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VA PTSD CENTERS CLOSED FOR VITAL HOLIDAY
#7754 - 4--gordonduff--VA PTSD CENTERS CLOSED FOR VITAL HOLIDAY--2009-07-03 08:17:22
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VA MEDICAL CENTERS "STRANGE" FRIDAY CLOSING
WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?
By Gordon Duff and Maj. Denise Nichols USAF MSN RN (ret.)
VETERANS: PLEASE CHECK YOUR REGIONAL MEDICAL/PTSD CENTER AND REPORT BACK TO US! WE NEED TO KNOW!
Holidays are critical times for veterans, especially PTSD vets. They are the highest suicide risk of all. This morning, we found the major PTSD treatment facility along with the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis actually closed prior to this all important holiday.
They closed on Friday for a long weekend, taking that "extra day" for some reason not entirely clear to anyone. No other hospitals in the US are closed, only those serving veterans. What makes veterans so special? Could it be the expected spike in suicides tied to patriotic celebrations which combine painful memories and alcohol?
In a country where few people even have jobs anymore, the idea that vital, even emergency services, could be made unavailable on the basis of, well, we just don't have a clue what basis at all. What could they be thinking?
-Being huge, unimaginably well financed and unaccountable to anyone may lead to non-consensual decision making processes.
By this, of course, meaning that the VA seems to do whatever the hell they want whenever they want. With the huge problems veterans, especially those who are category 1, with no other insurances or medical services available, getting care outside the VA, closing a facility can be a huge risk.
How many are closed nationally? Are they all closed?
Veterans are always told to "dial 911" or something similar for emergencies. They are not told: "Dial 911 and you may lose your house, your car, everything.....you may go bankrupt paying hospital bills."
Another potential message is: "Be careful, dont have an accident or any other medical emergency or crisis. We are taking the day off and....to hell with you."
ADDED NOTE:
"The Topeka VA is closed and that leaves the PTSD vets here out too. Those in the PTSD wards do not even have the recreation hall to go to."James A. Bunker
President
National Gulf War Resource Center
WWW.NGWRC.ORG
1403 Southwest Blvd, Ste 2B
Kansas City, KS 66103
The Denver VA is closed today. There is an operator available to direct people to the automated systems, and to inform callers that "all the clinics and offices are closed."
-JR
Gordon Duff is a Marine combat veteran and regular contributor.
Major Denise Nichols is a veteran of the Gulf War and retired from the US Air Force.
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