Allows Public Participation and transparency. Members may observe this meeting via sfgov. Org and channel 78 and offer comments by calling the comment phone number. Welcome the members of public and staff for watching us live on sfgov. Org and thank the staff of sfgovtv who make this meeting possible with all the technology we need to conduct these meetings at this time. Commission ask and thanks you for patience during the times. We ask the public to have patience, expect delays and gaps during the meeting during Public Comment. To eliminate backgrounds intfrns all presenting via web exmute when not speaking. The commission acknowledges we are on home land of the Ramaytush Ohlone the original inhab tantss. As stewards of land and with their traditions they never forknot their responsibilities as the care takers of this place as well as for all people to reside in their traditional territory. As guests we recognize we benefit from living and working on their home lan. We wish to pay re
Commission can use it that allows Public Participation and transparency. Members may observe this meeting via sfgov. Org and channel 78 and offer comments by calling the comment phone number. Welcome the members of public and staff for watching us live on sfgov. Org and thank the staff of sfgovtv who make this meeting possible with all the technology we need to conduct these meetings at this time. Commission ask and thanks you for patience during the times. We ask the public to have patience, expect delays and gaps during the meeting during Public Comment. To eliminate backgrounds intfrns all presenting via web exmute when not speaking. The commission acknowledges we are on home land of the Ramaytush Ohlone the original inhab tantss. As stewards of land and with their traditions they never forknot their responsibilities as the care takers of this place as well as for all people to reside in their traditional territory. As guests we recognize we benefit from living and working on their
Thank you very much. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I cant thank you enough for being here today, the sacrifices that you have made. I pray that the sacrifices that you and your entire family made will make us a better nation at the end of the day. I think most that sign up to serve have that intention, that they will make this a better nation at the end of the day. I am a physician and also a reservist and i served in iraq for a year. That has led me to want to be here today. One of the things i know as a doctor and im sure dr. Somers you can relate, that when you have patients, regardless of their problems, there is a level of anxiety that, because they have something wrong, whether its muscular, skeletal or mental, it doesnt matter. Something is wrong and there is anxiety. It makes it more difficult and heightens the anxiety when you have all these administrative problems. I know you started to deal with that in private practice. More so maybe than when you first started. The prescription
Warrior program where they have that, the actual battalion where when somebodys got a problem, they go into that system there. I just want to get your feelings. Maybe im going down the wrong road because i think they need somebody that has a problem, they need an ombudsman, somebody thats going to look out for their interests. That if they have a particular hospital, that they can go to the administrator. They can go to anybody and say, hey, wait a minute. This is an immediate situation. This is general quarters and we need to have a meeting right now or somebody is going to die on your watch. Can you comment a little bit more on that . Its pretty much what you were talking about, buddytobuddy, the same things over and over and over again, but to cut through the red tape right then and there with individuals that understand severity of the problem. Yes, sir. This is a crucial element is to have somebody to come alongside of these severely injured, cut through that red tape and get trea
Part of what i do through the ministry im in is providing support groups through the chaplains channels. So ideal with this very closely on both sides. Medication is no longer being used as a tool to subdue the symptoms while we work on the deeper issues. No. What does the va do . The va specifically utilizes medication to control it and keep them, suppress the symptoms without working on the deeper issues. Thank you. Please. Brian was never put on any medication. Only for his back when he had that problem. Okay. Yes. Clay was on quite a bit of medication. As i said, he felt like a guinea pig, constantly being begin something different. Do you think they chose medications in lieu of therapy . Sure. Oneonone therapy . Yes. The only oneonone therapy that he spoke of that seemed to be effective at a certain point in l. A. He went to a vet center and had a counselor there that he really liked and felt he finally found somebody he to talk with. Okay. From Daniels Point of view, i think part