ATLANTA (AP) — The Veterans Affairs Department says the average wait time for new patients at the Atlanta VA Medical Center was about 64 days for a primary care doctor, nearly 53 days for a specialist and almost 27 days for a mental health professional.
The report released Monday shows more than 57,000 veterans nationally have been waiting for up to three months for appointments. That includes 187 Georgia veterans who have requested appointments at VA medical centers in Atlanta, Augusta and Dublin.
The audit says a 14-day target for wait times was "not attainable" given demand and poor planning. The average wait at the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center in Dublin was about 57 days for a primary doctor.
All three Georgia VA medical centers have been flagged for further review.