Female Vets Find VA Health Care Lacking
Monday, April 11, 2011
A survey of 3,012 U.S. military women veterans reveals that one in three is dissatisfied with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare.
The survey — conducted by ProSidian Consulting, LLC, and sponsored by the American Legion — asked respondents questions related to 10 VA service quality attributes: reliability, responsiveness, competence, access, courtesy, communication, credibility, security, tangibles and understanding/knowing the customer.
The survey, according to ProSidian, was not designed to present an overview of general VA services that women receive, but it provided an assessment of specialized services for women at VA.
Highlights of the results include:
- Nearly 30% of respondents were dissatisfied with the reliability of health care provided by the VA when compared to private health care providers.
- Courtesy appears to be a major issue for the VA to address. Almost 25% of the respondents rated this attribute as less than positive.
- Approximately 30% of survey respondents felt that they were not allowed an appropriate amount of time with their provider to discuss specific, personal health concerns.
- Almost one third of respondents stated they were dissatisfied with their most recent experience with the Women Veterans Program Manager (WVPM), suggesting there is a need for the VA to provide gender-specific services (PAP smears and mammograms).
- More than half of the respondents were dissatisfied with their experiences related to the military sexual trauma screening process.
The American Legion states that only 25% of the 1.8 million female veterans are currently using the VA Healthcare System. Reasons why female vets are not using the VA Healthcare System include:
- They have chosen not to enroll in VA services.
- They are unaware of the medical benefits they have earned through their service in the Armed Forces.
- They have negative perceptions of the health care provided by the VA Healthcare System.
The survey results provided insight about the obvious difference between desired and actual performance of the VA Healthcare System for the female veterans using it. The American Legion recommends the VA investigate ways to improve their women’s health services.
I am a veteran, also am a women's health care provider myself; NP and CNM. I was treated HORRIBLY at a VA clinic. I was shocked at lack of knowledge, the attitudes and the disrespect I observed. I suspect that if I was treated the way I was, when the staff knew I was a health care provider, that most women are probably treated WORSE. I wish I could see that there was a way to improve it.
What even worse is what is really going on, NPRC told me they misplaced my military medical records, the VA says because they can't find your records, too bad, You have to wait in line for years through appeals and this VA board of appeals, 5 years now. The Federal Government is losing the records then you get denied your VA claims because there is no law, that protects veterans from FED GOV incompitency, it is to bad you trusted us. were out in the wind. Make sure you get a copy of all your records before you get out, because there losing them and it will be your fault. Oh yeah the polticians they wont help and either do they care.
Where do I begin. I am a former marine, female served Iraq 2003. The Philadelphia va hospital is a disgrace. Incompetent disrespectful. Shown up to find my appointment was canceled without notifying me. To a doctor telling me to go to the 7th floor & beg for medication. I have gone to Patient advocate which I found them to be very condescending, and never resolved anything. I also noticed that most of the doctors are not doctors but NP & PA