Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Eyes on the skies: $16.7 million would keep radar stations in top shape through 2030 ... Our view: RCC's health care opportunity can't be lost ... Medford plans to go after utilty debtors ... Eyes on the skies: $16.7 million would keep radar stations in top shape through 2030 ... Our view: RCC's health care opportunity can't be lost ... Medford plans to go after utilty debtors ... ROSEBURG VA hospital making changes But veterans still wait for care they need Comment By Carisa Cegavske Roseburg News-Review MailTribune.com By Carisa Cegavske Roseburg News-Review Posted Dec. 13, 2014 at 10:36 AM By Carisa Cegavske Roseburg News-Review Posted Dec. 13, 2014 at 10:36 AM » Social News Roseburg Veterans Affairs Medical Center Interim Director Doug Paxton makes a habit of walking around the VA to meet directly with employees and patients. Seven weeks into his term, Paxton said his priorities include reducing patients’ waits for appointments and increasing transparency about the VA’s operations. “I believe that customer service is of the utmost importance in any organization, and our veterans are our customers," he said. "I enjoy listening to them, learning from them, helping them, and being a veteran myself, there is a certain camaraderie that I truly enjoy in engaging with my fellow veterans. I am here to work for them.” Paxton’s push for transparency has so far impressed members of the Douglas County Veterans Forum — which represents about 5,000 area veterans in 17 organizations — who were so disenchanted with previous Director Carol Bogedain that they issued a “no confidence” statement against her. In the midst of the firestorm, Bogedain abruptly announced she would retire in October. Paxton took the helm Oct. 15. The VA central office in Washington, D.C., is currently reviewing applicants for a permanent Roseburg director. The embattled VA, already at odds with veterans over the 2009 closure of the hospital’s intensive care unit, has more recently faced criticisms about lengthy waits for care.  Kent Oakley, 66, of Oakland has been wait-listed a year for knee replacement surgery. He complained at a September town hall meeting that the VA was treating him like an animal. The Vietnam-era Marine veteran thought his wait might soon be over recently, when he drove to Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. He had in hand a “choice card,” one of the VA’s new vouchers allowing veterans to seek care outside the VA, and planned to schedule knee surgery with an OHSU doctor. Those hopes were dashed, he told The News-Review. After a flurry of phone calls with VA officials Wednesday, he returned home with no appointment and conflicting answers about whether he even qualified to obtain non-VA care. He has been told he must wait two weeks to hear whether he can schedule surgery at OHSU. “What a joke, typical VA,” he said. “It’s not a hospital, it’s just a circus. People just don’t know what’s going on.” Vietnam veteran Jim Suhrstedt fell and injured his right shoulder more than four months ago and says VA bureaucracy has repeatedly blocked him from getting help. He has a torn rotator cuff, torn tendons and a dislocated tendon that runs down to his bicep. “I’m in constant pain, but that doesn’t matter to them. They have a procedure that they follow,” he said. The VA told him in October that if their doctors couldn’t operate within four weeks they would send him to an outside provider. They made an appointment for him with Slocum Center for Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Eugene. Slocum had a Nov. 14 cancellation and signed him up. On Nov. 13, Suhrstedt got a call from the VA. They would not pay for the surgery. They also told him they had arranged an appointment in four hours with a surgeon at the Portland VA. The forecast was for snow and freezing rain. Fortunately for Suhrstedt, the weather predictions didn’t pan out. Unfortunately, the earliest the Portland VA could get him in is Jan. 23. He plans to wait it out despite the pain. “What choice do I have? I can’t fix it myself. I can’t afford to go to an outside surgeon and say, ‘Hey fix me up,’” he said. “I’m a disabled veteran. I’m retired. I turn 67 in October, so I’m just bound to do whatever they tell me because I have no other options.” The VA says wait times are decreasing. In June, according to its numbers, new patients were waiting an average of 70 days for specialty care appointments, 48 days for primary care and 46 days for mental health care. The most recent data shows waits for specialty care have dropped dramatically, from 70 days to 38. Primary care waits raised slightly, to about 50 days, and mental health waits lowered a bit, to 39. Paxton said the VA has endeavored to reduce wait times by expanding clinic hours, hiring three additional primary care providers and expediting recruitment.  The VA also began mailing choice cards this month to veterans who live more than 40 miles from a VA facility or have to wait more than a month for an appointment. About 1,019 veterans meet the geographic requirement and about 508 veterans may be eligible due to scheduling delays, Paxton said. Douglas County Veterans Forum spokesman Jim Little said he believes the VA is making an effort, but cautioned that the choice cards won’t solve all the veterans’ problems, since many rural veterans will also have difficulty obtaining appointments with private doctors. “A voucher is only good if you can use it,” he said.  Paxton said many positive changes are underway at the VA. Among them is a protective care unit for Alzheimer’s patients, dubbed “The Lodge,” which will open Feb. 3. It will boast state-of-the-art equipment and a “homelike atmosphere,” Paxton said. Construction is also underway on a new acute psychiatry unit. As for the possibility of reopening an ICU — still at the forefront of veterans’ concerns here — Paxton said that question is outside the scope of what he can accomplish as an interim director. Little sees reason for optimism in a Nov. 5 meeting with VA Assistant Deputy Undersecretary for Health Thomas Lynch. Veterans who attended that closed-door session heard Lynch say he wanted to learn more about the ICU’s closure and that he would have to rethink some of his preconceived notions about the Roseburg VA. Little said he believes when Lynch issues his report about the meeting, veterans will know more about where they stand.  “We remain optimistic but persistent,” Little said.   Reach News-Review reporter Carisa Cegavske at 541-957-4213 or [email protected] . By Carisa Cegavske Roseburg News-Review MailTribune.com By Carisa Cegavske Roseburg News-Review Posted Dec. 13, 2014 at 10:36 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501