucson. Now as a part time home care nurse, I often identify and help vets who aren't aware they are eligible for benefits become enrolled in the VA system. I've seen many patients with other resources choose VA care over private care because of the excellent level of care and the continuity provided (especially useful for "snowbirds" who travel). While the "system" may be cumbersome and initially difficult to navigate, it is much more responsive to the unique needs of our vets than the private sector. Most of the problems within the system come from rules, restrictions and regulations formulated by politicians, not by the VA itself. (I've often thought every senator and Washington politician should be required to receive their medical care from the VA while they are in office - then they might begin to understand the ramifications of budget cuts, stupid rules, etc. Like back in the winter of '95-'96 - when we all went to work to care for our patients despite not getting paychecks. I doubt the politicians who were holding up the federal budget were worried about putting food on the table or getting their kids a Christmas present. Oh yeah - that's when Billary was President.) As a retired VA nurse, I was proud of the care we gave our vets in Tucson. Now as a part time home care nurse, I often identify and help vets who aren’t aware they are eligible for benefits become enrolled in the VA system.
I’ve seen many patients with other resources choose VA care over private care because of the excellent level of care and the continuity provided (especially useful for “snowbirds” who travel).
While the “system” may be cumbersome and initially difficult to navigate, it is much more responsive to the unique needs of our vets than the private sector. Most of the problems within the system come from rules, restrictions and regulations formulated by politicians, not by the VA itself.
(I’ve often thought every senator and Washington politician should be required to receive their medical care from the VA while they are in office - then they might begin to understand the ramifications of budget cuts, stupid rules, etc. Like back in the winter of ‘95-’96 - when we all went to work to care for our patients despite not getting paychecks. I doubt the politicians who were holding up the federal budget were worried about putting food on the table or getting their kids a Christmas present. Oh yeah - that’s when Billary was President.)

]]> http://jdpendry.com/2008/01/20/in-times-of-political-campaigns/#comment-1489 Sun, 20 Jan 2008 23:45:37 +0000 http://jdpendry.com/2008/01/20/in-times-of-political-campaigns/#comment-1489 Our soldiers and veterans are "out of sight, out of mind". It is a national disgrace that ONE veteran is homeless, or that one military family is being forced to use food stamps. It is a disgrace that we as American citizens allow those in Congress or the Oval Office to continue to fund a war and fail to fund complete physical and mental healthcare for our returning troops. If there is one thing we must do, it is to demand that we no longer fund this war or any other until we fund the necessary care for our returning troops. We have hailed our heroes and forgotten them quicker than it takes to go through a McDonald's drive thru. It is now up to us to demand better for our fellow citizens... those who have sacrificed what the rest of us don't want to see. We should write, call, and email our elected officials until we get the funding these troops need to properly reintegrate into society with health care, housing, and the benefits we promised. Our soldiers and veterans are “out of sight, out of mind”. It is a national disgrace that ONE veteran is homeless, or that one military family is being forced to use food stamps. It is a disgrace that we as American citizens allow those in Congress or the Oval Office to continue to fund a war and fail to fund complete physical and mental healthcare for our returning troops. If there is one thing we must do, it is to demand that we no longer fund this war or any other until we fund the necessary care for our returning troops. We have hailed our heroes and forgotten them quicker than it takes to go through a McDonald’s drive thru. It is now up to us to demand better for our fellow citizens… those who have sacrificed what the rest of us don’t want to see. We should write, call, and email our elected officials until we get the funding these troops need to properly reintegrate into society with health care, housing, and the benefits we promised.

]]>