Taken from Veterans and Nurses Fight for Improvements at the Jesse Brown VA by Robert Clack:
IVAW Chicago chapter members have long been concerned about the quality of care and service they receive at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center (JBVA). In the midst of a suicide epidemic (22 suicides a day in 2012) and based on our members' own bad experiences, IVAW Chicago decided to begin organizing to demand improvements in quality of care.
Some of the members had experienced issues including long wait times, not receiving medicine or care in a timely manner and insensitivity from some staff. Some of IVAW's Women Veterans were also concerned about the Women's Health Clinic which was a shared space with the VA's Neurology clinic. "You would go into the women's clinic for treatment and you walk into a room full of men. For Veterans receiving treatment for Military Sexual Trauma (MST), this can be a trauma trigger," said IVAW member Sabrina Waller.
In March 2012 the chapter began organizing.... Read More
