I just got home from another disappointing trip to the VA. My doctor there does not seem to care about anyone or anything. She only want's to see me once a year so I stay in the system. I qualify for their dental program and have had no problems. Her bedside mannor is even worse. Most of the doctors that I see out in town are way better, more professional, and actually do something.
I am curious if anyone else has problems with VA doctors.
I recently had knee surgery the VA in Albuquerque, NM. A couple days after my leg started to swell up. I went to my primary doctor, he said that i was just too active. I didnt feel comfortable with that assesment so I went to my surgeon, he found a life threatening blood clot in my leg...needless to say, I was not pleased. I have been fighting with the "patient advocate" (or so they call him) to get a new doctor. This was back in may and still have had no luck in getting assigned to a new doctor.
When I was first discharged from the military, I had some great doctors at the VA but over the course of the last few years, they have all left and been replaced by doctors that don't seem to care about their patients, they just seem to be there for their paycheck and could care less about us.
I must say, my VA experience has been superb! My wife (M.D) went to undergrad with my primary care doc in West Los Angeles, VA. He was bid on by 3 other top hospitals. He chose the VA because they matched his top offer, and provide 30 days vacation per year. I have also learned that the VA is not controlled in the same way a "for profit hospital" would be. ie., the knee guy above may be given physical therapy. The VA's idea of that PT would be until the patient has been fully rehabilitated or to the level expected. A "for profit" hospital would take an entirely different approach. Generally, the patient is qualified by some admin with a generic rehab recipe for that type of injury.
Personally, I have been seen (well before I met my wife) by multiple VA doctors. I should also point out that my sleep apnea was successfully treated.
I also went through 2 bouts of Testicular Cancer in 2005. The VA paid 100 % of it. If I had reg ins. I very well could have ended up paying 10% of all my drugs. That means I would have owed some 3k per day x15 (I used some 30K in Chemo per day).
My wife once told me, don't be so concerned w/ a doctors bed side manner. We want smart, M.D.'s! Now if you are getting the run around, tap a resource like me or someone in the medical field. Know what to expect when you talk to your doc. Know beforehand that they only have some 10 mins at most to see you; this really sucks at the VA as vets are sometimes waiting many many hours.
Personally, I think the admin is the worst part of the VA.
Joined: 2008-12-16
Dad Points: 47