The Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, which includes a Vancouver campus, is among nine centers across the country with from 65,000 to 75,000 appointments scheduled.
Portland had 70,697 appointments scheduled and 62,801 of the patients (88.83 percent) had wait times of 30 days or fewer; 57,445 patients (81.25 percent) had wait times of 14 days or fewer, which is the VA’s stated goal.
Comparably sized sites with total appointments (and percentages of wait times in spans of 0-30 days and 0-14 days):
o Cleveland: 70,802 (91.72 percent and 84.46 percent).
o Portland: 70,697 (88.83 percent and (81.25 percent).
o Pittsburgh: 70,568 (94.21 percent and 90.68 percent).
o Mountain Home, Tenn.: 69,118 (89.74 percent and 86.41 percent).
o Denver: 69,054 (85.83 percent and 79.07 percent).
o West Palm Beach, Fla.: 68,443 (95.37 percent and 92.26 percent).
o Puget Sound: 67,381 (88.44 percent and 81.83 percent).
o Durham, N.C.: 66,918 (85.70 percent and 80.27 percent).
o Phoenix: 66,660 (84.07 percent and 75.44 percent).
— Tom Vogt
WASHINGTON — Tens of thousands more veterans than previously reported are forced to wait at least a month for medical appointments at Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics, according to an updated audit of 731 VA medical facilities released Thursday.