6/16/14 - A panel of area veterans is being convened later this week to discuss ongoing issues with health care at VA facilities. Retired Army Staff Sgt. Sean Knudsen is one of the organizers of the gathering, which he hopes will lay bare the ongoing issues with veterans obtaining timely and accurate heath care through the Veterans Affairs health care system. Knudsen, who served for more than 17 years including a combat tour in Iraq, says the recent scandal involving falsified wait times at VA facilities is just the tip of the iceberg. He says there are also ongoing complaints and issues with lack of care and treatment and diagnosis issues. Knudsen is no stranger to fighting bureaucracy. In 2007, he was finally awarded a Purple Heart for shrapnel injuries he received in Iraq (pictured) after publicly battling the Pentagon that he and other combat vets were being denied the award due to a combination of bureaucratic inefficiency and efforts by officials to keep the official casualty count low. Among the reforms Knudsen would like to see implemented are locating Inspector General desks at all VA hospitals in Michigan at main entrances for veterans to file formal complaints regarding their care and treatment should the need arise. And while he says most VA health professionals are caring and competent, heâs also demanding the VA identify all employees that have been found to have violated patientsâ rights, or have been involved in corruption, fraud and negligence. Knudsen says they will also be working with elected officials like state Senator Joe Hune to draft legislation that will hold healthcare officials accountable by prosecution through state courts should veterans well-being, health and medical care be intentionally delayed, hindered or denied through corruption fraud or negligence by health care officials and administrative staff at VA health care facilities in Michigan. The veteranâs panel will be held Friday from 9am to 1pm at the offices of the Brain Injury Association of Michigan, 7305 Grand River, Suite 100, in Brighton. Knudsen says any local veterans who canât physically attend can be teleconferenced in. For more information, contact the Brain Injury Association of Michigan at (810) 229-5880. (JK)
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