VA failed veteran

An article talking about failures of the new VA computer system stated that, “It’s good no one died.” Well, at least one person did die. His name was Alvin Parker, a 75 year-old Marine that served in Vietnam. The new patient management system prevented him from getting the care he desperately needed.

Al experienced every problem described in the article; long delays to get an appointment with his doctor, as well as a MRI to diagnose excruciating back pain. To add insult to injury, the new system “lost” his MRI and it took weeks to get another. To top it off, he couldn’t get an in-person appointment with his doctor – it was always just a telephone call.

I firmly believe if his doctor had actually examined Al, she would have realized his condition was deteriorating. She failed him and the VA failed him. Of course, the VA doesn’t count his death as being their fault since he didn’t die in their hospital. Just another problem swept under the rug, as usual.

Much of this happened after a staffer for Representative Cathy McMorris Rogers did her best to move things along. There was progress, but the VA still dragged its feet.

I will say that the VA hospital staff members I encountered were friendly, conscientious, and apologetic. But the many good people working at Mann-Grandstaff can only do so much within a system that is so broken. My big question is how many other veterans died due to this situation?

Hazel Hoeft

Spokane