Minnesota VA Wait Times Considerably Lower Than The Worst

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — New audit data show waiting times at the two Veterans Affairs medical centers in Minnesota are considerably lower than the worst trouble spots in the VA system.

The average wait time for a patient seeking primary care for the first time is 28 days at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center and 25 days at the St. Cloud center. But the waits are much shorter for established patients already in the VA system — three days at Minneapolis and two days at St. Cloud.

Nationwide, the longest average wait is 145 days in Honolulu.

Waits for new patients seeking specialty or mental health care are longer.

Overall, 98 percent of appointments are scheduled within 30 days or less in Minneapolis and 97 percent in St. Cloud, compared with 96 percent nationwide.