JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Veterans Affairs clinics across the country, which have been under fire since an audit found hundreds of veterans nationwide died waiting for medical care, are making changes to improve treatment for veterans.
Northeast Florida clinics are among those working to improve medical care, and one local Navy veteran is praising the Jacksonville facility and its staff for his speedy recovery.
Bill Nightingale had a life-threatening emergency last year.
"I had a heart attack and flat-lined in St. Vincent's," Nightingale said.
After multiple stents and a defibrillator, Nightingale continued his care at the VA outpatient clinic in Springfield, and he said his experience was incredible.
“I didn't even have a chance to sit down before they brought me back in cardiac and started checking me out," Nightingale said. "These people are extremely thorough and professional."
Nightingale said VA clinics get a bad rap because of the "waiting list" revelations. He said the Jacksonville VA clinic is different and he had nothing but good things to say about it.
"This place is not like what you hear on TV,” Nightingale said. “This place is top-notch. I couldn't ask for anything better."
Melinda Screws, the chief medical officer for the Jacksonville VA, acknowledged that the clinics have gone through some problems, but said they're making changes.
"We are listening to their concerns and we're communicating that and we're trying to problem-solve to provide the access they need,” Screws said.
Screws said Jacksonville is one of the fastest-growing healthcare markets for Veterans Affairs with a nearly 20 percent growth rate since 2014.
To meet the rising demand for veteran care, the VA clinic in Springfield added more space to its facility, hired more practitioners and now offers more healthcare services.
Nightingale said he's more than satisfied with his care and that the quality of the staff is what keeps him coming back for treatment and medication.
"You feel like family when you walk in,” he said. “I want to ask, 'Where is dinner?'”
The staff said it's the heroes who keep them motivated.
“Even though they say 'thank you' to us, we also want them to know how much we appreciate them,” said Dana Turner, a physician assistant at the VA clinic.
"A lot of our staff members are veterans or their family members served,” Screws said. “So we have that connection, and they really love the mission.”