According to an article in the New York Times headed “V.A. Chief Resigns in Face of Furor on Delayed Care“:
“Defenders [Secretary Eric] Shinseki point out that problems at the Veterans Affairs Department, the country’s largest health care system, were far worse during the Vietnam era. Despite the current problems, many veterans say that the quality of care delivered — once they are able to get into the system — is much better today.
“In addition, the veterans agency has a history of innovation in its health care programs, including advances in the treatment of spinal cord injuries, improvements in artificial limbs, increased use of electronic health records and the investigation of medical errors.
“But the problems described Friday in an internal audit are remarkably similar to those documented six years ago in a report to the department by Booz Allen Hamilton, the management consulting company. The Booz Allen report found “chronic delays in care” at veterans hospitals and clinics, resulting in part from ‘the current shortage of nurses, nurse practitioners, primary care providers and specialty physicians.’ ”
These problems are not going remedied in a year, or two years but rather will take at least well into the next administration. For the new secretary to be credible, there needs to be likelihood that he or she will remain in that position for far longer than the balance of the Obama administration.
According to the Huffington Post, [Sen. John] McCain held a town hall in Arizona, where he suggested retiring Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) as “the best possible replacement” for Shinseki.
We suggest that the President should appoint a recently retired highly successful CEO from a major corporation such as those ‘drafted’ in 2008 to straighten out bankrupt auto and insurance companies.
President Barack Obama should reach out to McCain and other influential and concerned Republicans and come up with a nominee acceptable to both parties with the understanding that the appointment will likely be renewed even under a Republican president.
We don’t think it is asking too much that the parties to work together considering how much gas they both omit about wanting to provide good health care for veterans.
