The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter #63 (Clermont County) learned this week that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) established a new website.
This new website will enable veterans to track which VA facility has the shortest appointment wait times, as well as to compare the quality of care between different VA facilities and private-sector providers.
“The new website also has the capacity to gauge satisfaction with the VA system and to evaluate access to appointment times on a national basis,” said John Plahovinsak, Commander of DAV Chapter #63. “Although this new website, at this time, does not have comparison data with private-sector providers for the State of Ohio and VA facilities, it has data for other states and will have data in the future that will encompass our state.”
At the March monthly meeting for DAV Chapter #63, Cincinnati VA Medical Center Director Vivian Hutson explained some of the new developments, such as the website, that will be occurring at the facility.
“Her presentation was well received,” said Chapter Adjutant Doug Fike, “And VA Director Hutson answered the many questions posed to her by our Chapter members.”
Veterans who reside in urban areas, such as Cincinnati, will benefit more from the new online comparison tool than veterans in rural areas.
Mostly because they have more VA facilities from which to choose.
“Of course, the veteran must be willing to travel the extra distance to get to these facilities,” explained Commander Plahovinsak.
In terms of data accuracy, VA stated that there is only one tracking system, which is now being constantly measured.
The VA anticipates that the new VA website will be improved and more comprehensive in the future.
To view the new website, veterans are requested to go to the main Veterans Affairs (VA) website and click on the box entitled “Access and Quality in VA Healthcare,” and then please click on one of the four major categories of data.
DAV Chapter #63 (Clermont County) meets the first Monday of each month at 7:00 pm at the Union Township Administration Building, which is on 4350 Aicholtz Road, Cincinnati.