As a physician and having served on active duty in the U.S. Navy for more than two decades, I believe Veterans’ Day is one of the most important days of the year—perhaps even more than usual this year. Here’s why.
This past year, thousands of our nation’s veterans faced an access-to-care crisis. The men and women who gave so much for our country were unable to obtain the timely access to medical care that they needed and deserved.
I’m proud that the AMA stepped up, passing policy at the 2014 AMA Annual Meeting. This policy asked President Obama to make sure eligible veterans received the timely care they are entitled to and urged Congress to pass long-term solutions so veterans wouldn’t have to face this crisis again.
In August, Congress did just that by adopting a veterans’ health care reform law, which the AMA helped shape.
We also worked with state and local medical societies as they developed registries of physicians who were ready and willing to care for veterans in their private practices. These registries then were provided to local communities and facilities of the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) across the country.
Now, at the 2014 AMA Interim Meeting, veterans’ issues are at the forefront again. In a special address Saturday, VA Secretary Robert McDonald asked for our help.
He told us that the VA needs physicians—both to work for the system and accept the many veterans who may need to go outside of the VA health system for care. He also asked for our advice and opinions on how he can improve the VA structure.
I’ve always thought the military and the AMA have a lot in common—both are keepers of rich traditions, and both are courageous in the face of trying new things. In both medicine and the military, training often focuses on preparing for the unexpected. And in both, we rely on teamwork and trust.
This Veterans Day, a grateful nation and I I thank those who have served our country. I think of the many physicians in the U.S. Armed Forces who have dedicated their skills to caring for those in active service—including AMA Board of Trustee Member LCDR Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, MD, U.S. Navy Reserve, who is currently deployed in the Middle East. And I think of the many men and women who have sacrificed their time and put their lives in danger for us both at home and overseas.
Members of the military and their families are making great sacrifices every day. The physician community will do what we can to make sure access to health care is not another sacrifice they’ll have to make.
