VA Patients: Putting the Blame Where it Should Be

[Howey]

So I was at the local VA clinic today and the nurse was telling me about the newly implemented appointment system. We will now get a letter ahead of the appointment requiring us to make it. It's a great idea and one I've been expecting.

The reason for this is one I've noticed in the past few years as there's been notices posted all over the clinic.

VA PATIENTS DON'T SHOW UP FOR THEIR APPOINTMENTS, adding billions of dollars to the health care toll.



Whereas the number of patients waiting for initial care is a travesty, it's a tiny portion of overall patients, and far less than the 20% no-show, no-cancel rate mentioned above.


What does this mean? A large portion of the blame for the current crisis within the VA can be directly attributed to VA patients themselves preventing their fellow patients awaiting their first visit the opportunity to see a doctor.

Guys and gals...make your appointment. If you can't, call with sufficient notice to change it.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

You forgot to mention Boooooooooooooosh

 

[tinydancer]

So I was at the local VA clinic today and the nurse was telling me about the newly implemented appointment system. We will now get a letter ahead of the appointment requiring us to make it. It's a great idea and one I've been expecting.

The reason for this is one I've noticed in the past few years as there's been notices posted all over the clinic.

VA PATIENTS DON'T SHOW UP FOR THEIR APPOINTMENTS, adding billions of dollars to the health care toll.



Whereas the number of patients waiting for initial care is a travesty, it's a tiny portion of overall patients, and far less than the 20% no-show, no-cancel rate mentioned above.


What does this mean? A large portion of the blame for the current crisis within the VA can be directly attributed to VA patients themselves preventing their fellow patients awaiting their first visit the opportunity to see a doctor.

Guys and gals...make your appointment. If you can't, call with sufficient notice to change it.

If I've got the wrong country don't shoot me because I'm only on my second cup of java m'kay?

But I'm pretty sure Britain. The doctors are pressuring the NHS to charge a fee for a missed appointment. At first glance that seems harsh. But with such a shortage of family physicians, it really makes sense.

A perfect example of how this affects the system as a whole is the case scenario they presented. One mother with three children for check up and vaccinations misses their appointment that knocks out the possibility that the physician could be seeing two adult patients in that same time period.

And of course if you're in a car crash you'd get a pass. I think it makes sense. If people cannot be courteous enough to show up for their appointment without good cause, a penalty might be in order.

 

[Howey]

You forgot to mention Boooooooooooooosh

Booooosh initiated a plan that removed veterans from the healthcare system after TWO MISSED APPOINTMENTS, requiring them to start over*.

Perhaps that's one of the mitigating factors in the backlog?





*Note: The evil socialist Kenyan repealed that policy last year. But thanks for proving you're incapable of intelligent discourse.

 

[1776]

I didn't realize AIDS patients with no Vet status went to VA clinics....

 

[Quantum Windbag]

So I was at the local VA clinic today and the nurse was telling me about the newly implemented appointment system. We will now get a letter ahead of the appointment requiring us to make it. It's a great idea and one I've been expecting.

The reason for this is one I've noticed in the past few years as there's been notices posted all over the clinic.

VA PATIENTS DON'T SHOW UP FOR THEIR APPOINTMENTS, adding billions of dollars to the health care toll.



Whereas the number of patients waiting for initial care is a travesty, it's a tiny portion of overall patients, and far less than the 20% no-show, no-cancel rate mentioned above.


What does this mean? A large portion of the blame for the current crisis within the VA can be directly attributed to VA patients themselves preventing their fellow patients awaiting their first visit the opportunity to see a doctor.

Guys and gals...make your appointment. If you can't, call with sufficient notice to change it.

Wait a minute, I thought the VA system was perfect, now all the problems are the fault of the patients? Getting desperate, aren't you?