Comments on: The Wounded Warriors http://blog.drphil.com/2009/10/01/the-wounded-warriors/ Dr. Phil- Start A Change Reaction Sun, 19 May 2013 02:33:16 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Joy Morrw http://blog.drphil.com/2009/10/01/the-wounded-warriors/comment-page-1/#comment-59214 Joy Morrw Sat, 12 Nov 2011 19:21:10 +0000 http://blog.drphil.com/?p=1510#comment-59214 Thank you to all who serve our country. You are the unsung heros. Thank you to all who serve our country. You are the unsung heros.

]]> By: Marrit http://blog.drphil.com/2009/10/01/the-wounded-warriors/comment-page-1/#comment-4730 Marrit Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:50:53 +0000 http://blog.drphil.com/?p=1510#comment-4730 Hello dr. Phil, Why are you and the rest of America still keeping up appearances. I live in the Netherlands and it makes me very angry that people are still denying the only one benefitting from this war, are the big moneymakers. You are destroying an ancient culture, distroying homes of people who were allready very poor. You might think your god is with you, but god doesn't live in Iraq. Allah's the boss over there. The worst thing about it I think, is that because America can manipulate Europe with our many depts, we are also forced to send troops. We have nothing to do with your stupid war and there is NOTHING that America can be proud of. America is a joke, build on air. I can understand the shame is too big to ever admit you're wrong. But respect, especialy for veterans and soldiers, is the very last thing you can exspect from anyone but yourselves. But it's never too late to make things better. greetings, Marrit Hello dr. Phil,

Why are you and the rest of America still keeping up appearances.
I live in the Netherlands and it makes me very angry that people are still denying the only one benefitting from this war, are the big moneymakers. You are destroying an ancient culture, distroying homes of people who were allready very poor. You might think your god is with you, but god doesn’t live in Iraq. Allah’s the boss over there. The worst thing about it I think, is that because America can manipulate Europe with our many depts, we are also forced to send troops. We have nothing to do with your stupid war and there is NOTHING that America can be proud of. America is a joke, build on air.
I can understand the shame is too big to ever admit you’re wrong. But respect, especialy for veterans and soldiers, is the very last thing you can exspect from anyone but yourselves.
But it’s never too late to make things better.

greetings,
Marrit

]]> By: Krista Lewis http://blog.drphil.com/2009/10/01/the-wounded-warriors/comment-page-1/#comment-4729 Krista Lewis Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:41:29 +0000 http://blog.drphil.com/?p=1510#comment-4729 I just wanted to show my deep respect and appreciation to Dr. Phil for covering this issue on the show and getting involved to help the cause. I am a wife of a Marine, and am so fortunate to have him healthy and alive. Even though my husband may be lucky, we know many people who have not been as lucky as us. We have friends who have been discharged after being injured in Iraq, we hear about Marines (or other military members) who are injured while at war and are sent home and discharged after 16 years of committed service. They are given $16,000 and sent on their way. The get lost in the system at the VA clinics. They fall through the cracks and are seen as a burden to many workers at the clinics. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!! They served our country and were injured (if not killed) while fighting our war and we throw them away. I am 28 years old and had gone to school for nursing and worked in the field for multiple years. After learning more about all this going on I went back to school. I no longer am interested in nursing, I decided to go to pursue my PhD in Psychology to counsel military members with PTSD in a group or individual setting, for free. Because of your show last year, I am going to do everything in my ability to help the situation. I am sure, and very much hope, your show affected many more to do the same. Thank you! Great topic! I just wanted to show my deep respect and appreciation to Dr. Phil for covering this issue on the show and getting involved to help the cause. I am a wife of a Marine, and am so fortunate to have him healthy and alive. Even though my husband may be lucky, we know many people who have not been as lucky as us. We have friends who have been discharged after being injured in Iraq, we hear about Marines (or other military members) who are injured while at war and are sent home and discharged after 16 years of committed service. They are given $16,000 and sent on their way.
The get lost in the system at the VA clinics. They fall through the cracks and are seen as a burden to many workers at the clinics. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!! They served our country and were injured (if not killed) while fighting our war and we throw them away.
I am 28 years old and had gone to school for nursing and worked in the field for multiple years. After learning more about all this going on I went back to school. I no longer am interested in nursing, I decided to go to pursue my PhD in Psychology to counsel military members with PTSD in a group or individual setting, for free.
Because of your show last year, I am going to do everything in my ability to help the situation. I am sure, and very much hope, your show affected many more to do the same.
Thank you! Great topic!

]]> By: Pat http://blog.drphil.com/2009/10/01/the-wounded-warriors/comment-page-1/#comment-4298 Pat Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:40:50 +0000 http://blog.drphil.com/?p=1510#comment-4298 Dr. Phil, I am married to a disabled veteran (Vietnam) who is 100% permanent and total in his disability for PTSD. I also have worked for the VA going on 18 years. As part of my work with the VA I have had the privilege to process new patients into the VA when they are establishing their care for the first time or transfering their care from another VA. I would receive between 75-100 requests a week from those waiting to be seen in the VA. It was my job to make sure these veterans were scheduled within 30 days of their request after our admissions staff downloaded them into the computer system. With all that said I would like to bring to light things about the VA system that so many don't know and are never told. In a comment above a poster wrote that our veterans have to wait months to be seen in a clinic. That was true of the past and may still be true in some VA's but we are all mandated to get our veterans scheduled within 30 days of the submission of a "consult" requesting an appointment in whichever clinics they need to be seen. I know many VA's go above and beyond to make this happen and the problem each VA has is the shortage of staff, space, funds, and equipment to met everyone's needs. We are adding an average of 400-500 veterans each month to every VA and as wonderful as that is we are not adding staff or rooms to make sure they are seen within an adequate amount of time. Staff was working overtime to keep up with the backlog but that was cut because funds were not available. I totally support and encourage the work IraqStar is doing and believe me they are making strides where other groups have not been able to in the past but I would like to offer a suggestion so they do not spend funds on something the veteran can get through the VA. Every VA hospital is affiliated with a teaching hospital close to them. Staff from the teaching hospital are usually on staff as well at the VA Hospital. Many VA hosptials specialize in certain specialties such as transplants, blind center, PTSD, etc. The veteran could be worked up for a neurology issue and the VA doing the workup may feel he would benefit for treatment at a VA that specializes in their findings and the VA Social Worker will contact the other VA to coordinate a temporary transfer of care to the other VA. As for how can a veteran afford this care? Each veteran falls under a specific category priority level from 1-8. Prior to being seen at the VA they can ask to speak with the VA billing department to have potential bills outlined for them. This could provide great relief to the veteran and their family to have an understanding up front. There are so many things our veterans do not know or are not told about the VA and often the veteran has applied for care later in life only to learn that they have been eligible for many years. One important area that veterans lack in knowledge is that a veteran who is a receipient of the purple heart only receives a co-pay for medications. All medical care received at the VA is at no cost to them. This includes eye care (exam and glasses) and hearing care (test and hearing aides). Recently the VA opened up the category under priority 8 to veterans previously turned down for care at the VA because they made to much money. By doing this opportunities for many veterans unable to receive care was now made available to them. All of these changes are outstanding so we can care for our veterans better but at what cost to the limited resources and staff at the VA. Funding given to the VA for FY2009-2010 is significantly better than what was given in the past but the hoops the veteran has to jump through to get through the federal bureaucracy are the same hoops the VA Human Resources has to jump through to get new positions added. Oh, and please remember the VA does hire veterans first (including disabled veterans)!!! This posting can go on forever because the information is neverending and the system in getting set up at the VA is not user friendly. If I can stress one thing it is ask questions every step of the way. Go to the Patient Administration of the VA if you don't know what something means or how it applies to your veteran and situation. Establish yourself with a VA Social Worker to assist the veteran and their family with their needs. Just please - don't ever give up!! Dr. Phil,
I am married to a disabled veteran (Vietnam) who is 100% permanent and total in his disability for PTSD. I also have worked for the VA going on 18 years. As part of my work with the VA I have had the privilege to process new patients into the VA when they are establishing their care for the first time or transfering their care from another VA. I would receive between 75-100 requests a week from those waiting to be seen in the VA. It was my job to make sure these veterans were scheduled within 30 days of their request after our admissions staff downloaded them into the computer system.

With all that said I would like to bring to light things about the VA system that so many don’t know and are never told. In a comment above a poster wrote that our veterans have to wait months to be seen in a clinic. That was true of the past and may still be true in some VA’s but we are all mandated to get our veterans scheduled within 30 days of the submission of a “consult” requesting an appointment in whichever clinics they need to be seen. I know many VA’s go above and beyond to make this happen and the problem each VA has is the shortage of staff, space, funds, and equipment to met everyone’s needs. We are adding an average of 400-500 veterans each month to every VA and as wonderful as that is we are not adding staff or rooms to make sure they are seen within an adequate amount of time. Staff was working overtime to keep up with the backlog but that was cut because funds were not available.

I totally support and encourage the work IraqStar is doing and believe me they are making strides where other groups have not been able to in the past but I would like to offer a suggestion so they do not spend funds on something the veteran can get through the VA. Every VA hospital is affiliated with a teaching hospital close to them. Staff from the teaching hospital are usually on staff as well at the VA Hospital. Many VA hosptials specialize in certain specialties such as transplants, blind center, PTSD, etc. The veteran could be worked up for a neurology issue and the VA doing the workup may feel he would benefit for treatment at a VA that specializes in their findings and the VA Social Worker will contact the other VA to coordinate a temporary transfer of care to the other VA.

As for how can a veteran afford this care? Each veteran falls under a specific category priority level from 1-8. Prior to being seen at the VA they can ask to speak with the VA billing department to have potential bills outlined for them. This could provide great relief to the veteran and their family to have an understanding up front. There are so many things our veterans do not know or are not told about the VA and often the veteran has applied for care later in life only to learn that they have been eligible for many years. One important area that veterans lack in knowledge is that a veteran who is a receipient of the purple heart only receives a co-pay for medications. All medical care received at the VA is at no cost to them. This includes eye care (exam and glasses) and hearing care (test and hearing aides).

Recently the VA opened up the category under priority 8 to veterans previously turned down for care at the VA because they made to much money. By doing this opportunities for many veterans unable to receive care was now made available to them.

All of these changes are outstanding so we can care for our veterans better but at what cost to the limited resources and staff at the VA. Funding given to the VA for FY2009-2010 is significantly better than what was given in the past but the hoops the veteran has to jump through to get through the federal bureaucracy are the same hoops the VA Human Resources has to jump through to get new positions added. Oh, and please remember the VA does hire veterans first (including disabled veterans)!!!

This posting can go on forever because the information is neverending and the system in getting set up at the VA is not user friendly. If I can stress one thing it is ask questions every step of the way. Go to the Patient Administration of the VA if you don’t know what something means or how it applies to your veteran and situation. Establish yourself with a VA Social Worker to assist the veteran and their family with their needs. Just please – don’t ever give up!!

]]> By: Ann http://blog.drphil.com/2009/10/01/the-wounded-warriors/comment-page-1/#comment-4242 Ann Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:21:13 +0000 http://blog.drphil.com/?p=1510#comment-4242 My Mother, Father, both of my Brothers, 3 uncles and 2 cousins are veterans. I have a nephew and a close neighbor’s son in the military right now. I may not support the war but I do support the troops that go in harm’s way. The military should take care of the troops that go where they are sent. These young men and women volunteer to join the military to protect us and others. It is time that the government that sends them takes care of them. My Mother, Father, both of my Brothers, 3 uncles and 2 cousins are veterans. I have a nephew and a close neighbor’s son in the military right now. I may not support the war but I do support the troops that go in harm’s way. The military should take care of the troops that go where they are sent. These young men and women volunteer to join the military to protect us and others. It is time that the government that sends them takes care of them.

]]> By: Amanda Sperling http://blog.drphil.com/2009/10/01/the-wounded-warriors/comment-page-1/#comment-4229 Amanda Sperling Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:45:25 +0000 http://blog.drphil.com/?p=1510#comment-4229 I am lucky enough to live in Virginia and have the opportunity to go to Walter Reed Medical Center. It is such a moving experience every time I go, to hear the stories and offer up encouragement to these men and women who serve our country. Thank you so much for recognizing such an amazing group who offers help to these soliders. Sometimes we forget that they are off fighting while we are busy living our "everday" lives. We can not thank these people enough for all of the freedoms that they fight for, for us. God Bless our Soilders. I am lucky enough to live in Virginia and have the opportunity to go to Walter Reed Medical Center. It is such a moving experience every time I go, to hear the stories and offer up encouragement to these men and women who serve our country. Thank you so much for recognizing such an amazing group who offers help to these soliders. Sometimes we forget that they are off fighting while we are busy living our “everday” lives. We can not thank these people enough for all of the freedoms that they fight for, for us. God Bless our Soilders.

]]> By: Linda http://blog.drphil.com/2009/10/01/the-wounded-warriors/comment-page-1/#comment-4210 Linda Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:12:08 +0000 http://blog.drphil.com/?p=1510#comment-4210 I think you are probably not the type of person who saw Michael Moores movie Fahrenheit 9/11. But if you ever do, whatever you think of the movie, there is a woman in it called Lila Lipscomb who lost her son and I have really been wondering how she is doing now. I think you are probably not the type of person who saw Michael Moores movie Fahrenheit 9/11. But if you ever do, whatever you think of the movie, there is a woman in it called Lila Lipscomb who lost her son and I have really been wondering how she is doing now.

]]> By: Linda http://blog.drphil.com/2009/10/01/the-wounded-warriors/comment-page-1/#comment-4205 Linda Sun, 11 Oct 2009 11:58:10 +0000 http://blog.drphil.com/?p=1510#comment-4205 That sounds like a good thing. I agree that you should show support even if the war was unpopular. It must be really hard beeing a 20 year old veteran who has lost a leg and an eye. So young and life will never be the same again. That sounds like a good thing. I agree that you should show support even if the war was unpopular. It must be really hard beeing a 20 year old veteran who has lost a leg and an eye. So young and life will never be the same again.

]]> By: Tsukihime http://blog.drphil.com/2009/10/01/the-wounded-warriors/comment-page-1/#comment-4201 Tsukihime Sun, 11 Oct 2009 03:06:56 +0000 http://blog.drphil.com/?p=1510#comment-4201 I think the way America treats it's veterans is sad. They do not get the medical care they deserve and our government should be ashamed of that treatment. I am not a vet but I do see the sub-standard treatment they receive at the place I work for, many vets have to depend on not-for-profit organizations because they can not afford anything else and they are not being taken care of in the manner they should be entitled to for protecting our freedoms and helping other countries. I think the way America treats it’s veterans is sad. They do not get the medical care they deserve and our government should be ashamed of that treatment. I am not a vet but I do see the sub-standard treatment they receive at the place I work for, many vets have to depend on not-for-profit organizations because they can not afford anything else and they are not being taken care of in the manner they should be entitled to for protecting our freedoms and helping other countries.

]]> By: Linda RH http://blog.drphil.com/2009/10/01/the-wounded-warriors/comment-page-1/#comment-4186 Linda RH Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:35:47 +0000 http://blog.drphil.com/?p=1510#comment-4186 Thank you for passing along the link, Dr Phil. I know the organization will get a wider exposure due to your participation. Our servicemen and -women need all of the support and attention we are able to give. Thank you for passing along the link, Dr Phil. I know the organization will get a wider exposure due to your participation. Our servicemen and -women need all of the support and attention we are able to give.

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