Bush Vows Better Medical Care For Vets

Bush Vows Better Medical Care For Vets
Associated Press | November 09, 2007


SAN ANTONIO - President Bush paid an emotional visit Nov. 8 to troops maimed or badly burned in combat and said his administration is determined to mend the nation's system of caring for veterans.

Medical advances provide troops with treatment unimaginable just a decade ago, but the system for managing that care has lagged, Bush said.

"Our system needs to be modernized," the president said after touring a new $45 million, privately funded rehabilitation center for veterans at Brooke Army Medical Center.

"We have an outdated system that can bog down some of those recovering in a maze of bureaucracy and that's what happened at Walter Reed," he said, referring to the Army medical center in Washington, D.C.

Bush's visit to Brooke comes amid scrutiny of veterans' care and discontent among returning troops after extended tours in Iraq.

The president said his administration had put in place recommendations of the commission he created after reports about substandard outpatient treatment at Walter Reed. He urged Congress to act on others that require legislation.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,155862,00.html