. Sec. McDonald reported on CNN yesterday that the VA is undergoing some big, and I mean BIG changes. President Obama Apointee Sec. McDdonald appeared on CNN and reported that many many people were losing their jobs.
The bonus taking, beauracratic top administrators will have to hit the pavement looking for new work. 28,000 Doctors and nurses needed immediately. There is a huge shakeup and I am so glad he clarified that the problem has existed for many years but was regional for the most part. There is no need to privatize, just make people do their jobs or lose their jobs. 83 percent of the VA personnel is not veterans and cannot relate to veteran issues. I suspect that stops now. Veterans will have more access to care at VA expense , if they choose.
It’s the largest re-organization in the department’s history as the Department of Veterans Affairs tries to excise the turmoil, with the centerpiece being what the new VA Secretary Robert McDonald calls “MyVA”.
“They know who to contact, they know where to go on websites, they know what benefits are available, and they can easily connect with us to get the benefits and the services that they have already earned and deserved,” Secretary McDonald said in a Washington speech on Monday.
McDonald also said on CBS Network’s “60 Minutes”, he is formulating a hit list of agency administrators and supervisors for discipline– including termination: “the report that we have passed up to the Senate committee and House committee has about 35 names on it. I have another report that’s got over 1,000.”
McDonald said in an interview with CBS' "60 Minutes" that aired Sunday that he plans to hire about 28,000 medical professionals to join the agency's hospitals and clinics around the country, including about 2,500 mental health professionals
One year ago today I appeared on CNBC regarding some of the abuses of veterans in Florida and Georgia. Much of my info ended up on the editing floor but I am proud I spoke to the media and proud my husband and I sat there and called these bonus takers out. I remember I had to borrow a 100.00 to make the trip to Gainesville to talk to these people from New York but that's OK... We advocates are very used to working by the seat of our pants for change.
I found out Death and Dishonor. Crisis at the VA won a documentary award. Let it be known. the real heros of that documentary were the whistlblowers and employees and veterans who stepped in front of the camera to help other veterans. I heard Wolf Blitzer do the same thing that the CNBC folks did. They kept wanting praise for the changes due to their reporting. I am happy Sec. McDonald said,
" I got most of my information for change from talking to veterans."
Ha !!!! Well said, Sec. McDonald.
The reporters get paid to tell these stories and the people who give them info and research, do so on a volunteer mission to help others.
I also cringed and have cringed all year on CNN and CNBC fighting over who exposed what first. I actually have the answer to that question and quibble. CNBC was working on the VA crisis as far back as August 2013 and I gathered much info as early as September 2013. Cnn did not pick the ball up till a few months later.
Maybe just maybe things will get a little easier for veterans but I give much credit to Senator Bernie Sanders and not so much to Congressman Jeff Miller.
In one year we have made a little difference in the world of Veteran care but not near enough for decades ( especially under Republican control) of little oversight and the influx of more care needed in a really good medical system if run appropriately. President Obama has done so very much to further better treatment for veterans and it angers me to see him get so little credit.
Thinking of you all on this Veterans Day. Thank you ALL for encouraging and always supporting my efforts as llbear, Danang , angelajean ,lbyard and others go to the mat everyday for veterans.
Light a candle, say a prayer and hope we quit making veterans. We have enough now to care for. We do this risking our own health and peace of mind and yes we need everyone fighting for causes because just a little can make a difference.
http://www.cnn.com/...
If I don't answer right away, it is because today is Veterans Day and I may be a tad busy, but still not completely well.
1:50 PM PT: Below are pictures of a veteran here in Florida that the VA farmed out and are responsible for so there is good argument against privatizing the VA.
These administrators do not want the hard patients. Florida is a mess.
There are so many examples of abuses in Florida, it is sickening. See
lbyard's comment and then see what we have been saying.. A pic is worth a million words. There are several pics...THEY ARE GRAPHIC
PTSD ALERT.....