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
    physical health
    5 Ways Playing Games Can Improve Neural and Physical Health
    September 9, 2022
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    February 16, 2022
    healthcare organization
    5 Actionable Strategies For Healthcare Organizations
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 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
    The Latest Numbers on Exchange Enrollment
    January 20, 2014
    conversational AI in healthcare
    How Conversational AI is Making Healthcare More Patient-Centric
    July 24, 2024
    create tracking metrics HIS
    Create Tracking Metrics for ICD-10 Preparation
    February 18, 2014
    Latest News
    Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
    July 6, 2025
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: How Technology Could Solve VA Healthcare Issues
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 > Hospital Administration > How Technology Could Solve VA Healthcare Issues
BusinessHospital AdministrationPolicy & LawPublic HealthTechnology

How Technology Could Solve VA Healthcare Issues

Matt_Gretczko
Matt_Gretczko
Share
4 Min Read
VA healthcare
SHARE

VA healthcareEvery news channel is covering the issues that were revealed at the VA. To boil it all down, there appears to have been secret “wait-lists” that masked the amount of time Vets waited to receive care so that the numbers looked better. This has potentially led to deaths, misdiagnoses, and also truly ineffective care coordination. Terrible.

VA healthcareEvery news channel is covering the issues that were revealed at the VA. To boil it all down, there appears to have been secret “wait-lists” that masked the amount of time Vets waited to receive care so that the numbers looked better. This has potentially led to deaths, misdiagnoses, and also truly ineffective care coordination. Terrible.

Of course, like every other topic, this will become politicized. No one can honestly argue that there are not real problems, at the same time, its an opportunity to hold someone accountable and try to push alternative agendas – neither of which will fix the issue.

So how do we fix it, at least in the short-term?

More Read

Image
Mobile Health Around the Globe: Treating Malnutrition in Zanzibar
Study: Mass. Reform Did Not Substantially Raise Acute Care Costs
Understanding The Impact Of Google’s Medic Update On Health Sites
Health Wonk Review: Mud Season Edition
The Health Care Reform Bill: Infographic

One of the best, or at least most logical, solutions to the problems that I heard was presented in an interview by Montel Williams on CNN. Apparently he served in the military for 20+ years before his “famous” career and he presented the following solution summarized in my own words: open up all on-base and other active military institution hospitals/clinics to veterans, and make recently returning military medics back on temporary active duty solely to treat veterans in the US at these same, or other facilities. Essentially a “surge” of medical providers.

There are obviously some complexities associated with this approach, but at face value, it makes a lot of sense. You have a highly trained workforce that is capable and familiar with helping military personnel, and you have facilities that have the resources to treat them. Not to mention, it would not drastically change the funding component of the puzzle.

What’s another solution?

Technology. Yes, I am going there. Talk about pushing an agenda. The “situation”, I won’t call it a scandal, that is occurring at the VA is a prime opportunity to assess whether technology can help solve some of the inherent problems.

Let’s take one process in the VA that has not been heavily covered in the news, but plays a tangential role in the issues. Veterans do have the opportunity to go into the private sector for care. When they do, they must be granted an authorization for a referral. Seems straightforward, but the messaging suggests that it is mainly a paper-based process today that is actually extremely burdensome on the veteran. Imagine if we could convert this to an automated process that is highly efficient and drastically decreases the time required for Vets to see private sector doctors – that may help just slightly in lessening the backlog.

It is extremely valid, and necessary, to talk about the very personal nature of this issue as it impacts the lives and health of vets. Concurrently, it is important to recognize that behind such a robust network of clinics, hospitals, facilities and stakeholders, the need for strategic conversations are necessary to drive the best possible capabilities.

Mark Van Scyoc / Shutterstock.com

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

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

car accident lawsuit
Let Your Lawyer Handle the Work Before You Pay Medical Costs
Policy & Law
July 6, 2025
women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025
recovering from injury
Rebuilding After Injury: Path to Physical and Emotional Recovery
News
June 22, 2025

You Might also Like

Image
Business

Writing a Perfect Subject Line That Physicians Will Read

April 21, 2015
CVS stops selling cigarettes
BusinessGlobal HealthcareNewsPublic HealthWellness

CVS Kicks the Habit, with Implications for Consumer-Centered Healthcare

February 12, 2014
eHealthHealth careMedical EducationMedical EthicsParenting

Vaping Health Risks Raise Alarm About Educating Younger Generations

February 11, 2020
cash flow medical practice
BusinessFinance

An Easy Way to Improve the Cash Flow of a Medical Practice

July 13, 2014
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?