Appreciating those who serve those who served

Today is Veterans Day (the 99th since the first Armistice Day commemorated the ending of World War One). It is most appropriate that we take time today to honor those who have served, and who still serve, in our nation’s armed forces. In the Tye household, we will remember my father, who was a dedicate career U.S. Air Force officer.

But it’s also a good day to give a salute of appreciation to those who serve the ones who served – the men and women of the Veterans Health Administration. At Values Coach, we have worked with more than a dozen VA Medical Centers and without exception I’ve met amazingly capable and dedicated professionals at every level of every organization.

The Veterans Health Administration lies at the confluence of the four most rigidly bureaucratic entities in America: government, healthcare, education, and unions. This can make decision-making arduous and slow, and subject to second-guessing not seen in the private sector.

A massive organization with nearly 300,000 employees, on any given day VHA will have 40,000 or so vacancies. It is harder to fill those vacancies, and harder to move people out for performance or attitude problems than it is in the private sector.

Both parties have used VHA as a pawn for political aims unrelated to providing the best possible care for Veterans. I have had more than one meeting with a VA Medical Center Director cancelled at the last minute because he or she had been summoned to a regional office or DC in response to a politician’s demand.

Like every other healthcare organization, VA Medical Centers have their share of people with toxically negative attitudes, and have their own unique challenges when it comes to promoting a more positive culture.

Yet despite these challenges, the vast majority of people who work at VA Medical Centers are committed and capable, and truly care for the people they serve. You are much more likely to hear them speak about “our Veterans” or “my Veterans” than you are about “the Veterans,” reflecting a true spirit of ownership.

So, today as we honor our Veterans please also take a minute for a tip of the hat to the people who honor our Veterans by serving them at the nation’s Veterans Administration Medical Centers and Clinics.