What do you think about the care given at the VA?

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 15:03:55 -0400

VA.GOV

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jul 5 at 2019 3:07 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 15:07:02 -0400

Haven't had to use it yet, but I have heard from some people who have used it, that some places are far better than others.

Response by SGT Javier Silva made Jul 5 at 2019 3:16 PM

SGT Javier Silva — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 15:16:28 -0400

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member It truly depends on what facility you get. I started in the Austin VA clinic, and had some of the best care. Now I'm in DC, and I'm still fighting to get a sleep study that was ordered over a year ago.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 5 at 2019 3:20 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 15:20:10 -0400

My VA clinic here in Pocatello, ID is pretty good.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 5 at 2019 3:22 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 15:22:07 -0400

It varies by locale. Had a good young cutter snatch gall bladder years ago and it was done right. You have to be your own advocate and learn the system. Good luck.

Response by MSG Stan Hutchison made Jul 5 at 2019 3:45 PM

MSG Stan Hutchison — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 15:45:10 -0400

Since 1990 I have been seen at the following VAMC's:
Spokane, WA
Tucson, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Prescott, AZ
Ft Meade, SD.

I was treated very well at all of them. Phoenix was a little slow to get me in, but given it's size that is understandable. Ft Meade, SD is excellent!

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Jul 5 at 2019 4:10 PM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 16:10:50 -0400

I don’t use the VA as I have TriCare. But my brother uses it and he has some significant health issues. He is very happy with the care that he has been given.

Response by 1SG Thomas Jasak made Jul 5 at 2019 4:29 PM

1SG Thomas Jasak — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 16:29:00 -0400

I have been retired for 2 years and have been seen at the Augusta, GA VAMC downtown and uptown divisions numerous times and have to say I have been treated well and received the care that I have requested and been dealt with professionally.

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Jul 5 at 2019 7:25 PM

SFC Melvin Brandenburg — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 19:25:06 -0400

I haven't used the VA but I might soon

Response by SSgt Richard Kensinger made Jul 5 at 2019 7:27 PM

SSgt Richard Kensinger — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 19:27:42 -0400

As a vet, clinical psychologist and professor who conducts research on combat trauma and care, I offer some of my findings.
I survey combat vets as far back as Korea. They are raesonably satisfied w/ their health care but not their psychosocial care. They continue to exhibit Clinical Depression, Compacted Grief, SUD, and some w/ TBI. They get short-term counseling, mostly by non-military clinicians; and they get prescribed lots of psychotropic drugs.

And as you know 20 vets/day kill themselves while only 6 of 20 are being followed by VAC's. At our local VAC 13 have killed themselves over a 4 yr. period.

All VAC's conduct root-case analyses and psychosocial autopsies. I've conduct a # of these protocols at a local Community Mental Health Center. In general, clinicians are not very good at predicting, protecting, and preventing suicides despite knowing many of the clinical signs.
Thanks so much for this very pertinent topic.
Rich

Response by LTC Wayne Brandon made Jul 5 at 2019 8:25 PM

LTC Wayne Brandon — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 20:25:14 -0400

GySgt. Huber -
I have not used the VA as yet - haven't had the need.
However our former pastor is presently in the VA hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan with a serious bone disease complicated by MRSA. The doctors and attendants have been nothing less than outstanding as they try to figure out what is the cause of the MRSA as it is 'hiding' somewhere in his body.
He, along with his wife and family can't say enough about the care he has received.

Response by SP5 Dennis Loberger made Jul 5 at 2019 8:37 PM

SP5 Dennis Loberger — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 20:37:39 -0400

We are lucky to have Zablocki VA in Milwaukee

Response by PV2 Duane Schlender made Jul 5 at 2019 8:41 PM

PV2 Duane Schlender — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 20:41:05 -0400

I have been fighting the v.a. for 19 years just for simple things. I have had to learn law just to get very little. Others, however, don't have to fight in the least. They get out of the service, and the V.A. falls all over themselves to give every possible v.a. service, rating, etc, etc, to past service members.

What do I honestly think about the v.a.? I think they are subject to human error and predisposition, just as politics, and every other aspect of life is these days.

Personally, I wish the V.A. would stop being so snotty to veterans and only giving deserving veterans what they deserve when whoever decides to give veterans whatever it is they need is "up for promotion". Veteran's should be treated properly, fairly, and with the honor and dignity with which they served. Not treated like cattle or numbers for success of peoples careers.

Response by LCpl Steve Zupan made Jul 5 at 2019 10:34 PM

LCpl Steve Zupan — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 22:34:43 -0400

The Pittsburgh VA is great... I've had several surgeries there and have no complaints.

Response by PO2 David Huelsmann made Jul 6 at 2019 7:59 AM

PO2 David Huelsmann — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 07:59:08 -0400

I have used the VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System for the last nine years or so. It has a four star rating in the VA system (5 is the max) which is very good. It has affiliations with two of the great healthcare institutions here in Omaha: University of Nebraska Medical Center and Creighton University. I have been admitted here several times and have had really good inpatient care. I have also had a number of surgical procedures and also received great care. I am rated as 100% service-connected disabled and obviously have frequent contact with the PA's, NP's and Doctors for treatment and follow-up care. As a former healthcare professional of over forty years myself, I feel comfortable in declaring that the Omaha VA is one of the "good guys"!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 6 at 2019 8:31 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 08:31:41 -0400

I give the Leavenworth, KS VA hospital an A.

Response by SPC Louis Gillespie made Jul 6 at 2019 11:41 AM

SPC Louis Gillespie — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 11:41:05 -0400

The VA is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. They have saved many of my friends lives, given back or restored eye site to a few friends and treatment for Hep C to me and many others just to name a few . I am here today only because an alert endocrinologist saw me walking down the hall and demanded that I seek treatment quickly and come to find out I was on my way out if I was not treated.

As with any organization there is good and bad. Since the new administration has taken over there have been many changes however let's be really clear, there is a long way yet to go. As long as it moves forward and continues to provide the medical care that we require I am good with that.

What gripes my ASS the most is Congress and the politicians.

When I enlisted in the Army during war time in 1972 we were promised Free healthcare for the rest of our lives for signing on the bottom line of that blank check that included our lives . Those in Washington DC changed that and because of those changes many of our Brothers and Sisters have taken their own lives and for that there can be NO Forgiveness.

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Jul 6 at 2019 7:21 PM

MAJ Matthew Arnold — Sat, 06 Jul 2019 19:21:09 -0400

I have used the George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. It has provided excellent and timely medical service for me. I do not have any complaints.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Jul 7 at 2019 3:11 PM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Sun, 07 Jul 2019 15:11:55 -0400

I think it depends largely on the individual facilities. The James Quillen VA in Johnson City TN is decent enough. I only use them for annual physicals and "routine" care though. For serious illness/conditions, I use my civilian provider.

Response by LCpl Cody Collins made Jul 8 at 2019 6:13 PM

LCpl Cody Collins — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 18:13:40 -0400

It's great here in Indiana

Response by SSG Brian Lovins made Oct 29 at 2019 6:19 PM

SSG Brian Lovins — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 18:19:00 -0400

I have been using the VA for a few years now after dealing with civilian health insurance the VA is great. I think alot of people that have issues havent actually dealt with the civilian healthcare system. In the civilian sector I have to schedule an appointment with my PCP, they would then submit a referral to the insurance for anything they couldn't handle, then wait for up to 30 days for insurance approval, then wait for the specialty provider to schedule an appointment, then return to the PCP 2 weeks after to discuss the finding..holy crap I was shelling out alot of cash. I go to the VA they send a referral and within 2 weeks I have an appointment and in most cases have already seen the specialist. I went to my annual physical with in September 3 items that required specialty care, I have already received authorization from VA and tricare to go to civilian specialists because the VA here doesnt have the necessary
doctors here in Corpus Christi. 2 procedure have been done. 1 was deemed not necessary at this time by the civilian doctor. 1 of the completed procedures was an MRI and tomorrow I have an orthopedic surgery consult. I absolutely love the efficiency of the VA healthcare system. The other side the bill my civilian health insurance which helps reduce my family out of pocket/deductible. I recommend the VA to anyone that has earned the right to use it.