Can I request a new or different doctor at the VA Hospital?

2020-05-13T19:03:09-04:00

This past February I became deathly sick, (not COVID) long story short, I was sent home with a PICC line and was on an 8 week antibiotic regiment along with home healthcare visits from a nurse.
During all of this, there was constant discussion of possible damage to my heart valve.
I'm not sick like I was, but I really haven't recovered and find myself winded.
I've since had several telehealth appointments with a new doctor who has taken over.
I'm pretty sure she is a med student. That not withstanding, I'm having issues with her.
1) She contradicts herself constantly. She'll say something, then a moment later change her mind and decide something different.
2) English is a struggle for her. I have a tough time understanding her. I'm also pretty sure this is the reason she contradicts herself.
3) Follow up communication is bad at best. She ordered tests for me, I show up to do these tests and she cancelled them without letting me know. I drove 82 miles round trip to find this out.
I don't know if or how I can address this. I don't want to sound insensitive, but there is a serious language barrier. I can't understand her, and I don't think she's understanding me.
I often leave the conversation with her with more questions than answers.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2020 7:07 PM

2020-05-13T19:07:21-04:00

Talk to the patient advocate at your VA facility. They do a lot of good work and, in my experience, genuinely have the veteran's best interested at heart and will fight for a beneficial outcome for their patients. They may also work with the physician to ensure others don't end up with the same issues you are having. https://www.va.gov/health/patientadvocate/

patientadvocate

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made May 13 at 2020 7:14 PM

2020-05-13T19:14:12-04:00

Yes you can request a new Doctor if you feel unsafe or that you aren’t being taken care of. Speak to patient advocacy. I’m assuming you were joking about your Doctors status as a med student but a quick google or talk to Advocacy could clear that up too.

Response by SGT Robert Ahrens made May 13 at 2020 9:23 PM

2020-05-13T21:23:55-04:00

Yes contact patient advocacy at your VA facility and tell them your issues.

Response by SGT Chris Padgett made May 13 at 2020 9:32 PM

2020-05-13T21:32:09-04:00

Tonight, I was able to make an appointment with an outside doctor. I'll contact patient advocate and see what they can do. I have little hope they'll do much right now. But, we'll see.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made May 14 at 2020 9:59 AM

2020-05-14T09:59:13-04:00

VA patient advocate at the VA hospital is the way to go. You might ask to be referred to a nurse practitioner. NPs often are better at making and following care plans than MDs. Sounds like what you need.

Do mention the language issue. Teleconferencing deprives is of many of the visual and sound clues that make language understandable. Hearing deficits make it worse. Degrades communication both ways.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made May 14 at 2020 12:40 PM

2020-05-14T12:40:24-04:00

SGT Chris Padgett Call whatever VA Medical Center you are assigned to and tell them you want to change doctors and the reason why. I've done it twice. One was because he barely spoke English and the other was he didn't listen to anything I had to say and his accent hard to understand what he was saying. You also need to ask to get a referral to a vascular surgeon/heart surgeon. I had a an aneurysm on my ascending Aorta. I found out I had it because I was just getting over a bout of pneumonia and they found it on my CT Scan when they were checking to make sure the pneumonia was gone. So I had to get my chest cracked and when they were finishing up, they noticed that the valve was leaking. So I got a newer valve that is made of ceramic. They can do valve replacements by going through the Femoral Artery and snaking up to where they need to do the replacement.