These are PROVABLE facts, not a rant against VA hospitals by some clueless person who has no idea how good the VA system is based upon allegory...and a further clarification of this post:

http://thepoliticalforums.com/thread...=1#post2731756

https://www.va.gov/HEALTH/docs/20Rea...08_IB10935.pdf

#1 We handle the bottom line

• Freedom to practice medicine and focus on the patient without the distractions of running a business.• VA doctors do not have the ‘overhead’ of running an individual or group medical practice.• No need to build a patient base to create revenue.• VA standard visit length is 30-minutes,compared to 20-minute visits outside VA.

#2 The #1 Health Care System in the country.
• 340,000 employees VA-wide,including Nobel Prize winners.• Serve 9 million enrolled Veterans in over 1,200 locations.• VA is consistently high-performing on quality indicators.• Your licensure valid in all 50 states.• Multiple career opportunities to fit every lifestyle.

#3 Opportunities for Ground Breaking Research
Doctors can participate in research.Salary support for awardees to pursue research and training.Participate in clinical innovations projects.Be part of broader academic and clinical communities of practice.Dynamic collaborations with universities, federal agencies, nonprofits and private industry.Impact the health of Veterans and the nation.

#4 Teach Residents & Medical Students through academic affiliations.

Over 120,000 trainees in over 40 health professions disciplines including:• 41,000 physician residents• 23,000 medical students• 27,000 nurse trainees• 27,000 other associated health disciplines• VA is affiliated with over 1,800 unique educational institutions a crossover 7,000 training programs.• VA is affiliated with over 90%of all opathic and over 85% of osteopathic medical schools.• Over 70% of VA physicians and spend some portion of their time in education

#5 Great Work/Life Balance
49 days of annual paid time off:Predictable work schedules and a focus on quality rather than volume.Many outpatient doctors work a Monday Friday schedule with little to no on-call.26 days paid vacation
#6 Robust Benefit Packages

Employee benefits include:
• Federal Employees Retirement System(FERS), Civil ServiceRetirement System(CSRS) or CSRS-Offset
• Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
• One of the few employersin the country that offersa pension for doctors aswell as a good 401K
• Federal Employees HealthBenefits (FEHB) Program
• Flexible SpendingAccounts (FSA)
• Federal Employees Dental andVision Insurance (FEDVIP)
• Federal Long Term CareInsurance (FLTCI) Program
• Federal Employees’Group Life Insurance(FEGLI) Program
• Military Leave up to 15 days ayear for active reservists andNational Guard members.
• Predictable scheduling
• Reduced paperwork
• Elimination of billing hassles
• Malpractice insurance• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP)

#7 Comprehensive Professional Development

Doctors are empowered by VA training andcoaching in patient-centered communicationskills that promote patient engagement,health behavior change and self-management.• Nation’s leading provider of continuingmedical education (CME) credits

#8 THE BEST MISSION IN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
ABRAHAM LINCOLN:
“To care for him
who shall have borne
the battle and
for his widow, and his orphan…”