Local media stories from across the country indicate the problems with VA medical centers are much more widespread than national media may be reporting.
KKCO in Grand Junction, Colorado ran a story detailing the plight of two veterans. One bluntly said the VA’s lack of urgency cost him his leg.
Larry Wilkinson said a VA doctor never called him with the test results of a foot infection and after two months of no news, he had to have his leg amputated.
“I feel the VA owes me a leg,” Wilkinson said.
Another VA patient, Richard Worsley, said when he was showing symptoms of a heart attack, he was taken to St. Mary’s even though he wanted to go to the VA Medical Center. He then received a bill for more than $8,000.
Paul Sweeney, spokesman for the Grand Junction VA Medical Center, told the news station that vets who had complaints could follow this procedure:
- Go to a “patient advocate” and file a “patient contact” with them
- If that doesn’t satisfy them, they can meet with a “public relations officer”
- The next step is to “write a letter to our chief of staff”
Vets are losing limbs – AT HOME! – while the paper pushers make them check all the bureaucratic boxes. Outrageous.