I am wondering about the experiences our veterans here on the board have with the VA medical system.
I have DPOA for a vet. I have to deal with the VA regularly, more like fighting with them.
This vet was having very bad headaches and the doctor sent him to a cardiologist 210 miles away (nearest VA hospital) to check it out. He said a phone call to him from the doc would have filled her in, basically, nothing cardio-related would be causing these headaches.
As the head pain worsened and other symptoms started, such as confusion and a couple of other ones, (I was thinking stroke) I had to call his doctor, and get authorized to go to the ER. I was informed that if I went to the local ER here, they would not pay for the medical care received (I call that being held hostage). She, the doc, said I would have to drive 30 miles to her office for an exam, and then maybe she would authorize a visit to the ER.
We got there, and she saw us after waiting 10 minutes. After a cursory exam, she authorized us to go to a hospital there in town. We went up front, and waited for 15 minutes while a person got the paperwork, which consisted of printing off a form, and signing it. This person had to complete a couple of other tasks first... call 2 people back about their next appt. date.
I was pretty livid. We got to the ER, and they got him in and examined right away, and sent off for a CT scan. Everything came back normal, thank goodness.
When you need to go to the ER after hours, they say if it is life threatening, you should go, but you need to call the VA. Well, another trip, unrelated, was required - after hours. It was serious. I called the VA 8 times and got a busy signal. Called the after hours duty nurse, got busy signals there too. Went to the ER, was treated, and told this vet could transfer to the hospital 210 miles away, for overnight observation. The ER doc allowed me to monitor him at home with some home medical equip.
One thing I've noticed is the VA tends to deny existence of medical conditions, therefore denying treatment. The way they dispense medicine, through the mail, or via FEDEX overnight, depending, could be much better. My vet has run out of meds, even though the refills were called in a week in advance, and they wouldn't be shipped, causing more medical problems.
One new doc sent him for xrays to see the cause of pain he has, and has had for years. Said the radiologist didn't see a single thing on the x-rays that would require pain medicine, and totally cut him off one, and cut back on the other by 3/4. Didn't bother to read the results of other types of x-rays, and the radiologist reports, and previous doctors reports that spanned years, basically did not read the medical file. Did not order any MRI's, or other tests, didn't send him to a specialist.
Getting in to see a specialist is next to impossible. They won't get him in to see an orthopedic surgeon, nor a neurologist, nor any other specialist required, and his health has suffered for it.
Cat, I know you had some problems. Has anyone else here who is a veteran, and relies on the VA for medical care had issues getting the right treatment? I swear, if I wasn't there to advocate, this vet would probably be buried by now. This vet is from the vietnam war era, and a lot of other viet vets have complained about the lack of medical care and been ignored. Now that the vets from the first gulf war have been in the system, and the more recent second gulf war vets are coming back, they've been complaining too. Looks like since these more recent vets are raising hell, they are being listened to. I guess they finally realized the vietnam vets aren't full of crap after all.
Of course, it didn't help that Clinton cut back on the $ going to the VA, and Bush cut it even more. Is this any way to treat our veterans, who have risked their lives defending out country?
But the thing that kills me is that if you call to get the ok to go to the ER, they tell you to go, but they hang it over your head that they may not pay for it. Sure, if it's life threatening, go, but we might now pay. However, if you drive several hundred miles, then we will see you, and pay for it. "Well, I think I'm having a heart attack, but maybe it's not... my chest hurts and I can't breathe. But if I go to the ER, they may not pay for it if I rack up several thousands of $ in medical bills. However, I can drive a few hours to the nearest hospital, and get treated, but I may die on the way."
I apologize for the rant, but I really am interested in your experiences. And if and how you managed to get the proper medical care without jumping through several hoops. How are you being treated by the VA?
Thanks.