That is horrendous. However, I will say that while that was the Buffalo, NY Va. The service I got at the Carl T Hayden VA in Phoenix was absolutely exemplary.
What kind of care did you get there? The OKC facility has some good doctors, some bad. Same in Shreveport, La. But even the good doctors are hampered by the system.
Only med approved for your condition? Too bad, have to go through trials of other meds first before you get that one.
Got a torn knee? Yes, even with an x-ray showing a torn meniscus (from another facility), have to go through physical therapy first, before you can see orthopedics. Don't already have the x-ray/MRI, have to go through physical therapy first.
Suffer from Sinusitis or other nasal problems? First, get the doctor to actually listen that you have a problem. Next, 3 months on nasal flush (available at Walmart, not free from the pharmacy), anti-histamines, and nasal spray. Didn't work? Next, 3 more months with nasal spray, anti-histamines, nasal flush and they add an anti-biotic. Still didn't work, ok, now they can do a cat scan of your sinuses and if it shows reason to, then you can be referred to ENT.
On the plus side, if they suspect arthritis, you can get an x-ray in a month or two.
It has taken me 5 years to actually get a doctor that both understands English well enough to communicate with and will listen. Most just run their checklist of certain items, tell you to quit smoking and never listen beyond that. Why the Shreveport facility actually hired a psychiatrist that doesn't even communicate well in English is beyond me. You would think that that is one field where the ability to communicate would be required. The Indian, Pakistani and Iraqi doctors weren't bad (ok, 1 was, not the rest), they were just hampered by their ability to communicate.
For Basic health needs and a few military specialty requirements, the VAs I have dealt with are pretty decent. But need care beyond the normal, and they really don't hold up.
Gee, and some people want the government to run everyones healthcare. I Just don't get it, apparently they have never dealt with government run systems before.