Spark Matsunaga (former Senator of Hawaii) Department of Veterans Affairs is located at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu. With The VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS) Honolulu serving approximately 127,600 veterans in Hawaii AND the Pacific Islands I commend the work they have done to help the Veterans of the Armed Forces.
My son served in the Armed Forces and he was on the USS Kitty Hawk in the Persian Gulf when the war broke out on March 19, 2003. It was his 23rd Birthday.
When he came home the summer of 2006 he started the process for VA Benefits so he could go back to school. With all the military red tape he finally is able to go to school in this Fall Semester. He had a job but they closed and he lost his medical benefits.
But wait! He has VA Medical Benefits! "GOOD THING" because he got so sick yesterday morning that he called MOM. He WAS really sick to call me and say, "Mom, I'm really sick and I'm scared". We immediately picked him up and rushed him to Tripler Army Medical Center Emergency Room.
FOUR HOURS LATER!!: And watching everyone walk in the door with children with coughs and go ahead of my son. My son mumbled something about Active Duty first, Active Duty Dependents second.....and Veterans ....LAST! What kind of protocol is that? The lady at the front desk said that there is no such thing as first come first serve and said the severity of the case goes first.
HOW DO THEY DETERMINE who goes first WITHOUT seeing a doctor to determine the severity? My son could hardly talk....he was in a fetal position in the back of our car from severe stomach cramping. So bad that his teeth chattered so hard from chills his jaw hurt. So bad I was afraid he would go through a seizure (he has a history of periodic grand mal seizures). So bad I had to talk to register him.
My son's cramping got a little better during those FOUR hours.....but the lady at the front said the "NORMAL" waiting period is up to six hours. For who? Vets? WE LEFT with the intention of just going to our civilian hospital and paying for my son. My son declined.
This is the ONLY facility Veterans can go to for "emergency" care and I was very disappointed in the care for Veterans. My son wasn't the only one.....I watched closely as two other older gentleman who were retirees were going through the same thing.
I have been a military dependent for the majority of my life and never knew of this protocol. I have heard "war stories" about how the Veterans of the Armed Forces do NOT get that attention they need. I heard of the men coming back from war who don't get the care they need from the mental health issues they receive after going through traumatic situations they encountered in war zones.
I just got off the phone with my son. He's a little better. But what about the rest of the VETERAN'S? What about ....next time? Maybe he'll be lucky and be able to make an appointment for a regular office visit in the VA section of the hospital.
Following is informtation that may help a vet or even a honorably discharged war vet get a step ahead of the game to VA Benefits.
VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (phone: 433-0600)
Health Care Patient Advocates : The Patient Advocate is located at the Spark M. Matsunaga VA Medical Center and serves as a liaison between patients and staff when a Service issue cannot be resolved. The Patient Advocate is Barbara Morgan and she may be reached by calling (808) 433-0126. Her office is located at: 459 Patterson Road, Ambulatory Care Center, Room 1B08
National Headquarters Info for Hawaii Office of Veterans Services:
459 Patterson Road
E-Wing, Room 1-A103
Honolulu, HI 96819-1522
(808) 433-0420
(808) 433-0385 fax
Mark.Moses@va.gov
Other Helpful Links:
- Other VA Facilities on Oahu
- Old Timer Speaks Out (Veteran's Blog)
- State of Hawaii - Office of Veteran's Services
- VETERANS CEMETERIES on Oahu
- Senator Daniel Kahikina Akaka- Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- National Coalition for Homeless Vets in Hawaii
- Congresswoman Maizie K. Hirono -Military and Veterans
Homelessness is also very high on the list for aide for Veterans in Hawaii and after reading many stories on this subject I will do many follow up stories as well. One important factor you Veterans should know about....if you are a Disabled Veteran and have a service related disability ...you are exempt from the VA Loan Funding Fee. Did you know that? First time use of the VA Guaranteed Loan the funding fee is 2.15% and second time use is 3.35 and of course it is lower is putting money down. The Hawaii VA Loan amount is currently capped at $625,500 (including the funding fee)
Yes, Active Duty Personnel are to be commended. My son was Active Duty and served and I am proud of him. And...yes, the Veterans of the Armed Forced are to be commended and NEED to be remembered as well.
My son is a Veteran and I am proud of him still.
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Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com
Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate® and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocations, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents, Home Buyers and Sellers.
© 2007-2012 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog.
All rights reserved.
Sally- Hey, it is that way here in the regular hospitals! I would only go if it is a matter of life and death. Our doctor makes house calls. More people die in the hospitals from something other than what they came in for. My sons will only go to the private emergency clinics because they are much more sanitary. I have friends whose husbands have died in the hospital. I almost died after giving birth to Tristan. I got a fever and the nurse did not note my file that I had a fever. The next day my temperature was 105 and they freaked! In went the IV, etc, and I was in the hospital for 5 more days with an infection that I got from the hospital! No wonder mothers give birth at home!
I will say a prayer for your son. Hope he is feeling better. I have had pains so bad in my stomach that I thought I was going to die! It turned out to be gas! People laugh, but it really hurts! It can also be food poisoning. There is much more food poisoning than people realize.
I grew up in the Navy and had my share of nightmares at the military hospitals growing up.
I too, am proud of your veteran son!
Georgina: I just read about the Maui VA situation needs a lot of help and a makeover! I hope awareness helps....next step...our congressman....hmmm.
Katerina: Gary and I went to Costco and took him a case of Soy Milk, Apple Juice and some other mommy kind of stuff....He got up to come out to the dining room to drink juice and take Tylenol. He has a bad bug. Will never know what that severe stomach stuff that gave him chattering teeth chills was about.
My son was born in Biloxi Mississippi Training Hospital....then again...that is another BIG story lol!
Good morning Sally,
Sorry to hear your son was treated with such lack of respect. Unfortunately it is more the norm then most folks know. Why our Vets aren't acknowledged for the service they gave our Country is beyond me.
The Veteran's Hospital here in Tampa is the exception to the rule. They appear to give Veteran's due regard. However "Active Service" first is the policy, be it written or unwritten. Thanks for bringing the situation to light.
Glad to hear your son is feeling better.
Sally,
Sounds like common sense is missing in health care also!!! Thanks, Fran
P.S. Hope your son gets well quickly!!!
Sally, most of our hospitals here have a triage person who sees you right away, they diagnosis the severity of the case so it has helped, we have so many hospitals here that it is very competitive, even a huge VA hospital. They advertise they will see you in 10 minutes and have made it their unique selling proposition.
Now I will agree that the hospitals for Vet's are a mess, look at Walter Reed, due to the war it is over flowing. We need as a country to have better after care service for out Veterans all the way around. Many need jobs, training for disabilities etc... What a mission this would be.
(((hugs))) to your son.
Hi Sally - Sorry to hear your son was treated so poorly. I hope he is feeling better. The ER room would have been no better, they take cases on the basis of "emergency". All other cases get to wait hours. Happened to my son a few years ago. Waited for hours to be seen. Then they thought he had a dislocated hip. After having him waiting again for hours in extreme pain, xray showed it was broken. Big screw up. He needed immediate emergency surgery.
The health care system in this country is in a mess and no one wants to do anything to fix it.
Sally,
I am appalled! I've heard these stories before and am always amazed that this lack of compassion and poor service is "normal" for our vets. If anyone deserves the best of the best, it is these men and women who served our country.
Maybe we need to start a campaign for better Vet Health care here on AR --we're strong in number. If we all banded together and contacted our representatives, who knows what kind of difference we could make.
Fran: Maybe I'm ranting because I'm a mom....but voicing extra due to the fact there were other vets in there and treated the same way.
Missy; Tripler Army Medical Center serves ALL military and vets in Hawaii (all islands) and the Pacific Islands. Can you imagine? On top of that....active duty and dependents go to the ER for colds and other VETS have to wait. What I don't get is.... the front desk plops the check in paperwork in the box. Then a nurse comes out and "decides" which one to take vitals first. I watched here shuffle them around throughout the whole time. They have this huge hospital....and an ER too small to accomodate Active Duty and VETS.
Sally,
I'm sorry to hear that your son is sick, hope he gets better soon. It's sad to hear about the way our veterans are being treated.
Sally, yes veterans don't get the care that they need sometimes, and they deserve better than that. Did they determin what the problem was with your son???
Matthew: Their own hospital and ER too? I really believe they need to have one set apart....because Active Duty will always go ahead.
Suzanne: He's better...it really upset me....I just get excited now....stay tuned. I have more stories!
George: Hey George! Did you have a good weekend? No....we left....we were going to take him to a civilian hospital but he said no.... He's gotten better over the last couple of days...In fact, I better call him...thanks!
Sally... military or not, that is one of the worst things that I have ever heard. How about those dying first... those with a sore throat last.... Seriously, someone's head should role over there. I hope your son goes up the chain of command, complaining and writing letters. Someone needs to stand up and mention this kind of care. Whoops... lack of care and lack of common sense.
Thanks Jeff...leave it to you to watch our backs :) I agree...but my son is so mellow ...it'd be mom doing it...I have gotten all those links together for a reason though....stay tuned. :)
Thanks Jeff.....he is way better today....getting a lot of rest. We kind of wish we found out what was wrong...that stomach pain was too severe .... yeah....system gets to me too....
Here in our area of FL our vets have to go to Gainsville for certian things :( Orlando can't even help them. It's not just Hawaii's Vets my friend... thats the worst part!