In May 2014, scandal within the Veterans Affairs department (VA) grabbed the nations’ attention. Veterans had endured long wait times to receive medical care. In extreme cases, Veterans died before receiving care.

While the VA has made improvements, the system still is broken.

Last week, the new secretary of Veterans Affairs, Robert McDonald, defended his department’s achievements in the past six months.

Through the Accelerated Care Initiative put into place this summer, the VA has reduced the wait time by nearly 37 percent and the new patient wait time by 18 percent. This was achieved through the addition of longer work hours at VA clinics across the nation.

McDonald has also sought to contract more qualified doctors by personally recruiting at medical schools across the nation and advertising increased salaries for VA physicians.

Additionally, the VA has begun to publish waiting list data online and hold town hall meetings with VA officials to regain the public’s trust.

These efforts have also been a part of the recent three-month program entitled “Road to Veterans Day.”

According to a Nov. 6 press release by the VA, “This reorganization will be known as ‘MyVA’ and is designed to provide Veterans with a seamless, integrated, and responsive customer service experience – whether they arrive at VA digitally, by phone or in person.”

Yet, the most meaningful change the VA has initiated comes in the form of a small card referred to as “Choice Cards.”

The first wave of Choice Cards has been sent to a handful of veterans and will allow them to see physicians not employed by the VA.

Still, the American public remains skeptical.

The wait time is still too long in many states and Veterans need and deserve urgent attention. According to a study done by the VA, 22 Veterans commit suicide each day, many due to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

The VA should continue to hire more staff and use funding wisely to be able to treat more Veterans.

It is unfortunate that many Veterans will not receive their Choice Cards for many months.

So while considerable progress has been made at the VA in a short period of time, more needs to take place.

This is something Americans should remember on Veterans’ day.

Veterans have given more to this country than has any other group. of citizens. They should not give up their healthcare too.