Veterans/Retirees: Do you feel that your local VA gives you the best care anywhere? Or just the opposite?

SPC Margaret Higgins — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 22:20:05 -0400

Response by GySgt John O'Donnell made Sep 5 at 2015 10:26 PM

GySgt John O'Donnell — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 22:26:19 -0400

Being retired I have had great care with TriCare Standard. I follow up with the VA every 6 months for coordination of records. All and all I have had great success with both though.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 5 at 2015 10:28 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 22:28:21 -0400

It depends on the VA facility. I routinely review medical records and I see huge differences between facilities.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2015 10:32 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 22:32:33 -0400

It's the only care I have now and thanks to the VA for keeping me physically "healthy". Mentally they're still working on it. I'm happy:-)

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2015 10:32 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 22:32:35 -0400

I have to say that I am a veteran and a VA employee. I have to say that as a patient for many years before working there, my VA has always provided excellent service. Working there now I see all of the effort that is put forth to make every veteran that walks through the door priority number one!

Response by SGM William Burger made Sep 5 at 2015 10:34 PM

SGM William Burger — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 22:34:12 -0400

Absolutely, for the most part, as a user and currently an ICU nurse. I believe I have received and provided quality care to my fellow veterans.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2015 10:48 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 22:48:23 -0400

I get care for multiple issues at the VA medical centers in Omaha, NE, and Fargo, SD. The care, concern, and subsequent treatments have been exceptional. I honestly could not ask for better. My appointments are very timely, prescriptions are promptly filled and mailed to my home, and follow-ups are filled with genuine concern.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Sep 5 at 2015 10:57 PM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 22:57:42 -0400

I'd have to say "yes", form the Tucson VA here in AZ and the Sierra Vista VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic. I know many are not having such service, and I wish all VAHCS operated the same... My only complaint is the drive to Tucson, but it's worth it.... For immediate care (colds, minor injuries, etc), I still have a civilian doc for, and do my f/u's with the VA.

Response by LTC Stephen Kubiszewski made Sep 5 at 2015 10:58 PM

LTC Stephen Kubiszewski — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 22:58:55 -0400

A situation not unusual but long standing with VA services for female mil/vets;

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/one-female-veterans-epic-quest-for-a-foot-that-fits/2015/09/05/b0e226c4-4ff5-11e5-8c19-0b6825aa4a3a_story.html

Response by MSgt Aaron Brite made Sep 5 at 2015 11:27 PM

MSgt Aaron Brite — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 23:27:56 -0400

My last VA interaction was in 2002, when I went in for mental health assistance. I was unprocessed and told I would be called in about 6 months when space became available. I left and found help through my university and never heard from the VA medical center. I am sure my name will show up eventually on the list of open dead files...

Response by SPC George Long made Sep 5 at 2015 11:51 PM

SPC George Long — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 23:51:26 -0400

NO. They get worse day by day. I'm old and terminal and feel sorry for our younger generation of veterans. If this is the best the VA can deliver I recommend you begin , today, to demand loud and long its replacement and the prosecution of the people who allowed this to happen. As is oft repeated in the halls of the VA, 'deny, deny, until they die!

Response by SPC George Long made Sep 5 at 2015 11:55 PM

SPC George Long — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 23:55:13 -0400

Response by LTC Erik Spike Thiesmeyer, Sr. made Sep 6 at 2015 12:39 AM

LTC Erik Spike Thiesmeyer, Sr. — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 00:39:42 -0400

I have two VA Clinics within 25 miles of me. Both are excellent. I have had nothing but great service.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Sep 6 at 2015 8:10 AM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 08:10:36 -0400

It is my belief that my local VA gives us the best care anywhere.
However, I know that my point of view about it is because: (1) I am receiving my 100% service- connected VA pension check; monthly. (2) I feel fine; and I do not usually have a negative outlook on most things in life.
Also, when I go to the VA, I feel kind of like I am going home- to be with my 'family'. I try to help as many people there as I possibly can.
The motto of our VA is: "You served us. Now let us serve you."
....and they Do.

Response by Sgt Sabrina Williams made Sep 6 at 2015 10:42 AM

Sgt Sabrina Williams — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 10:42:58 -0400

Where I'm from in Texas its just the opposite. I was diagnosed with blood clots in 2008. They almost killed me twice. I went to the clinic where I live and I was told I wasn't sick enough to be seen. When my sister took me to Houston, they did their testing and told me that it was nothing they could do. I had to move to San Francisco in order to get help. I shouldn't had to move just to be treated.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Sep 6 at 2015 11:14 AM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 11:14:49 -0400

There are some things that they are really great at. Audiology comes to mind. Our VA will see any vets, not just those who are service connected for hearing loss. If they need them, they are issued high tech hearing aids...

Our Psychiatrists are pretty top notch too...

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 6 at 2015 1:58 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 13:58:58 -0400

My VA hospital rocks in Leavenworth, KS.

Response by SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS made Sep 6 at 2015 2:04 PM

SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 14:04:49 -0400

SPC Margaret Higgins The care I have received has been outstanding. I have been seen at the main VA Hospital in Orlando as well as three of the Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) and the care has been better than I expected. the challenge now, if obtaining an appointment. Even with the "Priority 1" status it can be a challenge to see my primary care and in fact, my last appointment another physician saw me. Being a creature of habit and not trusting easily, that threw me off a bit. The care was still great, but the staff needs help so they can provide that great care to us at a faster pace and rate.

Response by CSM Jennifer Dehorty made Sep 6 at 2015 3:01 PM

CSM Jennifer Dehorty — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 15:01:21 -0400

I currently use the VAMC in ABQ, NM - I have had nothing short excellent care. In a couple instances, above and beyond! I doubt that I would receive the same level of care and personal attention in the private sector.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Sep 6 at 2015 3:23 PM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 15:23:43 -0400

SPC Margaret Higgins I use the VA Clinic in Oceanside, CA and the Hospital in San Diego, CA. I've received nothing but great professional and timely serivce to-date. No complaints!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2015 3:37 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 15:37:58 -0400

I have had EXCELLENT service at my local VA hospital. I think that what some veterans fail to realize is that the personnel that work at the VA hospital are humans just like all of us. They can make an occasional mistake, or maybe you have to wait just a little longer than you would like for an appointment. I know there are extreme cases that need to be looked at more closely. Overall though, the VA had made tremendous strides to right the wrongs of the past. Hooah!

Response by Sgt Spencer Sikder made Sep 6 at 2015 3:49 PM

Sgt Spencer Sikder — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 15:49:32 -0400

My experience and reading many of the posts on various blogs, including RP, it appears there are pockets of great, good and very bad care throughout VA.

Response by MAJ Danny Clark made Sep 6 at 2015 4:44 PM

MAJ Danny Clark — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 16:44:34 -0400

I have had both experiences. I have received the best care in specialty clinics. But, I find the primary care system to be less than adequate. This has been true in two different facilities, one large and one small.

Response by SGM Gregory Hoppe made Sep 6 at 2015 6:00 PM

SGM Gregory Hoppe — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 18:00:26 -0400

I can't enough good things about James A Haley VA in Tampa.

Response by PO2 Tyrone Wicks made Sep 6 at 2015 6:39 PM

PO2 Tyrone Wicks — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 18:39:34 -0400

No, I think I get the least amount of treatment possible yet, was ordered to give the highest level of sacrifice.

Response by LTC Robert Flynn made Sep 6 at 2015 8:17 PM

LTC Robert Flynn — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 20:17:43 -0400

I have been provided medical care at three different VA Clinics (Fresno, CA, Manila RP and Orlando, FL). The Fresno VA was very good in timely response and I received quality medical care there. The Manila VA only provides care for Service Connected Conditions. It took them over two years to process a claim, as they decided that they would relook all previous SC conditions. Their lack of timely providing of medical care almost killed me. I had to have emergency surgery for a condition that I had been telling them about for 5 years. The Orlando VA is fair, but it takes too long to get referred to special clinics and get an appointment. Again, I ended up having another emergency surgery that was caused by over dosing a medication and they didn't take a good look at the symptoms I was experiencing. I have learned that you have to stand up and fight for your rights. It seems that the saying: "The squeaking wheel get the oil" is very true!

Response by SGT Michael Glenn made Sep 7 at 2015 2:04 AM

SGT Michael Glenn — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 02:04:47 -0400

I have had VERY few good experiences with the VA and have been to the VA In Wash State, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia. All have placed themselves before me, I have been ignored, Told to shut up, threatened with incarceration, accused of being a drug addict ( never in my life have I done drugs) and even called a child molester. A 30 day prescription of percocet lasts me 4-5 months.I have sat in the ER for 4 hours while having a heart attack and a stroke, 10 urine samples were lost and I carried a UTI that went into a kidney infection for two months to where I was urinating blood and only received meds after I dropped a dime to Senate. I was placed on Gabapentin which has given me diabetes and I recieved the run around trying to get spine surgery and both hips replaced. Some may have good experiences but I have yet to see any.

Response by PO2 Frederick Deraney made Sep 7 at 2015 10:58 AM

PO2 Frederick Deraney — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 10:58:21 -0400

I do feel I receive good care, but I am in good health and I am seen every six months for preventative care. However, when I retired I had a 40% disability rating. I was dropped to a 30% disability rating because of schedule conflict in which I missed one appointment. Also, I have learnt that medications cost more at the VA to offset those Veterans that receive their VA medications free of charge based on their service-connected disabilities.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 11:08 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 11:08:21 -0400

I actually have no idea how to even access the VA system for care......I called once, after I received my rating, and was told to go to the base.....the base said you're retired and washed their hands of me......so I use TriCare and get seen down town....glad i'm retired so I had something to fall back on other then them. However to be fair I really am uneducated as to what I can be seen for, if anything, there seems to be a large void in information unless you are at the extreme end of the scale....just my two cents.

Response by SPC David Hannaman made Sep 8 at 2015 12:46 PM

SPC David Hannaman — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 12:46:03 -0400

I've never had to deal with the VA so I can't really speak for it, but I've had to deal with the civilian "for profit" Healthcare system and I've seen many of the same complaints that I see here.

Looking from the outside in at the VA system I see a lot of benefits, centralized records that are leveraged to prevent bad medication interactions for example (something that kills civilians at a rate comparable to automotive accidents).

I'd like to see the VA system expanded and all government healthcare dollars spent there... From POTUS to dogcatcher, and all Medicaid dollars. I think forcing the politicians and "leadership" there would be a great way to ensure quality, and sending the rest would ensure "bang for the buck" of tax dollars spent.

Once stabilized opening it up to contracting with the Insurance industry would foster competition within the industry and offset the taxpayer cost of the system (by charging say 200% of cost).

Right now there are too many hospital systems that don't have competition (all hospitals in the Dallas/Fort Worth market for instance are owned by three hospital systems, and insurance is forced to contract with them all... making for really short price negotiations).

I'm all for companies and doctors making a fair profit, but I question the morality of becoming insanely wealthy by providing services to people facing possibly the lowest moments of their lives.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Sep 8 at 2015 5:13 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 17:13:05 -0400

Yes I do.

Response by PO2 Peter Klein made Sep 8 at 2015 10:05 PM

PO2 Peter Klein — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 22:05:57 -0400

VA San Diego gives good care. Veterans are treated with respect. Yes, sometimes there are waits to get appointments but not usually in my case.