The MEB tries to assess troops condition by assigning a number - a percentage - to which that troop is unable to perform "normal" activities.
Unfortunately disability rating has become quite murky.
There are Functional Assessments available for the military to use and more accurately assess a troop's disability, but not too many troops go through those assessments. Instead, the MEB generates a percentage based on medical records.
Activities of Daily living are a decent measure for a troop to describe how an injury affects them on a daily basis. [This page] has an ADL worksheet that a troop can use to better describe their limitations. A form such as this can be very helpful in a situation where a troop may disagree with what the MEB states.
This form makes a great attachment to any MEB Appeal.
28 March 2007
27 March 2007
matters of time
GonzoGate has eclipsed the WRAMC problems in the news. The media only has the attention span that Nielsen Families provide. Fortunately there are still many Veteran Advocacy groups working very hard to make sure the military medical mess can keep the attention it needs in order to create positive change for troopsvets/patients. I have a list of links posted on the sidebar of this blog, but here they are again: [LINKS]
25 March 2007
what's it take
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070409/kors
Is America in denial?
I hope not. In fact, I don't think it is. I think some politicians are in denial, or they're just good liars - that's a tough one.
I've said before that I probably wouldn't believe the stories I tell if I hadn't lived them - the medical treatment of troops in the military is literally unbelievable. This story makes me very sad.
I won't do it much justice trying to describe it, but it illustrates how medical conditions are used by MEB officials to kick troops to the curb and leave them behind.
If I hadn't seen this happen I might not believe it myself - but now I encourage all troops to tape record conversations with their providers - it's perfectly legal - just watch out - THEY might say you're paranoid or something . . .
Is America in denial?
I hope not. In fact, I don't think it is. I think some politicians are in denial, or they're just good liars - that's a tough one.
I've said before that I probably wouldn't believe the stories I tell if I hadn't lived them - the medical treatment of troops in the military is literally unbelievable. This story makes me very sad.
I won't do it much justice trying to describe it, but it illustrates how medical conditions are used by MEB officials to kick troops to the curb and leave them behind.
If I hadn't seen this happen I might not believe it myself - but now I encourage all troops to tape record conversations with their providers - it's perfectly legal - just watch out - THEY might say you're paranoid or something . . .
14 March 2007
a bitter taste
If the administration was going to address problems "quickly" they would have done so when the first casualties returned from the war back in 2001. For almost SIX (6) years this problem has been brewing. It's past brewing, it's rotten. Ever forget that the coffee pot was on? After a few hours of baking, the coffee gets bitter, acidic and dry - it doesn't taste so good anymore - but it'll sure deliver a good WAKE-UP!!!! on the taste buds.
It's gonna take a lot of cream and sugar to sweeten that coffee. And the coffee was hot - it burnt a lot of people, all the way to the heart.
In a perfect world the system would really only need some minor correcting. But we live in an invented world - one corrupted by some serious political BS.
My prediction: Few, if any, individuals will be held accountable for their wrong-doings and failures as leaders/humans being; more systematic procedures (read: additional bureaucracy) will be created to ensure better treatment for troops/vets; a few featured troops/vets will be treated wonderfully and be seen on TV; the long-term outcomes will be very slow and painful for the majority of troops and vets.
Why so bitter? Not bitter, I'm an idealist at heart, really, but I've seen how money flows and how policies get muddled by politics. Sad.
More money will be spent on investigating and creating additional "checks" (bureaucracy) for the system than will be spent within the system - where it would benefit the individuals in need.
But I remain hopeful that eventually troops and vets will get the care they need.
It's gonna take a lot of cream and sugar to sweeten that coffee. And the coffee was hot - it burnt a lot of people, all the way to the heart.
In a perfect world the system would really only need some minor correcting. But we live in an invented world - one corrupted by some serious political BS.
My prediction: Few, if any, individuals will be held accountable for their wrong-doings and failures as leaders/humans being; more systematic procedures (read: additional bureaucracy) will be created to ensure better treatment for troops/vets; a few featured troops/vets will be treated wonderfully and be seen on TV; the long-term outcomes will be very slow and painful for the majority of troops and vets.
Why so bitter? Not bitter, I'm an idealist at heart, really, but I've seen how money flows and how policies get muddled by politics. Sad.
More money will be spent on investigating and creating additional "checks" (bureaucracy) for the system than will be spent within the system - where it would benefit the individuals in need.
But I remain hopeful that eventually troops and vets will get the care they need.
12 March 2007
easy off
Kiley got let down easy. He started this whole mess when he was the commander at WRAMC just a few years ago. His successor looked up to Kiley for help - and got none. When Kiley's successor retired, Weightman entered the fray - and bore the shame of Kiley's mess when he was fired - relieved of his command - just six months into his tour.
And Kiley sat at WRAMC and tried to defend himself, passing the buck all the while. He started this CF (military slang for big mess) and didn't try to fix it even when promoted to a more powerful position with greater capability to make the changes they needed to make.
The Army isn't poor! These troops were outpatients - put them in a hotel! Use a van to transport them. If a patient can't ride in a van then that patient gets priority for a room in near-by barracks. Its not that hard - Generals can make decisions like this, they have that power.
In the wake of all his own damage, Kiley gets to just fade away and will be honored at some dog-and-pony show retirement party. The money spent on his retirement celebration could probably pay for lodging for half the troops that were stuck in building 18 to stay at the Ritz downtown.
And Kiley sat at WRAMC and tried to defend himself, passing the buck all the while. He started this CF (military slang for big mess) and didn't try to fix it even when promoted to a more powerful position with greater capability to make the changes they needed to make.
The Army isn't poor! These troops were outpatients - put them in a hotel! Use a van to transport them. If a patient can't ride in a van then that patient gets priority for a room in near-by barracks. Its not that hard - Generals can make decisions like this, they have that power.
In the wake of all his own damage, Kiley gets to just fade away and will be honored at some dog-and-pony show retirement party. The money spent on his retirement celebration could probably pay for lodging for half the troops that were stuck in building 18 to stay at the Ritz downtown.
10 March 2007
playing doctor
Sometimes I feel like I'm watching an episode of Whose Line is it, Anyway when I'm looking at the standard procedures of evaluating the medical fitness of soldiers in the Army. Total confusion, total "cover my ass," total ad-hoc, and inconsistent application of Army Regulations.
First of all GAO has already called this an "overly complex system" but still the system remains in place, unchanged.
So who determines the actual disability ratings for a soldier? WOW, that's a loaded question.
The Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) is made up of three people, only ONE of the three needs to be a doctor, and they are the final authority for determining the disability rating a soldiers will receive upon exiting the Army. That's according to Army Regulation 635-40 Section IV, Chapter 4-17 paragraph b. Check it out
But where do they get the information to make such an important decision?
Referral to the PEB comes from determinations made by the MEB after a long, often ugly process that soldiers must endure. The system really isn't all that bad - once understood. The problem is that the administrators are corrupt as all hell.
The PEBLOS will tell soldiers things like "the VA will take care of you," or any other of a series of lies that will encourage soldiers to hurry-up and leave the military, even if the soldier will lose benefits in the process.
One PEBLO had the audacity to tell me that my wife "didn't deserve a second opinion," and that she just needed to "learn to deal with her disability."
So who are these PEBLOS who "play doctor" or try to "play god" with patients' medical care, future benefits, and their lives - they are AGENTS OF A GOVERNMENT SYSTEM. They don't represent anyone's interest accept the Army's - and that means saving money - even at soldiers' expense.
And to make matters worse, severely injured soldiers at Army Community Hospitals, like at Fort Benning (Martin ACH), Ft. Campbell (Blanchfield) and many others, are seen by Primary Care Providers (PCMs) who are General Family Practicioners, Physician Assistants, or Nurse Practicioners. These PCMs write the MEB - the document used by the PEB to determine the disability rating a soldier will receive. These PCMs are NOTORIOUS for falsely recording patients' conditions. These PCMs lack the specialized training often required to properly describe and document the ACTUAL condition that a soldier suffers - yet the PCM can over-rule the opinion of any specialist, and the PEBLO will send the botched MEB forward. Sure a soldier can appeal - but why put a soldier through the extra work of appealing, why not just properly document the condition in the first place.
My opinion, and I share this with many others, is that the "agents of the system" (PCMs, PEBLOS, etc.) hope that soldiers will quit asking for help, will get worn down by the system, accept defeat, maybe even believe that the VA will help. They want the soldier to sign away their benefits and leave the Army.
One quality control mechanism I propose is instead of rating a hospital's performance on how fast soldiers get booted, rate that hospital NEGATIVELY for every appeal it generates. Army Medical Command Officials should want to know why certain hospitals have left more soldiers dissatisfied than other hospitals. HOLD THE LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABLE!!
First of all GAO has already called this an "overly complex system" but still the system remains in place, unchanged.
So who determines the actual disability ratings for a soldier? WOW, that's a loaded question.
The Physical Evaluation Board (PEB) is made up of three people, only ONE of the three needs to be a doctor, and they are the final authority for determining the disability rating a soldiers will receive upon exiting the Army. That's according to Army Regulation 635-40 Section IV, Chapter 4-17 paragraph b. Check it out
But where do they get the information to make such an important decision?
Referral to the PEB comes from determinations made by the MEB after a long, often ugly process that soldiers must endure. The system really isn't all that bad - once understood. The problem is that the administrators are corrupt as all hell.
The PEBLOS will tell soldiers things like "the VA will take care of you," or any other of a series of lies that will encourage soldiers to hurry-up and leave the military, even if the soldier will lose benefits in the process.
One PEBLO had the audacity to tell me that my wife "didn't deserve a second opinion," and that she just needed to "learn to deal with her disability."
So who are these PEBLOS who "play doctor" or try to "play god" with patients' medical care, future benefits, and their lives - they are AGENTS OF A GOVERNMENT SYSTEM. They don't represent anyone's interest accept the Army's - and that means saving money - even at soldiers' expense.
And to make matters worse, severely injured soldiers at Army Community Hospitals, like at Fort Benning (Martin ACH), Ft. Campbell (Blanchfield) and many others, are seen by Primary Care Providers (PCMs) who are General Family Practicioners, Physician Assistants, or Nurse Practicioners. These PCMs write the MEB - the document used by the PEB to determine the disability rating a soldier will receive. These PCMs are NOTORIOUS for falsely recording patients' conditions. These PCMs lack the specialized training often required to properly describe and document the ACTUAL condition that a soldier suffers - yet the PCM can over-rule the opinion of any specialist, and the PEBLO will send the botched MEB forward. Sure a soldier can appeal - but why put a soldier through the extra work of appealing, why not just properly document the condition in the first place.
My opinion, and I share this with many others, is that the "agents of the system" (PCMs, PEBLOS, etc.) hope that soldiers will quit asking for help, will get worn down by the system, accept defeat, maybe even believe that the VA will help. They want the soldier to sign away their benefits and leave the Army.
One quality control mechanism I propose is instead of rating a hospital's performance on how fast soldiers get booted, rate that hospital NEGATIVELY for every appeal it generates. Army Medical Command Officials should want to know why certain hospitals have left more soldiers dissatisfied than other hospitals. HOLD THE LEADERSHIP ACCOUNTABLE!!
09 March 2007
equivocation
Back when I was at School equivocation was as bad as lying.
How times have changed.
This morning I read in the Leaf Chronicle about Med Hold at BACH and yesterday about BACH's eagerness to hear suggestions for change.
Sugestions for change need go no further that the Complaint Box at the Patient Representative's office. Or even the notes from past Town Hall meetings with patients in Medical Hold.
The majority of providers at BACH are WONDERFUL - I personally had great experiences with my providers.
The providers who accept roles as administrators become a problem. As an administrator priorities CAN shift from patient care to systematic MANAGEMENT - and all too often the two clash.
Case managers may not be overworked - but their loyalties are to the process before the patient and that is a major systematic problem that must change.
And while BACH will, only with threat of exposure, allow patients to seek treatment outside the walls of BACH, BACH providers are known to prevent follow-through of this outside care. BACH's non-specialized general practitioners often over-rule the recommendations for treatment made by Vanderbilt or other MEDCEN specialty-trained doctors.
Most disturbing has been BACH's management of complaints made by patients. The leadership's actions have made no changes to quality of care concerns brought by patients.
Instead of closing Open Investigations, BACH allows the providers in question to deploy. Deploying the problem only drags the investigation. Worse yet, if that provider is under investigation they are now exposing deployed soldiers to known and unnecessary risk.
But none of that is in the articles in the Leaf Chronicle. The BACH leadership carefully crafted their talking points to avoid more in-depth questioning.
After major lawsuits BACH built a new "Mother-Baby Unit." Spouses can sue for malpractice, service members can't.
So, applying the backward logic so prevalent in the Military, especially the Military Medical System, it would appear that all "questionable providers" see the most vulnerable and voiceless soldiers while all the reputable providers see the other patients.
Like I said, I had an awesome experience at the hospital. I was fortunate to not have an administrator operating on me.
How times have changed.
This morning I read in the Leaf Chronicle about Med Hold at BACH and yesterday about BACH's eagerness to hear suggestions for change.
Sugestions for change need go no further that the Complaint Box at the Patient Representative's office. Or even the notes from past Town Hall meetings with patients in Medical Hold.
The majority of providers at BACH are WONDERFUL - I personally had great experiences with my providers.
The providers who accept roles as administrators become a problem. As an administrator priorities CAN shift from patient care to systematic MANAGEMENT - and all too often the two clash.
Case managers may not be overworked - but their loyalties are to the process before the patient and that is a major systematic problem that must change.
And while BACH will, only with threat of exposure, allow patients to seek treatment outside the walls of BACH, BACH providers are known to prevent follow-through of this outside care. BACH's non-specialized general practitioners often over-rule the recommendations for treatment made by Vanderbilt or other MEDCEN specialty-trained doctors.
Most disturbing has been BACH's management of complaints made by patients. The leadership's actions have made no changes to quality of care concerns brought by patients.
Instead of closing Open Investigations, BACH allows the providers in question to deploy. Deploying the problem only drags the investigation. Worse yet, if that provider is under investigation they are now exposing deployed soldiers to known and unnecessary risk.
But none of that is in the articles in the Leaf Chronicle. The BACH leadership carefully crafted their talking points to avoid more in-depth questioning.
After major lawsuits BACH built a new "Mother-Baby Unit." Spouses can sue for malpractice, service members can't.
So, applying the backward logic so prevalent in the Military, especially the Military Medical System, it would appear that all "questionable providers" see the most vulnerable and voiceless soldiers while all the reputable providers see the other patients.
Like I said, I had an awesome experience at the hospital. I was fortunate to not have an administrator operating on me.
08 March 2007
monetary and staff problems at WRAMC
But these problems only came to this point because of leadership failures. Somewhere in the chain of command or concern a leader failed to provide accurate reports and another failed to inspect within their sphere.
The Army probably doesn't need more money - but there needs to be accounting of Total Military spending to ensure proper spending priorities. I'm one of those guys that worries about contractors over-charging for services and lining the pockets of corporate execs at the expense of Military Readiness Spending. I would rather have had more bullets, even toilet paper for that matter, than to have Internet and satellite TV available.
But the Military spends the money congress sends (or the prez pushes) on "stuff," I'd really like to know what "stuff" is. Half of the "wazzuu" expensive toys we take to the sandbox suck. They break or just don't work with other systems already in place. Computer programs don't share the same platforms - but what difference does it make when the sand ruins the electronics.
I'm sure Walter Reed could have found money SOMEWHERE to make sure soldiers were well cared-for. The Army CAN authorize TLA - Temporary Lodging Allowances - to house soldiers in adequate living conditions. But in order to save money the administrators (they don't deserve to be called leaders anymore) tucked the troops away and hoped that no one would look.
The Army probably doesn't need more money - but there needs to be accounting of Total Military spending to ensure proper spending priorities. I'm one of those guys that worries about contractors over-charging for services and lining the pockets of corporate execs at the expense of Military Readiness Spending. I would rather have had more bullets, even toilet paper for that matter, than to have Internet and satellite TV available.
But the Military spends the money congress sends (or the prez pushes) on "stuff," I'd really like to know what "stuff" is. Half of the "wazzuu" expensive toys we take to the sandbox suck. They break or just don't work with other systems already in place. Computer programs don't share the same platforms - but what difference does it make when the sand ruins the electronics.
I'm sure Walter Reed could have found money SOMEWHERE to make sure soldiers were well cared-for. The Army CAN authorize TLA - Temporary Lodging Allowances - to house soldiers in adequate living conditions. But in order to save money the administrators (they don't deserve to be called leaders anymore) tucked the troops away and hoped that no one would look.
ARMY MEDICINE EXPLAINED?
This links to a page that helps explain the Army Medical Separation Process.
It can only HELP explain the system - the system is so confusing that even the administrators make mistakes sometimes. Actually I think they "make mistakes" on purpose, but that's my cynical nature, I guess.
What is the difference between the MEB, PEB, and MMRB?
It can only HELP explain the system - the system is so confusing that even the administrators make mistakes sometimes. Actually I think they "make mistakes" on purpose, but that's my cynical nature, I guess.
What is the difference between the MEB, PEB, and MMRB?
Hey, don't get confused yet. I still haven't SCRATCHED THE SURFACE of the VA stuff yet.
AND REMEMBER, THE VA IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT SYSTEM, AND COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE ARMY SYSTEM.
BUT YES, ABSOLUTELY, BOTH NEED TO BE FIXED!!!!
AND REMEMBER, THE VA IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT SYSTEM, AND COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE ARMY SYSTEM.
BUT YES, ABSOLUTELY, BOTH NEED TO BE FIXED!!!!
07 March 2007
Making the problem worse
Everyone's hoppin' and poppin' in DC now trying to looks busy, trying to look like they care, trying to make it look like they have been doing their jobs all along.
Stop trying to cover your tracks!! You're wasting time generating lies for press releases, just fix the problems.
The major problem that is destroying the medical system right now is the leadership. It just plain sucks. And there is no accountability of that leadership. The President answers to NO ONE - he's made that crystal clear, but with all that authority, where is his responsibility.
And then the head of the VA has obviously had his head up someone's ass, if not his own.
Stop trying to cover your tracks!! You're wasting time generating lies for press releases, just fix the problems.
The major problem that is destroying the medical system right now is the leadership. It just plain sucks. And there is no accountability of that leadership. The President answers to NO ONE - he's made that crystal clear, but with all that authority, where is his responsibility.
And then the head of the VA has obviously had his head up someone's ass, if not his own.
From:After meeting with the president, Nicholson defended the Veterans Administration, but acknowledged there is room for improvement.
"When you're seeing over 1 million patients a week, you have to be very good, and if there is any one patient who doesn't get the care that they deserve, that's unacceptable," Nicholson said
He said his agency is hiring 100 new patient advocates who will help troops returning from war deal with the bureaucracy.
"The American people can feel very good about the health care system that their VA is providing to veterans," Nicholson said, "but if there is a case where a veteran gets lost in the system, or suffers anxiety or their family does as a result of something we're not doing, that is unacceptable."
Bush: No Tolerance for Medical Neglect
By DEB RIECHMANNThe Associated Press
Wednesday, March 7, 2007; 1:46 PM
By saying a patient is not getting the necessary care he is basically admitting that his whole organization is a failure.
And now he's hiring 100 more "advocates." The VA doesn't have advocates. The VA has bureaucrats. If a patient is to have a proper advocate - a person who will actually look out for the Patient's BEST INTEREST - not the interest of the institution, then that advocate cannot come from within the VA PERIOD!
The DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and the VFW help Vets fight the VA bullshit - THEY have advocates and representatives that act on patients' behalves.
And why are we changing the subject to the VA, anyway? Their system is in desperate need of repair, too, but Walter Reed is TOTALLY separate from the VA.
The problems at WRAMC are with ACTIVE DUTY Soldiers - and WRAMC is supposed to help them heal to a STABLE STATE where then the VA can help provide further medical care after the soldier leaves the service.
05 March 2007
More confilcts of interest
I know I already mentioned this once before but the conflicts of interest in Military Medical Care have come into the spotlight again.
At WRAMC soldiers did not feel they had any advocate - their case managers, doctors, nurses, chains of command, even the Medical Evaluation Board Liaisons seemed to have the system as a priority over the current and future care of the soldiers.
Baffling how this can happen.
But it was an MEB officer that told me my wife didn't deserve any further medical treatment - that worker had to sit through "sensitivity training" - probably just the annual required training of any hospital worker - when I voiced my opinion that her attitude was potentially harmful to the health of other soldiers and their families.
It was almost funny to hear GEN Cody talk about the MEB, PEB, and VA processes of disability rating. It's so fucking confusing. Yet soldiers only get a few days to weigh their options once given access to their rating paperwork. It takes weeks to grasp the ins-and-outs of that complex system, and "no one" can ever seem to explain it to confused patients. The MEB officers hide behind their position and case workers are too closely tied to the hospital command structure.
Case managers need to be patient advocates, not another obstacle. We had a wonderful case manager here, until it became clear that she was actually HELPING patients - then her supervisor - a Lieutenant Colonel limited the contact she could have with patients - the LTC was more interested in a faster moving system - never mind medical duties to help troops heal.
At WRAMC soldiers did not feel they had any advocate - their case managers, doctors, nurses, chains of command, even the Medical Evaluation Board Liaisons seemed to have the system as a priority over the current and future care of the soldiers.
Baffling how this can happen.
But it was an MEB officer that told me my wife didn't deserve any further medical treatment - that worker had to sit through "sensitivity training" - probably just the annual required training of any hospital worker - when I voiced my opinion that her attitude was potentially harmful to the health of other soldiers and their families.
It was almost funny to hear GEN Cody talk about the MEB, PEB, and VA processes of disability rating. It's so fucking confusing. Yet soldiers only get a few days to weigh their options once given access to their rating paperwork. It takes weeks to grasp the ins-and-outs of that complex system, and "no one" can ever seem to explain it to confused patients. The MEB officers hide behind their position and case workers are too closely tied to the hospital command structure.
Case managers need to be patient advocates, not another obstacle. We had a wonderful case manager here, until it became clear that she was actually HELPING patients - then her supervisor - a Lieutenant Colonel limited the contact she could have with patients - the LTC was more interested in a faster moving system - never mind medical duties to help troops heal.
Realities of the war at home
Thank you soooo much for getting these realities in the spotlight!
I can only imagine how much information you must have in overflowing inboxes and full voicemail boxes.
I am glad it has become so clear that this was not merely an isolated incident at one hospital!
I can only imagine how much information you must have in overflowing inboxes and full voicemail boxes.
I am glad it has become so clear that this was not merely an isolated incident at one hospital!
04 March 2007
It could happen to you . . .
And who holds providers to standards of practice? What motivation could there possibly be for providers to cross a line somewhere and put troops in such a bad position in life.
And why do I believe this story - I SAW IT HAPPEN HERE.
Same type thing, just different names. That practice is so wrong, such a breach of ethical standards it makes my blood boil.
The transition area from Active Duty to Veteran status is a no-man's land. The laws get real fuzzy in there and bureaucratic policies and politics add to the confused process.
I find myself explaining Catch-22's over and over to young troops going through the MEB process and they are baffled by how distorted the whole system is. It's backward, crooked, disorienting. It is not user friendly and somewhere along the way the people involved in the process have developed an attitude that enables the PROCESS, not the TROOP.
It just kills me to watch an MEB officer act "unbiased" as they tell a young, injured soldier "just how easy this will all be if you just sign it now." "Oh, you don't want to take your 10 days to think about it, that just makes things drag on." "Oh no, the DAV rep or VFW rep can't help with THAT, they only do Veteran stuff, they'll help you after you sign."
Bullshit!!
Troops - talk to vet groups, other vets who have been through the system, look online, read the regs. Whatever you do, don't take anything at face value who looks at you like a statistic. Because that's what the system sees - statistics of how many are med-boarded and how fast. If the army can put you out without a medboard, THEY WILL - it's cheaper. And if they can medboard you faster, without proper treatment - THEY WILL - it's cheaper, AND - it makes THEM look better for "healing" you faster. A troop is not supposed to get medboarded until their condition is stable - and the VA doesn't pick up "where the army left off," either.
Getting into the VA for treatment takes time, and with an unstable condition this can mean deterioration and worsening of the condition.
I don't know where things went awry in the medical system, I had a great doc - the MEB office pissed me off, but medically, I got treated well - I was very fortunate to have an awesome doctor. Some of the other providers I have seen are a malpractice suit waiting to happen - oh yeah, FERES, how'd I forget.
I guess a good sign is that if a provider is never available to see civilians at the hospital, there may be a reason. Maybe that's why untrustworthy doctors end up treating all the MEDHOLD soldiers and only the MEDHOLD soldiers.
These docs are treating the most seriously injured troops from war. They're not treating guinea pigs. These troops have families, they have lives. They deserve the BEST care possible. And the doctors must be held to that same standard of accountability that other doctors must uphold.
And why do I believe this story - I SAW IT HAPPEN HERE.
Same type thing, just different names. That practice is so wrong, such a breach of ethical standards it makes my blood boil.
The transition area from Active Duty to Veteran status is a no-man's land. The laws get real fuzzy in there and bureaucratic policies and politics add to the confused process.
I find myself explaining Catch-22's over and over to young troops going through the MEB process and they are baffled by how distorted the whole system is. It's backward, crooked, disorienting. It is not user friendly and somewhere along the way the people involved in the process have developed an attitude that enables the PROCESS, not the TROOP.
It just kills me to watch an MEB officer act "unbiased" as they tell a young, injured soldier "just how easy this will all be if you just sign it now." "Oh, you don't want to take your 10 days to think about it, that just makes things drag on." "Oh no, the DAV rep or VFW rep can't help with THAT, they only do Veteran stuff, they'll help you after you sign."
Bullshit!!
Troops - talk to vet groups, other vets who have been through the system, look online, read the regs. Whatever you do, don't take anything at face value who looks at you like a statistic. Because that's what the system sees - statistics of how many are med-boarded and how fast. If the army can put you out without a medboard, THEY WILL - it's cheaper. And if they can medboard you faster, without proper treatment - THEY WILL - it's cheaper, AND - it makes THEM look better for "healing" you faster. A troop is not supposed to get medboarded until their condition is stable - and the VA doesn't pick up "where the army left off," either.
Getting into the VA for treatment takes time, and with an unstable condition this can mean deterioration and worsening of the condition.
I don't know where things went awry in the medical system, I had a great doc - the MEB office pissed me off, but medically, I got treated well - I was very fortunate to have an awesome doctor. Some of the other providers I have seen are a malpractice suit waiting to happen - oh yeah, FERES, how'd I forget.
I guess a good sign is that if a provider is never available to see civilians at the hospital, there may be a reason. Maybe that's why untrustworthy doctors end up treating all the MEDHOLD soldiers and only the MEDHOLD soldiers.
These docs are treating the most seriously injured troops from war. They're not treating guinea pigs. These troops have families, they have lives. They deserve the BEST care possible. And the doctors must be held to that same standard of accountability that other doctors must uphold.
03 March 2007
Plan? What Plan?
When I was in
The shittily planned Iraq war had no Paragraph 4. The only large scale logistics have been pocket padding to high-paying politicos. The only MEDEVAC plan is failing. Look only as far as any Army hospital to see the sad state of affairs for wounded soldiers. They are the forgotten ones. Those who live on impaired are forgotten and further punished with he burdens of their injuries and the sketchy medical care they receive. And once the VA takes over – shit, where do I start.
02 March 2007
Too little too late
Where does the buck stop??
So Weightman was only in Command for 6 months -- who was there 6 months ago and what did they do about this? Those kinds of structural problems don't happen in a few months - we're talking years of abandonment.
What next? What happens after this knee-jerk reaction settles? Will there be follow-up but the administration? Walter Reed is supposed to be the Flag Ship of Army medicine.
Actually the problems at Reed are fairly simple when considering the problems at other hospitals - the ones out of range of national reporting - like here at Ft. Campbell.
These failures are directly linked to the administrations failures in the preparation for war.
So Weightman was only in Command for 6 months -- who was there 6 months ago and what did they do about this? Those kinds of structural problems don't happen in a few months - we're talking years of abandonment.
What next? What happens after this knee-jerk reaction settles? Will there be follow-up but the administration? Walter Reed is supposed to be the Flag Ship of Army medicine.
Actually the problems at Reed are fairly simple when considering the problems at other hospitals - the ones out of range of national reporting - like here at Ft. Campbell.
These failures are directly linked to the administrations failures in the preparation for war.
You do the math
So Bush wants to take this opportunity to talk about how he has grown the VA budget under his administration -- Way wrong answer for those paying attention. He forgot to mention that the budget increase (decrease) is due to the increased co-pays and the decreased per-vet spending for the VA. The numbers of disabled Vets are growing faster than the budget is increasing, so claiming to increase the budget is BULLSHIT!!
Bush also will emphasize in the address that more than 1 million veterans have been brought into the Veterans Administration health care system since 2001 and that his fiscal 2008 budget proposal includes a request for more than $86 billion for veterans' services, representing a 77 percent increase since he took office.---Bush Orders Review of Service Members' Care
By William BraniginWashington Post Staff Writer
Friday, March 2, 2007; 5:18 PM
WRAMC ain't the first
In September, 2004 I left the 101st Airborne Division and became a MEDDAC soldier in the Medical Hold Company. I was awaiting separation from the Army because of injuries I received while deployed. My wife was also having serious medical problems (BUT THAT'S AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT STORY).
When I came over to the Ft. Campbell Hospital, Blanchfield Army Community Hospital (BACH) I was offered a company command. The Troop Commander, a Major, was an energetic and compassionate leader - I had a great deal of respect for her and wanted to accept the job. Especially after she discussed what my duties and responsibilities would entail:
The Medical Hold barracks were horrible. Much like the ones at WRAMC now featured all over the news they were full of mold, mildew, asbestos, and deteriorating construction - holes in walls, broken window frames - these were not suitable for soldiers. There was no handicap access and no elevators - and, like at WRAMC, these soldiers were severely disabled I walked through these barracks and wanted to help get them fixed.
The Troop Commander had been working on getting these fixed since they had taken command but to no avail.
I did not accept the company command - my wife's health had deteriorated too much. If I took command I would either abandon her, or be in a position where I could let soldiers down - I was not willing to accept either of these outcomes. I helped with the company in a limited capacity and took care of my wife.
The soldier's barracks situation improved before my wife was granted access to the care she needed in order to heal.
When we requested work orders on these dilapidated buildings the housing office would explain that because the barracks were so old, and marked for destruction, funding could not be approved to renovate or otherwise fix the problems. New construction on-post had priority over old construction - understandable - but it didn't address the current housing problems.
Eventually, after many false starts, the Troop Commander found ways to correct the problem as much as possible. She found ways to get repair work done. Some soldiers moved to a hotel off-post. The soldiers got moved to a better building almost a year later. But better than what? What is considered acceptable? They just moved to a somewhat better building. It's still old and falling apart and won't get renovated, either.
AND I KNOW SHE BROUGHT THESES PROBLEMS HIGH UP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.
She did her job but found little support from above.
But Ft. Campbell is getting a new command center - it looks nice, IT's HUGE!! Lot's of money going into that development.
The Army is about people, soldiers, not about machinery or equipment. What good will that equipment be if there are no more soldiers left to use it?
When I came over to the Ft. Campbell Hospital, Blanchfield Army Community Hospital (BACH) I was offered a company command. The Troop Commander, a Major, was an energetic and compassionate leader - I had a great deal of respect for her and wanted to accept the job. Especially after she discussed what my duties and responsibilities would entail:
The Medical Hold barracks were horrible. Much like the ones at WRAMC now featured all over the news they were full of mold, mildew, asbestos, and deteriorating construction - holes in walls, broken window frames - these were not suitable for soldiers. There was no handicap access and no elevators - and, like at WRAMC, these soldiers were severely disabled I walked through these barracks and wanted to help get them fixed.
The Troop Commander had been working on getting these fixed since they had taken command but to no avail.
I did not accept the company command - my wife's health had deteriorated too much. If I took command I would either abandon her, or be in a position where I could let soldiers down - I was not willing to accept either of these outcomes. I helped with the company in a limited capacity and took care of my wife.
The soldier's barracks situation improved before my wife was granted access to the care she needed in order to heal.
When we requested work orders on these dilapidated buildings the housing office would explain that because the barracks were so old, and marked for destruction, funding could not be approved to renovate or otherwise fix the problems. New construction on-post had priority over old construction - understandable - but it didn't address the current housing problems.
Eventually, after many false starts, the Troop Commander found ways to correct the problem as much as possible. She found ways to get repair work done. Some soldiers moved to a hotel off-post. The soldiers got moved to a better building almost a year later. But better than what? What is considered acceptable? They just moved to a somewhat better building. It's still old and falling apart and won't get renovated, either.
AND I KNOW SHE BROUGHT THESES PROBLEMS HIGH UP THE CHAIN OF COMMAND.
She did her job but found little support from above.
But Ft. Campbell is getting a new command center - it looks nice, IT's HUGE!! Lot's of money going into that development.
The Army is about people, soldiers, not about machinery or equipment. What good will that equipment be if there are no more soldiers left to use it?
01 March 2007
accountability
Walter Reed's Commander just got canned, NOW WHAT?
In the reports yesterday soldiers at WRAMC were being punished for their leaders' failures. The First Sergeant was fired, and now the 2-star General got fired, too.
I wonder about the people in-between . . .
There is quite a large gap in rank-structure and accountability between the Company 1SG and Hospital Commander.
BUT - the burden of Command is great and a new commander may be the right start. I trust that the investigators will discover many systematic failures as well as human failures in this whole mess - after all, someone has to design, implement, and oversee this broken system.
The President was at WRAMC a few months ago. Having prepared for VIP guests at various-level functions I can assume that the preparations made prior to the President's visit included making sure all the "bad things" were covered over.
So, while I believe our President is failing in many ways, in this instance I would not be surprised if the military shielded themselves from looking bad.
And that just goes back to integrity and the lack there-of at high levels of the military chain of command. The really good leaders, the ones who put their troops before themselves, usually get passed-over and forgotten. But that's another rant for another day.
Instead I am left to ponder what will become of military medicine - this shit storm may be the catalyst of change so desperately needed.
The Army Times is doing a great job tracking the problems with disability ratings and other issues surrounding the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) process.
Hopefully the new governmental leadership will start doing what they were selected to do - fix the broken shit the current administration won't admit is broken.
In the reports yesterday soldiers at WRAMC were being punished for their leaders' failures. The First Sergeant was fired, and now the 2-star General got fired, too.
I wonder about the people in-between . . .
There is quite a large gap in rank-structure and accountability between the Company 1SG and Hospital Commander.
BUT - the burden of Command is great and a new commander may be the right start. I trust that the investigators will discover many systematic failures as well as human failures in this whole mess - after all, someone has to design, implement, and oversee this broken system.
The President was at WRAMC a few months ago. Having prepared for VIP guests at various-level functions I can assume that the preparations made prior to the President's visit included making sure all the "bad things" were covered over.
So, while I believe our President is failing in many ways, in this instance I would not be surprised if the military shielded themselves from looking bad.
And that just goes back to integrity and the lack there-of at high levels of the military chain of command. The really good leaders, the ones who put their troops before themselves, usually get passed-over and forgotten. But that's another rant for another day.
Instead I am left to ponder what will become of military medicine - this shit storm may be the catalyst of change so desperately needed.
The Army Times is doing a great job tracking the problems with disability ratings and other issues surrounding the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) process.
Hopefully the new governmental leadership will start doing what they were selected to do - fix the broken shit the current administration won't admit is broken.
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