“Land of the free, because of the brave.” July 4th, 1776 America was founded and presented with the red, white, and blue colors of the flag. Red symbolizing hardiness and valour, white meaning purity and innocence, while blue signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice. Since the beginning of time there have been wars fought to protect the United States of America. Although the wars advance in time when veterans return home to get treated for physical and mental wounds these heroes often do not seek medical attention. The veteran affairs hospitals and administrations have not been updated for several years in Louisville, Kentucky. The plans to build a new Veterans’ hospital by 2023 is in the stages of congress as of today and will cost approximately $883.2 million dollars according to Rep. John Yarmouth (Vanderhoff, M Nov 2014). Instead of building a new hospital which cost that much money wouldn’t the veteran affairs and staff get modern technology, a better record keeping system, pay veterans’ waiting on disability, and improve the structure of the Veteran hospital in Louisville. Are veterans getting the help and support they are needing after returning from combat as the wars draw down? There has been several speculations and concerns with our veterans returning home facing home-front wars in regards to the Veteran Affairs and their hospitals. Veterans have been put on a so called “waitlist.” This means they’re likeliness to get an appointment and see a doctor may range from 30 days for an appointment to as long as two years. There has also been concerns of improper treatment, abuse by doctors’ writing prescriptions that often counteract medications some of these veterans are already prescribed to that could potentially harm or even kill these veterans. Lack of staff has resulted in Veteran Hospitals all over the United States being short staffed and unable to properly care for these war heroes who sacrificed life and limb for the American people. Many veterans many still do not seek care at the Veteran hospitals even though they have five years of free healthcare when returning from a deployment. Why would these veterans’ not seek healthcare and help? Veterans’ need to be treated for the current conditions they face and will have later on in their lives. The American population must be a voice for these veterans’ and help fight these home-front wars these heroes are facing. One main focus in VA hospitals that is a most a common medical condition you see in veterans is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder also known to others as “PTSD”. Recent studies show out of approximately 1.64 million American veterans that deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan 300,000 suffer from PTSD or severe depression leading to PTSD (Tanielian & Jaycox, 2008). This could stem from an event that has happened to these veterans while in combat or a traumatic event that has happened in their lives. This means that over 50% of these veterans who may have PTSD have not sought treatment. The average cost for the first year of treatment for a veteran with PTSD is $8,300. If there are approx. 118,829 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans diagnosed. Then from 2002 to 2014 just in cases of PTSD the veteran affairs spent about 986 million dollars total. There are three symptoms doctors are looking for when a veteran is evaluated to see if he or she may have PTSD. In the past month has the veterans had any flashbacks, nightmares, or frightening thoughts. If this is the determination and dedication doctors are using in finding out if veterans have PTSD is there a problem here? Veterans are supposed to diagnose their selves then why are the doctors there. Traumatic Brain Injuries also known as TBI’s is known as one of the most common medical conditions said to be related in the diagnosis of PTSD. VA hospitals are often unclear in a correct diagnosis in veterans seeking medical attention for this condition. PTSD is also a huge topic in regards to suicide awareness amongst our veterans and the VA hospitals must be aware of the challenges they face in dealing with veterans who have suicidal thoughts from PTSD. Veterans must adapt to their lives as normal once returning home from a deployment. Whether they are a husband, wife, mother, father, son or daughter they must cope with issues they face upon returning. VA hospitals must take action and set up some kind of counseling for our Soldiers and veterans who have battled for freedom of the American people. Reintegrating veterans to normal life is often mislead from the VA administration as for some they go for a checkup and blood test then get sent on their way. If the VA administration does not confide in these veterans how can they determine accurate results? The VA hospitals need to react to veterans seeking counseling or other professional help to assure these veterans they’re not alone. Taking action from the doctors and psychiatrist in relation to the progress of the veterans mental state is a concern often from a veteran as they show restraint due to these professionals being civilians instead of military. VA hospitals should enable programs for veterans to deal with the stressful issues going on in their lives and be there to support their needs. Veterans also must take it upon their selves once returning home to schedule appointments with these hospitals and primary care providers. Stress stemming from PTSD and combat situations while being deployed needs to be handled and the professionals and hospitals must find ways for veterans to become less stressful. Medication is believed to be abused by the hospitals as they just prescribe these veterans pills and send them on their way or think that is truly what these veterans need. Yet as we look at the results veterans began drinking and alcohol is one of the biggest culprits in regards to abuse and mix it with their medication and their far more stressful now than before. VA hospitals are there to prevent addiction and lessen stress not addict these veterans to these medications which sometimes often lead to the misuse of more dangerous drugs. The VA hospitals and administration must find ways to prevent these mental and medical conditions from consuming these veterans’ lives. VA administration must take action and set up job seminars for veterans returning in order for them to stay employed and ways to deal with stressful situations other than the way of the military that these veterans know and live by. VA hospitals should take surveys and ask these veterans what they are seeking from the hospital and how the hospital can provide the best medical care and emotional support for veterans. The VA hospitals need to properly give the right diagnosis to the veterans truly showing that they care and are compassionate for the well-being and safety of the veterans who are seeking medical attention. Treatment for veterans start with the VA hospitals and their administration. Being able to recognize and understand what problems and medical conditions veterans of the United States suffer from will benefit the medical staff in finding solutions to properly care for these veterans.
