Veterans packed into a small auditorium on the Fayetteville Veterans Affairs Medical Center campus Friday, complaining about a range of heath care issues to VA officials.
The VA hosted two town hall meetings in efforts to connect VA leadership to patients. Veterans also had opportunities to file claims with representatives directly after the meeting.
She reported the VA has been tackling the wait times by opening new clinics, including Breezewood in Fayetteville and the new 14-trailer space behind the main hospital for mental health care.
“We’ve been able to decrease the wait time to be seen,” she said. “We’re able to see many more veterans in a timely manner.”
A new call center launching soon is also expected to alleviate complaints from veterans about a complicated call system they use to make appointments. The streamlined system should make it easier to schedule appointments, she said.
A few veterans used their time to compliment service they’ve received at the VA, but mostly veterans complained about doctors, long wait times and cuts in compensation.
Stephanie Brown, who is set to retire next year, broke down in tears during her turn to talk to Goolsby.
Brown is a Master Sgt. with 2nd Battalion, 345th Regiment, 157th Infantry Brigade, Army Reserve in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. She served for 30 years.
Doctors discovered a tumor in her neck, and she said she called the VA for help. She remained on the wait list for seven months before she was notified she will have an appointment in February.
That’s 10 months after she called for the appointment, she said.
“I’m scared I’m going to be that person that you see on TV that dies (waiting for an appointment),” she said.
While Brown waited, she said she pursued a doctor to help her. The pain continued to progress, she said.
Brown paused to look around the crowded room of veterans.
“They’re putting their life on the line for everyone, every day,” she said. “I don’t believe you don’t have the capability to help these veterans.”
Goolsby immediately jumped in to schedule an appointment for Brown for next week. But by the time Brown left the town hall, she was scheduled for an appointment for this morning.
Retired Sgt. Sam McKenney took advantage of the claims filing at the town hall meeting. McKenney, a Vietnam veteran, served for seven years, including with the 5th Special Forces Group.
Doctors diagnosed him with prostate cancer, which McKenney said came from Agent Orange during his time in Vietnam.
The VA paid for the necessary medical procedures and paid 100 percent of his monthly compensation claims. However, that was reduced to 40percent last year, McKenney said. The cut came abruptly, and McKenney said he fell behind on bills and lost one of his cars because of it.
He sat in line with dozens of other veterans waiting to talk to a representative Friday.
“It don’t seem like nobody is there to help,” he said. “It looks like they’re not concerned with your welfare.”
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