Doug Collins, Secretary of VA
I would like to be able to say I have high hopes for Doug Collins in his new role as VA Secretary, as his statement hit all the “standard” areas of concern usually echoed by other bureaucrats. My realistic expectations, however, are a bit more tempered. I would like to see him move unimpeded through each of his proposed targets of opportunity, without all the usual red tape that is the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA system has been in need of reform for decades, and the Veterans of this great nation deserve nothing less than top notch care. They deserve care in a more timely and consistent manner than some I have experienced first hand myself. This country owes a debt to our men and women who have served, and the motto used from the words of Abraham Lincoln himself should be applied, and not just placed on a VA facility wall…”To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.”
“To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.”
Abraham Lincoln
The at-risk programs for Veterans who are homeless and/or who have mental illnesses should be of the utmost importance, as he eludes to. These outreach areas are crucial and sometimes don’t receive the “front of the line” status they need from the Department of Veterans Affairs. I agree with his plan to recognize both the “good and bad” as it pertains to VA employees. This will not only benefit the first line experience that Veterans have during interaction with staff, but can also improve overall quality of service. I hope that Sec. Collins can accomplish his stated goals, with little to no interference from the standard bureaucratic red tape that plagues Washington, DC.
A Patriot’s View
My view on Sec. Collins’ “way forward” may be in the form of cautious optimism, but I’m definitely in favor of a timelier experience with every facet of VA care, as he references in his statement. There are far too many instances where Veterans have exorbitant wait times for needed medical care, as well as delivery of entitlement benefits due them. In my opinion, the “new and better ways” he speaks of, can be best addressed by eliminating unneeded redundancy and streamlining processes already in place. In the case of appointment scheduling, the community care option can/should be used whenever available, to ensure care can be provided sooner than what the typical VA clinic can sometimes handle.
