Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!olivea!oliveb!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!26!Jack.O'keeffe
From: Jack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Jack O'keeffe)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: VA Hospitals
Message-ID: <14651@bunker.UUCP>
Date: 3 Oct 90 14:32:10 GMT
Sender: wtm@bunker.UUCP
Reply-To: Jack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org
Distribution: misc
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/26 - SoundingBoard, Pittsburgh PA
Lines: 30
Approved: wtm@bunker.UUCP

Index Number: 10818

Did anyone else watch the program on TV last Thursday?  The one
Diane Sawyer did on Veteran's Hospitals?  Having spent a fair
amount of time in VA hospitals, but NOT the one in Cleveland
that was featured on TV, I have to say that my experience does
not compare precisely with what Diane reported.  You spend a
lot of time waiting of course, but once that is past I have
experienced considerate, caring, professional attention.  They
have limited resources to work with, but I sincerely believe
they do the best they can with what they have.

I do hear that the quality of care varies greatly from one
hospital to another, all the way from excellent to wretched.

What distressed me most, even more than the lack of attention
to the paralized vietnam vet, was the reaction of VA Secretary
Derwinski.  He seemed to be much more upset at the media for
reporting despicable conditions than he was for the existence
of the conditions reported.  I understand he has dispatched
a team of investigators to the Cleveland VA hospital.  Probably
not to investigate the actual patient care, but to investigate
the lapse of security that let Diane get in with her hidden
TV camera.

... Xpress Yourself!

--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!26!Jack.O'keeffe
Internet: Jack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org