The desperate need to secure quality healthcare for America's veterans is more important than ever and the VA finally has some big plans to make it happen.
Recently appointed Veteran Affairs Secretary, Bob McDonald, said at a news conference that the VA is hoping to hire around 28,000 healthcare workers "as quickly as possible". Last June, reports were released that said the VA's broken system could have been responsible for more than 1,000 deaths, tarnishing both the department and the Obama administration.
"Including clinicians and other employees, we're in the process of going through a big recruiting effort," McDonald told the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.
McDonald was spouting out estimates, not precise numbers, on what the VA is going to do. When government officials toss around "plans" or "pledges" I tend to be a little skeptical. This one I hope will come true.
These lofty claims are echoes of President Obama's pledge to solve the many problems veterans experience at VA hospitals nationwide. He said at the American Legion conference two weeks ago that he will "get to the bottom of these problems," calling them, "outrageous and inexcusable." Hiring competent healthcare providers to serve our vets would be a good start.