If you could ask the director of Veterans Affairs one question, what would it be?

2021-07-13T20:34:36-04:00

I would have to ask the director why still haven't improved the time it takes to get appointments at the V. A. I would like to mention first that I have only ever had a couple complaints about the Medical Center I go to but this specific event was particularly aggravating.
Background: I went back in for my appointment on 8 March of this year to get new hearing aids. The earliest they could see me to to give me the new set was 15 April. I called them on the 16th to tell them there was a problem; they had feedback and was ringing in my ears so I had to teach that day without them (my students might have liked it because they could yell at me!). I went back to my old set while I waited for them to get me back in. They did some adjustments and I tried them out for a couple weeks but they still were not right so I went by the hearing clinic while I was there for another appointment. On 21 May they finally got me in for another appointment to do adjustments. Still having problems on 7 June was my next appointment and I went to see them again. They needed a technician to see me, I might need different manufacturer, another appointment was set for 8 July. Four months for hearing aids? Ridiculous! I'm still not sure if they are right. They work OK at home but I will have to get back in the classroom to see if they work like I need them to.

Response by SPC Michael Terrell made Jul 13 at 2021 8:44 PM

2021-07-13T20:44:40-04:00

Being refused needed referrals to specialty clinics by bad VA doctors.

Response by CPL Douglas Chrysler made Jul 13 at 2021 9:19 PM

2021-07-13T21:19:59-04:00

What about that civilian space trip?

Response by SPC Nancy Greene made Jul 13 at 2021 9:52 PM

2021-07-13T21:52:56-04:00

Cpl Vic Burk I am sorry to hear of your situation and certainly hope it is resolved soon!
I have had my share of issues with the VAMC most recently the total lack of care after cancer surgery which caused me to drive myself (two hours) home... I would like to know why the VA employs personnel who don’t like ir care about Veterans

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 13 at 2021 10:56 PM

2021-07-13T22:56:31-04:00

Ok as a VA audiologist let me explain a few things about hearing aids.

Getting a hearing evaluation and getting your hearing aids in about a month post hearing evaluation is very good especially in the VA. If there were custom earmolds or these were custom in the ear style hearing aids they take the vendor around 2 weeks to make plus time for shipping your impressions to vendor and shipping hearing aids back to VA.

All hearing aids through VA come with a 6 month trial period. This is 5 months longer than you get in the private sector when your self purchase hearing aids.

Hearing aids are not like eye glasses. We are really retraining your brain to hear again rather just making things louder. It takes time to adjust to hearing aids even if you were a previous user. Usually about a month of 6-8 hours of average daily usage is required. As for demanding listening environments a classroom is probably one of the most demanding situations second maybe to church or a crowded party for a hearing aid to perform in. Perhaps your audiologist didn’t discuss some of the realistic expectations for hearing aids and communication strategies to employ.

So you’ve had 4 appointments in four months. That’s pretty good for service to be quite honest. If you had done the CHOICE program you’d have waited around 30 days for an appointment. Then as of the other day it’s 180 days before the VA office that handles the choice program orders can order your hearing aids and then another month for the choice provider to get the devices to their office and then who knows how long to get you in.

So I guess what I am saying is I get it you’re frustrated that you’re having problems with your new hearing aids, but I think your VA is doing right by you.

My previous VA has a 3 month wait for hearing aid fittings after you get your evaluation.

Why the wait? Well Congress decided to expand the choice program rather than spending the money to hire more audiologists. Most of us in audiology see about 2-3 times the amount of patients in a week than a private sector audiologist does. I do virtual appointments, remote programming, phone calls, va secure messages, all on top of my in person patients I see. Most days I eat my lunch at my desk while charting notes. I frequently stay late to work in extra patients. I am the norm not the exception in VA audiology too.

Response by SGT Erica Smith made Jul 14 at 2021 2:29 AM

2021-07-14T02:29:06-04:00

Why do VA staff continue to refuse care for veterans? I can’t even get into the VA. I called my local VA clinic trying to register to be seen. The guy on the phone told me I needed the appointment line, despite my attempts to stop him transferring my call, he didn’t listen to me and transferred me anyway. Appointment line tells me that they can’t help me, I need to register first. Information I already knew and tried to tell the guy before. So they transfer me back to the same guy. I tell him what I need. He tells me do it online (I have issues with the online portal due to a break in service and two different last names while in). I tell him that I can’t, he asks where I am located and tells me there is a VA office in the city I was in and yo go register there and then hangs up on me. There is no VA on the city I was in, that why I was calling the main clinic. I have severe anxiety, making phone calls is incredibly difficult for me. It was hard for me to make that call that day. It’s now been a year and I am still working up the courage to make another call. So it’s been over a year since I’ve been seen by a VA doctor and I don’t even know if I can anymore. How many other people behave like this guy? How many other veterans are disregarded and made to feel stupid by VA staff? How many can’t get registered or get appointments because people like him are too lazy to do their jobs (he works in the patient registration office)? After dealing with sexism at my last clinic and now refusal to even register me, it’s no wonder so many vets go without care. How do they plan to fix it?

Response by SFC Marc W. made Jul 14 at 2021 9:46 AM

2021-07-14T09:46:08-04:00

I'd ask why even the worst of employees don't get fired. How did the director of the Phoenix, AZ not get fired? They're serious about change when they're in front of Congress or a camera, other than that, business as usual and let the dust settle.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Jul 14 at 2021 10:40 AM

2021-07-14T10:40:09-04:00

I would ask him how the hell the VA can say my TBI is not service connected when it happened in Iraq and I received a Purple Heart for it.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2021 11:34 AM

2021-07-14T11:34:12-04:00

First, try the Patient Advocate. Plan B, call the VAMC Administrator. Finally, file a beef online with VA. I doubt you'll need constituent support from your US Congressman. The time frames are not good, but sound about like the norm. Use Vet's Choice all you can to get farmed out. I started on a knee consult in January, and finally got a VC consult on 1 July, so I understand.