U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs
Attention: Secretary Eric K. Shinseki
810 Vermont Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20420
Attention: Secretary Eric K. Shinseki
810 Vermont Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20420
Dear Secretary Eric K.
Shinseki,
The enclosed letter is a
copy of the letter I sent to Director Debra Hirschman of the Sheridan
VA Healthcare System in Sheridan, WY.
What they are doing to me
and others is unconscionable, but it is a little fiefdom with it's
own rules and agenda. And the bean counters who are out of touch with
us real veterans.
Thank You for you time and
any considerations regarding my letter. The entire VA is not bad,
just bits and pieces, but they matter a lot.
Sincerely,
William D. Harasym
USAF Veteran and Disabled
____________________________________________________________
Enclosed Letter originally to Debra Hirschman, Director at Sheridan VA Healthcare System:
Director Hirschman
VAMC
1898 Fort Rd.
Sheridan, WY 82801
Dear Director Hirschman,
The Sheridan VA Medical
Center of
the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs really messed with me today, and I'm not going to
take this sitting down.
I had 2 appointments
today, one after the other. The 1st appointment I scheduled, and it
was in their computer system. The 2nd one was scheduled by their
appointment czar, (A month ago.) who I'm guessing has a computer too,
and would have seen a conflict if one was there, but she didn't.
My 1st appointment was
over at MHC, and I went to book my next appointment at MHC, but there
was a line of a few vets also doing that. (Usually there isn't.) The
guy at the window was taking forever, as I looked at my watch and saw
it was almost time for my 2nd appointment. After 5-7 minutes I
finally got my turn and did it as fast as possible, like <2
minutes, and asked the lady at the desk to call over to primary-care
to tell them I was on my way.
I rushed over there,
breaking the speed limit on campus to get there, and doing it on a
forearm crutch and 2 really screwed-up & horribly bad knees, one
that has needed surgery for over 5 years now (No ACL, torn meniscus
and much more---it's bone on bone right now.), but the VA says I'm
too fat, so suffer sucker! I get there at the front desk to check in,
and there is another line of over 1/2 dozen folks, so I had to wait
another 15-20 minutes there (They only had one person on duty when
they usually have 2.) and I finally checked in. She said the previous
appointment people called and let her and triage know I was on my
way. She apologized for the delay and said have a seat, and they'll
call you back soon, to see the doc. I sat there another 7-8 minutes,
and one of the nurses came out and said the doc is already seeing the
2 o'clock appointment, and that he can't see you today, so come back
Friday, on May 23. 2014. I was pissed, and still am. What kind of
fucking circus are you running there?
It was the VA's archaic
system that caused the delays, yet the VA decided I was their
scapegoat and the one to fuck over today! It's bullshit, and I will
be informing the IG of this and a plethora of other evil acts by the
VA. I've always had the VA's back, but it seems they don't have mine.
On some issues, you live in a black and white world, on others, it
becomes a gray area, but this shape-shifts to accommodate whatever
the rule du jour is, and who's interpreting it.
I'm a Ukrainian
Bear---Gentle when stroked, Fierce when provoked!
My mom died just a few
months ago, and I'm not a happy camper, and that's what I discussed
with my psychiatrist today, my current state of depression (Oh, I'm
bi-polar too, so depression is not a good thing for someone who is
bi-polar, just speaking from experience.) and then what does the VA
do?- They decide their world had to be black and white today, and
fuck the vet because he is a little late, as it's never the VA's
fault! How many times over the last 30+ years I've been using the VA
have my doctors been late, or even no shows for appointments? Scores
of times, but did we send them home? I think not. This was bullshit
and I want an apology, and the opportunity to schedule an appointment
at my convenience, not some nurse's or doc's.
While I'm venting, let's
talk about my knees—-they are screwed-up, and pretty soon I'll need
a wheelchair of some sort just to get around, due to the VA's
obstinate behavior. When a person is in pain, and can't walk, there
isn't many exercises they can do except water aerobics and water
physical therapy. But the VA in Sheridan is run by idiots, and you're
only allowed a few visits, then they tell you to go to the YMCA. Why,
when the VA has the facilities, and space for veterans to use the
pool every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1pm. Why do I have to give
a private religious party (YMCA) my personal and financial
information all because we have idiot bean counters running the VA?
That is a sin! Never mind the separation of church and state.
That brings me to my
knees---I tore my left ACL 5 ½ years ago, and then everything else
fell apart. Now both knees are screwed up and the VA does shit. If my
knees were replaced like I was told 22 years ago would happen in a
few years, then I could walk, and do exercise. But you folks do thing
ass-backwards, and are inconsistent. Last year a friend's husband
hurt his shoulder, and within 3 months he was getting surgery. He too
was suppose to go to Cheyenne VA (Like I'm suppose to do with my 23
year old car that I don't even drive out of town for fear of it dying
or breaking down.) for surgery, but his wife cried saying it was too
far for the family (They have 3 new vehicles and their only child
just got her nursing degree here in Sheridan.) and inconvenient. So
they let them do the surgery here with a local orthopedic surgeon.
I've been begging this for years and they just laugh at me.
Thanks for you time.
Enclose is the appointment card I got today, along with the other
waste of paperwork I also received. Recycle it, and use your IT
system the way it's suppose to, not half-assed like it is now!
Everyday is Veteran's Day at the VA! Yeah Right!
Sincerely,
William D. Harasym
cc: VA Office of
Inspector General - Richard J. Griffin- Acting Inspector General
The Secretary Of Veterans Affairs
- Eric K. Shinseki
VISN Network Director - Mr. Ralph
T. Gigliotti
Congressperson Cynthia Lummis
Senator John Barrasso
Senator Mike Enzi
The N.Y. Times Newspaper
