By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    An Expert’s Guide To Building and Improving Endurance
    June 30, 2022
    medical assistants
    What Do Medical Assistants Do On a Day to Day Basis?
    April 5, 2022
    superfoods to help with prostate health
    10 Healthy Foods That Can Help Protect Your Prostate
    August 29, 2022
    Latest News
    Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
    July 20, 2025
    How Probate Planning Shapes the Future of Your Estate and Family Care
    July 17, 2025
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    How Powerful Patients Save the System Money
    November 11, 2015
    How Financial Barriers are Slowing Down Telehealth Adoption
    September 26, 2017
    No Resource Constraints in Dialysis: a Blessing and a Curse
    May 4, 2011
    Latest News
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
    How Health Choices and Legal Actions Intersect After an Injury
    July 17, 2025
    How communities and healthcare providers can address slip and fall injuries with legal awareness
    July 17, 2025
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Are We Picking on VA Hospitals Too Much?
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Are We Picking on VA Hospitals Too Much?
BusinessPolicy & Law

Are We Picking on VA Hospitals Too Much?

DavidEWilliams
DavidEWilliams
Share
3 Min Read
SHARE
How long do you think we'll have to wait?

How long do you think we’ll have to wait?

How long do you think we'll have to wait?

How long do you think we’ll have to wait?

Ugly stories about waiting lists and poor care in VA facilities are coming out in the press. The VA’s head, Eric Shinseki has been run out of town. And investigations are underway into what’s going on and how to fix it.

The Wall Street Journal (Veterans Affairs Hospitals Vary Widely in Patient Care) used the VA’s internal data to compare the worst VA hospital (Phoenix) with the best (Boston) and to compare both with other VA hospitals that earn five stars. There are dramatic differences in areas like bloodstream infections and pneumonia rates and significant differences in death rates. The VA can and should use this information to share best practices, make improvements, reward those who do well, and weed out those who are not up to the task.

Waiting lists and uneven quality are a serious problem and they need to be addressed. These problems also play into an anti-Washington narrative about the poor quality and lack of accountability in government provided services compared to the private sector. I wouldn’t want to be treated at the Phoenix VA. Would you?

On the other hand, the Journal article points out that the VA measures and in some cases reports more on the performance of its hospitals than do private sector providers. In truth, there is not enough information to say whether the VA system is worse or better than the private system as a whole or even to compare the VA with individual private sector hospitals.

Some well regarded public sector providers in other parts of the world do a good job reporting on waiting times for appointments and procedures. See for example, the Waiting Times home page on England’s National Health Service website, which provides detailed, frequently updated statistics on waiting times.

Compare that with what we have in the US: a survey of physician practices taken a year ago in five specialties, conducted by a physician recruiting company looking for publicity. Even that survey shows we have serious problems. For example, in Boston it takes 10 weeks to get an appointment with a dermatologist or family doctor, we’re told. In a government run system like the VA or NHS, the public or elected officials can demand improvement. By contrast, who is going to force Boston doctors to see patients sooner?

photo credit: Rennett Stowe via photopin cc

TAGGED:VA hospitals
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

holistic dental
Holistic Dentist Services Are Natural and Safe
Dental health Specialties
July 28, 2025
botox certification
Help Improve People’s Skin Health Via Botox Certification
Skin Specialties
July 22, 2025
Telemedicine Apps
Why Custom Telemedicine Apps Outperform Off‑the‑Shelf Solutions
Health
July 20, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
Global Healthcare Policy & Law
July 17, 2025

You Might also Like

New Quality Site

July 30, 2011

Rite Aid Stores Hosts RV Tour For a Free Skin Cancer Screen

March 23, 2012
can AI protect healthcare workers
Artificial IntelligenceCovid-19eHealthHealth careMobile HealthTechnology

How Can AI Protect Healthcare Workers From COVID-19 Transmission?

October 27, 2020
online legal healthcare
News

Unlocking Legal Complexities for Healthcare Businesses

January 30, 2024
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?