Re: "... George Bush saying that the reason the VA could not give speedy care to veterans injured in the war (this was around 2002, 2003) was that the computer systems ..."
As you said, "Someone is always pushing an agenda". That’s why, if you want to know who's the best, it’s so important to seek unbiased (as far as possible) and statistically significant current studies which compare performance/results among like institutions ( easy to do on the internet). But we also like to hear about individual experiences. I had been in one of the better private health care systems. Near retirement I switched to my VA coverage - to save money. I had a chance for a short time to use both systems. Example: In 2003 my VA GP immediately called in specialists to meet me (as soon as I could get there - 6 pm) at a hospital to do an evaluation of an eye problem, while my private HC (which had I just seen) required weeks before I could get an appointment with a specialist. This is only 1 example of many. With a background as a Michigan Quality Council Examiner I became aware of many VA processes that delivered superior results. But what makes the case are the many studies by different reputable organizations which overwhelmingly show VA's superiority, measured against the best private institutions.
My point is that PDSG will require much time to demonstrate these kinds of proven results, if ever they can.
