Our Vets Deserve Better, Chet!
October 11, 2009 by Timothy
Filed under Blog, In the News..., Positions
On Sat, 10/10/09, the B/CS Eagle ran a story about Cong. Chet Edwards addressing concerns our Veterans are having in seeking access to health care:
Vets voice concerns to Edwards
In the article, Mr. Edwards suggested that he’d personally look into concerns brought up during the meeting and that he’d “call the CEO of Tricare myself,” if necessary. Admirable. I have to ask you Chet, are you going to make that personal call for each of the thousands and thousands of Veterans experiencing difficulty accessing the VA system, or just the Veterans that share news print with you?
Isn’t there a better, more respectful, honorable way for our Vets to be treated? There is.
Chet, why aren’t our Veterans allowed the same access to local, consistent, and timely care that you receive with your government health insurance policy?
Our vets should be able to go to the local doctor and hospital of their choice to receive care. Period. Just like you can, Chet.
My first job as a Registered Nurse was working for the VA Hospital System. Unlike you, Chet, I’ve been “in the trenches” of providing care for our Veterans. My experience with our Veterans’ care goes far beyond a guided VIP hospital tour or two. I know first hand the problems and difficulties our Veterans face receiving care: lack of continuity, delays, long travel, separation from families, the list goes on and on.
Our Veterans deserve our best. They deserve access to health care that is at least as high in quality as YOURS, Chet. Instead of bragging about your ability to wade through the bureaucracy on behalf of our Veterans, why don’t you address the real problems and give our Veterans access to their local hospitals and doctors for care?
It’s the noble thing to do.
It’s a far nobler idea than attempting to have our wounded Vets pay for their own care, as President Obama recently suggested. And, it’s far better than you simply using the care of Vets as a tool to further your political career.
Take care of our Veterans, Chet. I’m not talking about nice but meaningless quotes for the newspaper. No, sir! Really take care of our Vets. Give us the freedom to seek out and choose our own care, just as you do.
Or, get out of the way and make room for someone that will!
Timothy Delasandro, RN, CCRN
Admin: View the Press Release accompanying this article.
