FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Veterans Administration medical centers have come under criticism for long wait times for care. Here is a list of the Florida facilities with the longest average waits as of May 15 for new patients seeking primary care, specialist care and mental health care, according to audit results released Monday.
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NEW PATIENT PRIMARY CARE LONGEST AVERAGE WAIT TIME:
1. Miami: 48.3 days
2. Gainesville 48.2 days
3. Bay Pines: 47 days
4. Tampa 42 days
5. Orlando 36 days
6. West Palm Beach 32 days
(Longest wait time in U.S. in Honolulu, Hawaii: 145 days)
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NEW PATIENT SPECIALIST CARE AVERAGE WAIT TIME:
1. Tampa: Nearly 63 days
2. Miami: 57 days
3. Gainesville: 56 days
4. Bay Pines: 50 days
5. Orlando: 50 days
6. West Palm Beach: 43 days
(Longest wait time in U.S. in Harlingen, Texas: 145 days)
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NEW PATIENT MENTAL HEALTH CARE AVERAGE WAIT TIME:
1. Bay Pines: 39 days
2. Gainesville: 33 days
3. Orlando: 29 days
4. Tampa: 27 days
5. West palm Beach: 26 days
6. Miami: nearly 25 days
(Longest wait time in U.S. in Durham, North Carolina: 104 days)
