Women Vets Get Worse Care, Review Finds

Outpatient Care At Many VA Facilities Needs Vast Upgrade, Officials Say

(AP)  Women veterans aren't receiving the same quality of outpatient care as men at many Department of Veterans Affairs' facilities, according to an agency review obtained exclusively by The Associated Press.

The review appears to validate the complaints of advocates and some members of Congress who have said the health care system needs to focus more on women's health.

Women make up about 5 percent of the VA's population, but that number is expected to nearly double in the next two years as more women return home from Iraq and Afghanistan and seek care.

The review of the quality of care at VA facilities, which was mandated by Congress, found that at about one-third of its facilities, the quality of outpatient care given to women wasn't as good as what was offered to men.

It said that the VA has made strides in improving care for women veterans, such as creating onsite mammography services and establishing women's clinics at most of its medical centers. It also said the VA is attempting to recruit clinicians with training in women's care and broadening its approach to better address diseases prevalent among women such as lung cancer.

However, it said that there were barriers that remained, such as the need to train more physicians in women's care and for more equipment to meet women's health needs.

"VHA is continuing to investigate the possibility of gender disparity in delivery of care through research efforts aimed at further delineating the factors involved," the review said.

It noted that other studies have found better surgical outcomes and decreased mortality for women at VA hospitals compared to women who receive care under the Medicare Advantage Program or under private care. And, performance of breast and cervical cancer screening exceeds that of commercial and some government plans.

But Dr. William E. Duncan, associate deputy undersecretary for health for quality and safety at the Department of Veterans Affairs, said any discrepancies in VA care were unacceptable and the agency is aggressively addressing the issue.

"We're striving to understand the reason for these health disparities and to eliminate differences in veterans health care based on personal characteristics," Duncan said.

Data was not available to compare the inpatient quality of care between men and women.

Overall, women make up about 14 percent of the U.S. Armed Forces. Of the 1.7 million troops who have deployed in support of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, more than 190,000 - or about 11 percent - are women.

Among the other findings:

Older and younger veterans appear to be receiving the same quality of care;

About 86 percent of homeless veterans seen by VA received primary care, mental health care and/or substance abuse services;

About 98 percent of appointments were completed within 30 days in primary care clinics and about 97 percent were completed during that period at specialty clinics;

Overall quality of care appears to be good when reviewed using commonly accepted health care benchmarks;

Minority veterans surveyed were generally less satisfied with inpatient and outpatient care than white veterans, but it wasn't clear if the quality of care offered was different. A more comprehensive study of care for minority veterans is expected to be complete this summer.

© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Share:

Digg

Facebook

Yahoo! Buzz

Twitter

Mixx

More From U.S.

• 7 Cleveland Bodies Identified
• Should Pot Be Legal?
• Hasan Computer Reveals No Terror Ties
• House Votes to Ban Abortion Subsidies
• Army Says Hasan Taken off Ventilator
• Officer Describes Hasan Firefight
• Flight 93 Memorial Breaks Ground in Pa.

• 

  VideoBull-Riding, Sport Rising

• 

  VideoMourning Ft. Hood Victims

Add a Comment

• 1
• 2
• next

See all 25 Comments

by michellem99-2009 June 15, 2008 6:02 AM EDT

I see it
over oil
sure it is good for business
But
It benefit the greedly
not the jane/joe that did not ask for it
They tell us to support the troops
Yet they do their dutu
get hurt and they go the VAMCs so bush sends more in.
something is wrong and is not us.

Reply to this comment

by mh4cbs1 June 14, 2008 11:59 AM EDT

Searing Truth: you are grasping pathetically at straws. Whether women were treated worse in the military under "Billy Clinton" or not, the REAL TRUTH is that we have a massive bloated military with BILLIONS wasted on useless weapons to enrich the defense corporations.

The real truth is that we spend more than all other nations combined on War - but it is NOT to "protect our freedom".

The real truth is that all the death and destruction in Iraq is a result of the greed of the US corporate-government elite, who wanted nothing more than to set up a puppet Chalabi government in Iraq, take their oil for our Oil Corporations and install permanent military bases and the $ 1 Billion dollar US Embassy.

This War is a complete Sham. A complete horrific needless imperial mis-adventure that has already acheived the objective of $100 Billion Oil Company pure profits last year alone, not to mention the Billions funneled to the defense corporations, Blackwater mercenaries, "privatized" military service industry.

We are at War because this War is Great for Business. And yet you want to argue about ''Billy Clinton''. You are pathetic, with no idea what the ''Searing Truth'' is.

Reply to this comment

by mh4cbs1 June 14, 2008 11:47 AM EDT

The Iraqis Want the US OUT!!

Yet the Bush AND our Congress (including the spineless complicit Democrats) want permanent US domination of the region.

What does it take for the American Sheeple to realize that the Iraq Invasion-Based-on-LIES was nothing more than an Oil Grab with the imperial intention to dominate the region with permanent military bases??

$3 TRILLION will be spent on this Iraq Disaster. Hundreds of thousands DEAD, so many of which are innocent women and children. FIVE MILES of end-to-end coffins of our troops. US troops coming home shattered mentally and physically to inadequate care... This War uses our troops as cannon fodder for the wealthy corporate elite who run our country for their greed.

The blood of hundreds of thousands are on the hands of War Monger Bush and Cheney and those complicit in Congress.

Reply to this comment

by brianbwb-2009 June 14, 2008 9:33 AM EDT

"If that is so, then he is better at it than most of the so-called "real" patriots."

Especially those who refer to a segment of their brethren as "sub-human".

Reply to this comment

by brianbwb-2009 June 14, 2008 9:31 AM EDT

"AP) Women veterans aren''t receiving the same quality of outpatient care as men at many Department of Veterans Affairs'' facilities, according to an agency review obtained exclusively by The Associated Press."

And since the care given to the men is already substandard, what the women get must be sub-substandard.

Where are the "support the troops" war mongering neocon-derthals, why are they supporting less than adequate care for the troops they claim to support?

"FeelFreek4U -- a subhuman Arab, posing as a patriotic American." Posted by juwboy

If that is so, then he is better at it than most of the so-called "real" patriots.

Reply to this comment

by juwboy June 14, 2008 8:25 AM EDT

FeelFreek4U -- a subhuman Arab, posing as a patriotic American.

Reply to this comment

by minnick8-2009 June 14, 2008 3:50 AM EDT

I''m a Vietnam Era veteran (woman). I didn''t apply for VA Health Care benefits until about the year 2000. However, at the clinic where I receive treatment, the Drs., nurses, and staff couldn''t be nicer and more helpful. I used to wish that I hadn''t spent that time in the Army, but now I''m very glad that I did.

Reply to this comment

by michellem99-2009 June 13, 2008 11:18 PM EDT

DaVicar2..Seattle VAMC has a good hospital for both. It is bush that sends them in combat then he won''t give the money to the hospitals that need it. My friend is grateful for the care he gets. The VAMC does their best. Thank ye for yer part. bush money is needed here at home.

Reply to this comment

by sear1ngtruth June 13, 2008 10:55 PM EDT

"i got laughed at when i applied for VA benefits after my service (USAF). I am lucky that I did not need anything special, just general health checks, etc.

Posted by dog7771 at 04:06 PM : Jun 13, 2008"

So you tried to scam for care you were not authorized to get? Makes sense, you living in San Francisco.
ST

Reply to this comment

by sear1ngtruth June 13, 2008 10:52 PM EDT

"Plus, nearly one in three female U.S. soldiers reported being raped or an attempted rape by their fellow male soldiers, in a fairly recent survey.

Posted by FeelFree4U at 07:14 PM : Jun 13, 2008"

Let''s put this into context. When Billy Clinton was in charge it was much worse (A case of monkey-see-monkey-do)...

"One-Third of Women in Military Report Sexual Harassment, But Sexual Assaults Down in 2007, Pentagon Report Says
Friday, March 14, 2008

WASHINGTON %u2014 One-third of women in the military and 6 percent of men said they were sexually harassed, according to the latest Pentagon survey on the issue.

The figure for women was worse than the previous finding several years ago but better than a similar survey taken in 1995, the Defense Department said in a report Friday. The Defense Manpower Data Center said it compiled the data from a survey of 24,000 people in 2006.

A separate report on sexual assaults showed that fewer cases were reported among military personnel in 2007 after years of significant increases."
ST

Reply to this comment

by feelfree4u June 13, 2008 10:14 PM EDT

Re: "Women Vets Get Worse Care"

Plus, nearly one in three female U.S. soldiers reported being raped or an attempted rape by their fellow male soldiers, in a fairly recent survey.

Reply to this comment

by shoppingnut-2009 June 13, 2008 7:43 PM EDT

This is also true with health care in general for women, never mind just at the VA. I specifically go to a women''s practice and I do get better care. They actually listen to what I am telling them is wrong and how it feels and they don''t dismiss me or tell me it''s nothing to worry about like male doctors do. This is why so many women die from heart attacks.

Reply to this comment

by denn034 June 13, 2008 7:12 PM EDT

That hasn''t been this war veteran''s observation at the VA and military hospitals. When it''s borne in mind that more than 90% of Doctors, Nurses, Psychologists, Academics, Teachers and Journalists are liberal, then, the issue of how such imbalanced environments could even remotely lead to objectivity has to be considered. Lastly, why should this veteran and conservative care one iota about or even consider what comes out of those, uh, disciplines?

Reply to this comment

by dog7771 June 13, 2008 7:06 PM EDT

i got laughed at when i applied for VA benefits after my service (USAF). I am lucky that I did not need anything special, just general health checks, etc. I used the Public health System in SF for years after that at very low cost, and did well.

Reply to this comment

by erasmus81 June 13, 2008 6:15 PM EDT

"Women Vets Get Worse Care, Review Finds"

Yeah, I don''t think there are any women out there that would be surprised by this.

Reply to this comment

by glady1930 June 13, 2008 5:30 PM EDT

So? What else is new? Since when were women treated equally in this country....not just veterans, either. We hold down full time jobs, we have children, we hold down jobs in the home, we chauffer our children to school, doctors appointments, and almost every other conceivable job. We still get screwed when it comes to pay for work and social security pay when we either retire or become disabled.
Oh...and then when some of them get old, they get kicked out for some piece of *** that the only thing she can do is perform and make him feel like "Mr. Wonderful". BS

Reply to this comment

by lowell43 June 13, 2008 4:57 PM EDT

I''m sorry if women don''t get the same care at the VA, but the VA at the facility in Salem VA as a whole tries to help both men and women. I have been going there for a year and half, the staff from doctors to nurses aids are dedicated to help. They simply need more monies from Uncle Sam and it starts with the President. The VA overseers in Washington D C just continue to miss the picture. Virginia has Senator Webb to root for. He is for the veterans

Reply to this comment

by credibility2 June 13, 2008 4:23 PM EDT

Why should this injustice and tragedy surprise anyone in our so-called enlightened society? After all, women are treated equally to men in all circumstances and regard, right? It doesn''t matter how many women veterans there are; the simple fact is that there is a deliberate and conscience effort by many in treating women as second-class citizens and unequal to their male counterparts in all types of situations. And to think, those that were against Hillary Clinton still maintained that sexism wasn''t alive and well and thriving in the U.S. I don''t think so!

Reply to this comment

by beehive21-2009 June 13, 2008 3:49 PM EDT

The world is flat,too.

Reply to this comment

by kris1236 June 13, 2008 3:36 PM EDT

As a female disabled veteran who has had to rely on the VA for health care, I can tell horror stories... I was once given a prostate screening exam (we girls DO NOT have prostates!) while my husband was in the exam room with me.

Reply to this comment

• 1
• 2
• next

See all 25 Comments

Add a comment

Comment SUBMIT

Click here to add another comment.

The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited. By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

Comment reply

Submit Cancel

The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited. By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

Report offensive content:

If you believe this comment is offensive or violates the CBSNews.com Terms of Use, you can report it below (this will not automatically remove the comment). Once reported, our staff will be notified and the comment will be reviewed.

Select type of offense:

Offensive: Sexually explicit or offensive language

Spam: Advertisements, commercial links, or repetitive posts

Disruptive posting: Flaming or offending other users

Illegal activities: Promote cracked software, or other illegal content

Off-topic: Commentary unrelated to the storyline

Comments (optional):

Report Cancel

E-mail this comment to a friend.

E-mail this to: (Separate multiple e-mail addresses with commas. Limited to 10 addresses.)

Your e-mail address:

Send me a copy of this message

Note: Your e-mail address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the e-mail and in case of transmission error. Neither your address nor the recipients's address will be used for any other purpose.

Add your own personal message: (Optional)

Hi, I found this user's comment on CBSNews.com and thought you might be interested in reading it. Send e-mail Cancel

[michellem99-2009]

I see it
over oil
sure it is good for business
But
It benefit the greedly
not the jane/joe that did not ask for it
They tell us to support the troops
Yet they do their dutu
get hurt and they go the VAMCs so bush sends more in.
something is wrong and is not us.

[mh4cbs1]

Searing Truth: you are grasping pathetically at straws. Whether women were treated worse in the military under "Billy Clinton" or not, the REAL TRUTH is that we have a massive bloated military with BILLIONS wasted on useless weapons to enrich the defense corporations.

The real truth is that we spend more than all other nations combined on War - but it is NOT to "protect our freedom".

The real truth is that all the death and destruction in Iraq is a result of the greed of the US corporate-government elite, who wanted nothing more than to set up a puppet Chalabi government in Iraq, take their oil for our Oil Corporations and install permanent military bases and the $ 1 Billion dollar US Embassy.

This War is a complete Sham. A complete horrific needless imperial mis-adventure that has already acheived the objective of $100 Billion Oil Company pure profits last year alone, not to mention the Billions funneled to the defense corporations, Blackwater mercenaries, "privatized" military service industry.

We are at War because this War is Great for Business. And yet you want to argue about ''Billy Clinton''. You are pathetic, with no idea what the ''Searing Truth'' is.

[mh4cbs1]

The Iraqis Want the US OUT!!

Yet the Bush AND our Congress (including the spineless complicit Democrats) want permanent US domination of the region.

What does it take for the American Sheeple to realize that the Iraq Invasion-Based-on-LIES was nothing more than an Oil Grab with the imperial intention to dominate the region with permanent military bases??

$3 TRILLION will be spent on this Iraq Disaster. Hundreds of thousands DEAD, so many of which are innocent women and children. FIVE MILES of end-to-end coffins of our troops. US troops coming home shattered mentally and physically to inadequate care... This War uses our troops as cannon fodder for the wealthy corporate elite who run our country for their greed.

The blood of hundreds of thousands are on the hands of War Monger Bush and Cheney and those complicit in Congress.

[brianbwb-2009]

"If that is so, then he is better at it than most of the so-called "real" patriots."

Especially those who refer to a segment of their brethren as "sub-human".

[brianbwb-2009]

"AP) Women veterans aren''t receiving the same quality of outpatient care as men at many Department of Veterans Affairs'' facilities, according to an agency review obtained exclusively by The Associated Press."

And since the care given to the men is already substandard, what the women get must be sub-substandard.

Where are the "support the troops" war mongering neocon-derthals, why are they supporting less than adequate care for the troops they claim to support?

"FeelFreek4U -- a subhuman Arab, posing as a patriotic American." Posted by juwboy

If that is so, then he is better at it than most of the so-called "real" patriots.

[juwboy]

FeelFreek4U -- a subhuman Arab, posing as a patriotic American.

[minnick8-2009]

I''m a Vietnam Era veteran (woman). I didn''t apply for VA Health Care benefits until about the year 2000. However, at the clinic where I receive treatment, the Drs., nurses, and staff couldn''t be nicer and more helpful. I used to wish that I hadn''t spent that time in the Army, but now I''m very glad that I did.

[michellem99-2009]

DaVicar2..Seattle VAMC has a good hospital for both. It is bush that sends them in combat then he won''t give the money to the hospitals that need it. My friend is grateful for the care he gets. The VAMC does their best. Thank ye for yer part. bush money is needed here at home.

[sear1ngtruth]

"i got laughed at when i applied for VA benefits after my service (USAF). I am lucky that I did not need anything special, just general health checks, etc.

Posted by dog7771 at 04:06 PM : Jun 13, 2008"

So you tried to scam for care you were not authorized to get? Makes sense, you living in San Francisco.
ST

[sear1ngtruth]

"Plus, nearly one in three female U.S. soldiers reported being raped or an attempted rape by their fellow male soldiers, in a fairly recent survey.

Posted by FeelFree4U at 07:14 PM : Jun 13, 2008"

Let''s put this into context. When Billy Clinton was in charge it was much worse (A case of monkey-see-monkey-do)...

"One-Third of Women in Military Report Sexual Harassment, But Sexual Assaults Down in 2007, Pentagon Report Says
Friday, March 14, 2008

WASHINGTON %u2014 One-third of women in the military and 6 percent of men said they were sexually harassed, according to the latest Pentagon survey on the issue.

The figure for women was worse than the previous finding several years ago but better than a similar survey taken in 1995, the Defense Department said in a report Friday. The Defense Manpower Data Center said it compiled the data from a survey of 24,000 people in 2006.

A separate report on sexual assaults showed that fewer cases were reported among military personnel in 2007 after years of significant increases."
ST

[feelfree4u]

Re: "Women Vets Get Worse Care"

Plus, nearly one in three female U.S. soldiers reported being raped or an attempted rape by their fellow male soldiers, in a fairly recent survey.

[shoppingnut-2009]

This is also true with health care in general for women, never mind just at the VA. I specifically go to a women''s practice and I do get better care. They actually listen to what I am telling them is wrong and how it feels and they don''t dismiss me or tell me it''s nothing to worry about like male doctors do. This is why so many women die from heart attacks.

[denn034]

That hasn''t been this war veteran''s observation at the VA and military hospitals. When it''s borne in mind that more than 90% of Doctors, Nurses, Psychologists, Academics, Teachers and Journalists are liberal, then, the issue of how such imbalanced environments could even remotely lead to objectivity has to be considered. Lastly, why should this veteran and conservative care one iota about or even consider what comes out of those, uh, disciplines?

[dog7771]

i got laughed at when i applied for VA benefits after my service (USAF). I am lucky that I did not need anything special, just general health checks, etc. I used the Public health System in SF for years after that at very low cost, and did well.

[erasmus81]

"Women Vets Get Worse Care, Review Finds"

Yeah, I don''t think there are any women out there that would be surprised by this.

[glady1930]

So? What else is new? Since when were women treated equally in this country....not just veterans, either. We hold down full time jobs, we have children, we hold down jobs in the home, we chauffer our children to school, doctors appointments, and almost every other conceivable job. We still get screwed when it comes to pay for work and social security pay when we either retire or become disabled.
Oh...and then when some of them get old, they get kicked out for some piece of *** that the only thing she can do is perform and make him feel like "Mr. Wonderful". BS

[lowell43]

I''m sorry if women don''t get the same care at the VA, but the VA at the facility in Salem VA as a whole tries to help both men and women. I have been going there for a year and half, the staff from doctors to nurses aids are dedicated to help. They simply need more monies from Uncle Sam and it starts with the President. The VA overseers in Washington D C just continue to miss the picture. Virginia has Senator Webb to root for. He is for the veterans

[credibility2]

Why should this injustice and tragedy surprise anyone in our so-called enlightened society? After all, women are treated equally to men in all circumstances and regard, right? It doesn''t matter how many women veterans there are; the simple fact is that there is a deliberate and conscience effort by many in treating women as second-class citizens and unequal to their male counterparts in all types of situations. And to think, those that were against Hillary Clinton still maintained that sexism wasn''t alive and well and thriving in the U.S. I don''t think so!

[beehive21-2009]

The world is flat,too.

[kris1236]

As a female disabled veteran who has had to rely on the VA for health care, I can tell horror stories... I was once given a prostate screening exam (we girls DO NOT have prostates!) while my husband was in the exam room with me.