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Contributed commentary by Joseph Rice on issues with the Tennessee Valley VA Health System.
On Aug. 1, 2023, I retired from the U.S. Air Force after 20 years of honorable service. Like many others, during my tenure I was exposed to toxic hazards, particularly burn pits and open sewage runoff. As a result, in August of 2013 I was diagnosed with stage 2 kidney cancer, which need only be treated with removal of my right kidney. Thankfully, I was permitted to continue service until my retirement.
I chose to plant roots in Clarksville as I had been previously stationed at Fort Campbell from 2015-2017, where I was impressed by the community and support. Amidst the myriad of matters I needed plans for retirement, establishing VA health care was not on my list as I assumed that this would be a relatively easy task. I could never imagine how wrong I would be in this regard.
On Sept. 25, 2023, I registered for care with the VA in the Tennessee Valley Health care system, however, a year later I would find myself moving my care to the Heartland Health care system in Marion, Illinois, despite not making a physical move. I made this decision after the lack of care I received between the Clarksville and Nashville clinics. A 2.5-hour drive for care will serve as temporary solution until I am to make the physical move to better facility. In transferring care, the wait time reduced from 4.5 months to 10 calendar days.
After registering for care, it took 4.5 months to receive an initial appointment, which was cancelled and rescheduled twice during that time. During this appointment, I was permitted to address only one issue, which was referred to Tennova Healthcare-Clarksville for completion. Subsequent attempts to seek care would see appointments cancelled without explanation, inadequate or no follow-through on issues addressed, and switching providers at the last minute when I arrived at my appointment. In total, it took 11 months to meet my primary care physician.
There is a vacuum of care within this network, along with that is the vacuum of redress. Over eight months, I made six attempts to contact the patient advocate in Clarksville and two attempts for the patient advocate supervisor in Nashville to no avail. Ironically, the first phone call I received from either was after I moved my care to the Heartland network.
After reaching new heights of frustration, I decided to write to Congressman Mark Green in hopes that my representative would be able to assist. I typed up a five-page account of my experiences, with as much detail as possible to provide, in which I point out the issue wasn’t just lack of, but also the patient advocates. Imagine my dismay when my complaint was put back in the hands of whom I’m complaining about, the patient advocates. With 20 years of dealing with the government, I don’t have faith that there will be actionable change when the person I’m complaining to is the same person I’m complaining about. The final disposition I received from the congressman’s office included the following statement:
“Please be so kind to understand that the Clarksville-Montgomery County area is one of the fastest growth areas for veteran population in this region. And unfortunately, the plans that VA has for additional or larger medical facilities are ‘on-going.’ Although this information is nice to know, it does nothing for you and your need for health care at this time. I am sorry that your health care needs were not met through the VA Medical Center in the Clarksville/Nashville Area. I do hope the VA facility in Marion, Illinois will be able to help you because good health is extremely important to all of us.”
This lack of care in one of the fastest growing veteran populations is untenable. This deficit of care is adversely affecting the veterans that currently reside here and will affect those that intend to call this home. It’s egregious that we must endure this poor quality of care and representation in terms of addressing our concerns. We fought once for this care; we shouldn’t have to keep fighting for it.
Joseph Rice, USAF, retired
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