Dallas VA hospital sending troops to private hospitals for surgery

[rainbow4321]

This is the VA hospital that had to be investigated a few years back...VA officials from DC flew in and administrators at the facility were fired. More recently it had several patient suicides in the news, including one soldier that was released from care, only to kill himself later in a hotel room.



http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa090106_mo_veterans.ad6a15f5.html

News 8 discovered dozens, perhaps hundreds, of veterans are lined up for non-emergency surgery.

With a wait of one year or more, podiatry and orthopedics specialties have the longest waits in Dallas.

But, the VA Headquarters in Washington D.C. said elevated wait times are a problem it recognizes nationwide.

"A plan is already in place to increase podiatry surgery days in the OR from one day per week to two days per week as soon as appropriate staff are in place," said the Dallas VA in a written response to News 8 questions. "Recruitment efforts are ongoing." Four new nurses and a surgical technician are needed.

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http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa090415_mo_waittimes.dbda7f8c.html

The Dallas VA Medical Center is making changes after a News 8 story last week revealed veterans enduring waits of more than a year for non-emergency surgeries.

Steven Farmer, a 30-year-old veteran that served in Iraq, suffers from planters fasciitis. His surgery moved to the front of the line after News 8 profiled his case. The Marine underwent surgery Wednesday morning.

Originally, the VA told News 8 it had extended wait times locally and nationally for podiatry and orthopedic cases. A nationwide lack of nurses was one reason, the VA said.

Now, a spokeswoman told News 8 it is sending 300 local veterans to private hospitals in North Texas. The move will shorten waits from a year to three or four months at the Dallas VA.