Though it has made great progress over the past 10 years, the VA's medical system isn't as successful as officials say, according to an investigation by McClatchy Newspapers. The system, which was hit with withering criticism after major problems in caring for veterans were disclosed, has been in the habit of touting the availability of outpatient appointments, high customer service ratings and high-quality care. However, there are problems with each of these claims; for example, in the appointments instance, an inspector general found that the agency had manipulated scheduling records to make its point. In reality, the study says, the VA is overwhelmed, especially by the needs of Iraq veterans. In particular, it lacks the resources to care effectively for the large numbers of soldiers returning with post-traumatic stress disorder, with some hospitals lacking the specialized treatment helpful in treating this condition.
To find out more about this research:
- read this Sacramento Bee article
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