The VA and Prosthetics
I’ve said before that I am not a particularly sociable guy at times. The only time I ever really approach strangers is if they are wearing a ribbon on their lapel, or something similiar. I’ve learned from IVAW that thanking someone for their service means nothing, but my experience has been drastically different than that. So, when I see someone wearing a CIB or like medal, I say hello. Not easy for me to do being the Hobbit I am, but I do it anyway.
Today I saw a gentleman on my Metro wearing a CIB, and so, as usual, I compliemented him on his choice of lapel accoutrement and told him I have one as well. And I thanked him for his service. We started talking, and only then, being the observant chap that I am did I notice that his left hand was missing, and he instead had a hook. Further discussion with him revealed we had some common acquaintences. This gentleman was Fred Downs, formerly of the 4th Infantry Division, now the head of the VA’s Prosthetics Division.
Anyway, our mutual friend told me to look up a video of him on 60 Minutes, and I did so. And I want to share it with you now. This kind of thing is exactly why I defend the military and VA medical systems when they deserve it.
On Edit, I corrected the spelling of Mr. Downs’ name, and per commenter Brian, am adding a link to Amazon for Mr. Downs’ book:
The Killing Zone: My Life in the Vietnam War.
From Amazon: About the Author
Frederick Downs received four Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star with Valor, and the Silver Star for his service in the Vietnam War. He is also the author of Aftermath and No Longer Enemies, Not Yet Friends. He is currently the Director of Prosthetic and Sensory Aids for the Veterans Administration.
Category: Politics
Minor edit, his last name is Downs. He also wrote, “The Killing Zone: My Life in the Vietnam War.”
Awesome, thank you, I have updated the post accordingly.
I have had several rounds of surgery through the VA. My experience with the quality of care, the medical and nursing staffs, have always been very positive. As a patient, I have been treated much better than when in a civilian hospital.
My major complaint with the VA is NOT the care I receive. It is the bureaucracy that I have to wade through. The red tape. the endless requests for information that is already in the files. the constantly filling out the same forms time and again. The inability to get a simple question answered without having to see three or four different people in different offices on various floors.
I wish I had an answer to the problem beyond saying that this is how government works.
TSO: Great link, thanks for posting that.
Respects,
Yup Tim, my experience exactly. I love my Doctor at my CBOC, she is absolutely wonderful, and I would rather go to her than any doctor in the world. But to get my perscriptions renewed I have to usually make at least 3 phone calls, and even then it is a pain in the ass. Scheduling an appt with her is a disaster.
About 3 months ago I had a sore throat for like 5 days. I called to make an appointment, and was told I could get one in 3 1/2 weeks. For a sore throat. So, I just went to the Doctor and sat there. When she saw me she immediately came over, looked in my throat, pronounced me as having strep and made out a perscription. I was in and out in 5 mins, and she told me to ignore the call center people and just come in if I have problems.
Wish VA could somehow fix those issues. But either way, all of my doctors have been wonderful. Not always fluent in English, but always good at medicine.
I would certainly validate several points here.
1) TSO is paralyzingly afraid of speaking to people, it’s comical. The fact that he has mastered photshop to the point of “creating” an “internet girlfriend” is a testament to this sad state of affairs. For God’s sake, the man’s about to take the Bar exam and he can barely pick up the phone to call for pizza…good lad, needs help though.
2) VA care has been great. When I do have appointments, I’ve never had to wait more than 5 minutes. When I don’t, or when I get referred, it’s often a good idea to bring a book and wait, but once you get to the doc’s it’s been pretty good. It’s easy to rip VA for the things they don’t do well, but we have a tendency to forget to praise people when they DO do something right.
3) VA work in prosthetics has been nothing short of amazing. Given the new profile of wounds from the present war, owing likely to the abundance of quality torso body armor, this is a big deal, and they’re really handling it well and staying ahead of the curve (or trying to).
Thumbs up.
Been in the system a bit over 20 years. The CBOC idea changed everything from my perspective.
I have what some call ‘The White Coat Syndrome’ http://mens-health.health-cares.net/white-coat-syndrome.php and had a Fee Basis ID Card so I could just go to a local clinic. There were still the bureaucratic hoops others here mentioned and last year I switched to a CBOC.
Another Thumbs Up from this seat.
Walter Reed is the same way – the doctors, nurses, and military staff are professional, caring and dedicated. The civilian admin staff suck canal water.
I had a pre-op appointment for some minor surgery a few weeks ago. All I really accomplished was carrying paperwork from the 5th floor to the 6th floor for them.
Every visit is as if it’s the first time I’ve been there. Each department has a different card I have to present when I visit. They all sit in front of a computer, but I’ll be damned if I know why.
Maybe all of that will change when they move to the new facility in Bethesda – just so long as they don’t take the dinosaurs from Georgia Avenue with them.
Damn, I want to do what they do. I need a new career. That was really awesome. I’ve got a sister-in-law who has a congenital lower leg deformity and now uses a C-leg. It has really changed things for her. She can ride a bike and hike, now. Wow!!
Science Fiction is becoming reality. Once again proof that our warriors are being taken care of!!
This just goes to show how cold and evil the US Military are. Full of insensitive war mongerers who only join because they’re knuckle draggers and incapable of human emotion. More evidence of how they supposedly care for their own, yet leave them behind and stick them in sub standard facilities. “F” the military, and “F” Bush
Sincerely,
Code Pinker or IVAW member or Anti-War protester
I agree with previous comments about the bureaucracy. However, I had two negative experiences on the care side. I was turned away from the ER at the Hampton VA Medical Center after reporting as having suicidal idiations following the death of a friend. I was told that I would be better off at the Walk-In PTSD clinic and to come back on Monday. It turns out there is no walk in PTSD clinic and I spent most of an afternoon wandering from clinic to clinic.
Yet, after the difficulty of getting into the Psych clinic the care I recieved was excellent. From what I gather, it varries from facility to facility. I have heard different stories about getting into the system in different parts of the country. Yet, most peopel I talk to agree taht they are cared for after getting through the paperwork nightmare.
S6R noted: 1) TSO is paralyzingly afraid of speaking to people, it’s comical. The fact that he has mastered photshop to the point of “creating” an “internet girlfriend” is a testament to this sad state of affairs. For God’s sake, the man’s about to take the Bar exam and he can barely pick up the phone to call for pizza…good lad, needs help though.
I’ve been out mowing – driving circles and drinking beer.
With that caveat in place: You raise a valid concern.
I did meet TSO, and he was standing next to cute girl (maybe a redhead, who knows these days). I looked her up and down and commented that she wasn’t the inflatable I was expecting. She looked a bit frightened, and I’m a big, old, guy.
The odd part was that TSO was standing there… but, in hindsight, I’m not so sure she knew who he was. It’s possible that he was stalking her. I saw nothing to give lie to that notion, in fact.
Thanks for the heads-up.
Finally: Sorry for the off-topic comment. I just couldn’t stand it.
Now **THIS** is tax money well-spent. (And, despite what 60 Mins says, 100 million bucks is pocket change for technology like this.)
Now **THIS** is tax money well-spent. (And, despite what 60 Mins says, 100 million bucks is pocket change for technology like this.)
Signs or symptoms