The Political Conundrum!

I want to put in a good word for the VA and briefly describe my recent experience with them. Being a current unemployed veteran and in need of some prescription medications that I can not afford to pay for out of pocket, I decided to enroll in the VA’s prescription drug benefit program. Never previously having used this valuable service I was skeptical at what this experience might prove to be. I was also concerned on a personal level that I might be taking medical assistance or time away from a much more worthy veteran who was perhaps suffering from some malaise or injury that was a result of a combat operation. Outside of needing some prescription medication required for health maintenance I am much more healthy and fit than one might expect to be at the age of 54.

The treatment and respect I received from the VA was beyond anything I had ever imagined it to be. Every step along the way through the process was without incident and the service provided was superior to ANY that I have ever experienced in my dealings with for-profit, out-patient care through a civilian family medical practice. The facility I went to in KY was absolutely spotless. I commented to the LPN who accomplished the majority of the intake process and all of the lab work how remarkably clean the facility was. Her response to me was that the standard they are held to is non-negotiable and the entire facility is scrubbed top to bottom every single day. I tell you it was spotless. I had envisioned something more akin to my military experiences 27 years ago which were not as uneventful or as favorable. This facility had the most modern and up-to-date technology available whether it was computer systems, diagnostic equipment, or medical staff. The staff are all VA civilian employees, on a salary, and don’t have to worry about the hassles of malpractice insurance, overhead costs, and profitability. The number one mission in their job role is to provide care to veterans. Period! And these folks did it extremely well by this former SSG’s yardstick. I was actually told by the Doc to not be concerned about “me taking time away from vets that were in greater need than me”. The way the VA care system works is real simple. If the caseload reaches a certain point the VA simply adds more personnel. I was made to feel that the service I was receiving was deserving and not taking resources away from someone in greater need than myself.

I encourage all veterans to get into the VA system now in case some unfortunate life event in the future causes them to be on the ‘wanting/needing’ end of a long line of others who don’t have the VA as an option to them. Life happens and sometimes it happens to you due to circumstances beyond your capability to control. Getting into the VA system is as easy as filling in a short form and mailing it along with a copy of your DD 214 to your state’s VA processing center. If you haven’t done so lately go to the VA’s website and peruse all of the benefits you, as a veteran, have available to you just for the asking.

I won’t speak to anyone else’s personal VA experience but my VA experience in KY was a 5 star rating and I highly recommend VA services to all employed, under-employed or unemployed veterans. Our service to our country is respected and honored by these VA folks and they care about us. That said, now I want to be a more active member of this organization and will be trying earnestly to become employed by them. If that’s not an even greater endorsement than my brief description above I don’t know what would be.

Airborne All The Way!