VA Faces Questions Over Tainted Colonoscopies

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This is the main reason I lovewww.usnews.com. Insightful post.

Ray of AL 2:35AM March 11, 2010

This is the main reason I like www.usnews.com.. Fascinating post.

Dawn of AL 1:34AM March 11, 2010

When will we understand the impact in terms of the number of Vets infected? I read more than 10,000 are there any accurate numbers ouy there.

Louis Kozlowski of FL 3:28PM November 12, 2009

9r1lf8

Mtawjpru of IA 12:30PM July 14, 2009

I know 2 who have been exposed and tested positive.......stay away!

Julliette of MO 1:34PM July 06, 2009

I review bills for clients and resolve disputes with their physicians and hospitals. One of my clients had his first colonoscopy 5 years ago, with no sign of cancer. His doctor said he needed another one just recently, just about 5 years after the first one. Once again, 2 small polyps were removed without any sign of cancer, total gross bill of $5100.00 combined doctor and hospital, after insurance coverage, my client supposedly owes $3050.00. Further investigation revealed that the doctor was not able to read more than 50% of the colon area, without giving reason why the entire area of interest was not surveyed. Is my client being cheated? Where can I go to find out what prices are considered normal and reasonable?

Gwedo Stang of WI 3:28PM June 29, 2009

The problem at my local VA hospital is they're more interested in race than qualifications in hiring. They only hire whites when they can't find any remotely qualified blacks. Once these blacks are hired they know they won't be fired no matter how inept or lazy they are. So why should they perform. They think the VA hospital is ther to provide them with an income.
Now before everybody starts whining and wailing. "racist, racist", I'm not saying there are no qualified blacks. I am saying that being black is more important than being well qualified to get hired by the VA.

Walt of LA 9:59PM June 22, 2009

The VA has given me fair to good medical care for the past 45 yrs. I can't really speak for "civilian" hospital care as I haven't had care at one. If the US Government could remove the "politics" and discuss the facts I'm sure it wouldn't look so bad.
I guess I could P & M over care from an entitlement program, but since it doesn't cost me anywhere near what the general public pays, I can handle it. The Drs. and PA's, nurses, lab employees seem to try to provide good quality care, but to me it seems the "bean counters" have the ability to mess up a wet dream.
At the local clinic in Manila where I used to get care was the best in the VA system, then came "Jones the bean counter". Needless to say I haven't been back to the VA since then.
How can a non-medical trained person be in control of a medical facility is beyond me.
Of course the Dept of State has a big say in the treatment of Vets in Manila, only service connected issues are treated as they don't want to provide care for the old Philippino vets.
The world has/is changing, sometimes too fast for old men. Don't get your shorts dirty if you don't have all the facts.

JerryF of TX 9:14PM June 17, 2009

I am a United States Navy Veteran, Hospital Corpsman. I am disappointed in the sterilzation of equipment that I stood inspections over on a case-to-case basis as an active duty member of the Armed Forces of The United States of America. Are the three states in the article under staffed? Are the three states mentioned in grave need of government grants? After all, the Sotheast Region is not so far away from DC! Veterans are now victims due to the "slack" of inproper steralizing equipment. Will this lack of accountability lead to a state-by-state epidemic? Ask the Seventh United States Secretary of Veterans Affirs (Ric Shinseki) for sterile equipment! Would Secretary Shinseki use one of the three VA Hospitals in the article? What's up a VA's butt now??

Wes Gore of SC 6:04PM June 17, 2009

All insightful comments. Hope everyone is ready. With nationalized health care looming on the horizon, this is likely the quality of treatment we're all facing.
Question for anyone thinking nationalized health care is a good idea: Why would I give an org (US gov) control and oversight over a larger group (total population of US) when they can not even run the VA health care?

Wondering Why of CA 2:14PM June 17, 2009