By Dennis Powell, e-Management

Every year, the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center provides top-notch care to more than 50,000 veterans, plus another 500,000 outpatients. The facility services veterans who live in the greater DC metro area. (Photo credit: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)

I grew up a little more than two miles from the Veterans Affairs hospital located on Irving Street in Northwest Washington, D.C.  The facility—which falls under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)—was responsible for treating many neighborhood veterans who were often full of war stories and who frequented the medical center. I admit that I was kind of jealous of these veterans; not because of their great adventures, but for their access to that “big hospital down the street.” As a kid, I had an obsession with hospitals. (Today, I try to stay as far away from them as possible! Go figure.)

My How Times Have Changed.
Over the past decade, the VA, which runs the VA hospital and serves our veterans, has come under fire. Remember the missing laptops and subsequent security breaches? Allegations of nepotism? The HIV and hepatitis issues linked to contaminated colonoscopy equipment?  Or maybe you may recall alleged inappropriate behavior among married executives?

Scandals come and go in the government that’s for sure. But in my opinion, what remains consistent is that most federal workers take their roles as civil servants seriously—especially at the VA. So, I decided to shine the spotlight on the VA and how it makes veterans and their families a little better.

Four Things that Make Veterans Affairs Great!

1. Government Support for Our Veterans. Contrary to some of the bad press the VA has received, the U.S. government financially supports its veterans. The department has the 2nd largest federal budget. (In case you are wondering, the Department of Defense [DoD] has the most funding). The department serves our veterans through three administrations: the National Cemetery Administration (NCA); the Veterans Health Administration (VHA); and the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA).
2. Taking Care of Our Veterans’ Healthcare Needs. The VHA is responsible for administering healthcare to our veterans. This agency runs medical centers across the country and conducts medical research among other medical activities. The VHA is the largest healthcare system in the country! According to agency statistics, more than 53,000 healthcare professionals serve more than 8.3 million veterans annually.
3. Benefits for the Entire Family. Through VBA, veterans are eligible for a list of benefits such as G.I. Bill for educational and special training assistance, housing loans, and insurance.  For instance, veterans who qualify for G.I. Bill benefits can actually get assistance for apprenticeships, on the job training, and college/university education. Better education and training may lead to better jobs and financial security. Check out the G.I. Bill website for inspiring stories regarding how the agency helps veterans and their families meet educational goals and securing financial success.
4. Laying Our Veterans to Rest. The VA also honors veterans through burials and memorials. Did you know the NCA maintains “131 national cemeteries in 39 states (and Puerto Rico) as well as 33 soldier’s lots and monument sites?” Last year alone, more than 8.1 million people visited VA cemeteries. The government has “obligated more than $438 million” for cemetery expansion since 1980. But before you bark at that sum, keep in mind that volunteers gave 366,000 hours to support our VA cemeteries during fiscal year 2010 according to the NCA!

Is the VA perfect?
Absolutely not, given a few missteps of the department and its agencies. However, no agency is flawless. I shared my thoughts regarding the services and benefits the department offers our veterans.  Now, I want to hear from you. What are your impressions of how well the VA serves our veterans? What are veterans saying about the VA? In addition to services outlined in this blog posting, what has the VA done to support our veterans?