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1 in 3 Female Vets Dissatisfied with VA Healthcare

John Commins, for HealthLeaders Media, March 25, 2011

More than one-third of respondents were between ages 52 and 61, and 25% were ages 42-51.

Eighty percent were white, and more than 68% were non-combat veterans.

Some of the veterans who took the survey said they didn't want a separate VA healthcare system for women; rather, they want the same quality healthcare that men receive but tailored to meet gender-specific needs. Others said they hesitate to use VA facilities because they can't get child care on the days of their appointments.

"Changes in culture take time, and VA is starting to change its approach dealing with women veterans," said American Legion National Commander Jimmie L. Foster said. "The American Legion wants to help VA make this important transition. VA health care needs to be more reliable, responsive and competent in its treatment of women."

A copy of the 82-page survey was delivered to VA Secretary Eric Shinseki this week during the Legion's 51st Annual Washington Conference.

The complete report may be viewed here.

John Commins is a senior editor with HealthLeaders Media.
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1 comments on "1 in 3 Female Vets Dissatisfied with VA Healthcare"


Chris Russell (3/26/2011 at 11:03 AM)
President Obama stated in his last State of the Union focus on health care that the VA health care system offers the lowest "standard of care" of all the federal healthcare systems (i.e. Medicare/Medicaid/VA). Based on my own personal experience and in the words of the doctors and oncologists at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX, the VA offered me nothing less than a "death sentence" for my "service-connected" disease. Had it not been for my being eligible to enroll and be treated under the auspices of Medicaid I would not be alive today. The VA has some wonderful and caring people working at their hospitals but they are constrained in what they can do by the constraints put on them via the Congress.