On Wednesday, VA Secretary Bob McDonald talked with Rachel Maddow about VA’s role in the American health system.

“Not only do Veterans need the VA, but American medicine needs the VA, which means that America needs the VA,” McDonald told viewers of the program.

“Did you realize that 70 percent of U.S. doctors are trained by the VA? It’s our residencies that train doctors,” McDonald said.  “We have the largest nurse force in the nation.  Who’s going to train the doctors and nurses if it’s not the VA?”

Sec. McDonald also discussed how VA’s health care system is a bellwether for the rest of the industry. “VA is like the canary in the coal mine. We see things in American healthcare before the rest of the American public sees it. We see the aging of the American population.  We see the need for family care, primary care doctors.  We see the need for mental health professionals. This is a role that we play in terms of informing American medicine,” he said.

 

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2 Comments

  1. Harold Coghlan April 21, 2015 at 17:15

    Good interview. Good questions posed, and at least I, appreciate the honest and forthcoming answers from Secretary Bob. Thank you Sir for doing your best to correct the VA, and for trying hard to do right by your fellow Veterans. Keep up the good work.

  2. DannyG April 17, 2015 at 00:19

    Politics got us into war.
    Politicians gave us their word;
    We’ll take care of those that serve!

    Now they want the VA no more.
    Our cries of pain are no longer heard.
    You guys in Washington have got some nerve.

    Some are lucky, we’re still here.
    Others, not so lucky, will never bother you.
    We were all scared, many shed a tear,
    But we served America, the land of red, white & blue!

    What more do you want,
    Than blood, sweat, & tears?
    Will you share our demons that haunt
    And torment us for years?

    Ask a veteran about their desires,
    And LISTEN to what they say.
    We don’t want a government full of liars,
    Just as promised, a caring, top-notch VA.

    God bless our troops, God bless our veterans, & GOD BLESS AMERICA !!!!!

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