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raeanna74 · 01-23-2009, 06:37 AM

I didn't have much contact with veterans who used the VA Clinics or hospitals before this past year. What I've seen of the care, or lack thereof, amazes me.

One fellow, John, from work went through cancer treatment in the past 5 years. A year ago he was still on the chemo therapy drugs and suddenly the VA lost his info and dropped him. Refused to pay for his drugs. He ended up paying thousands just for a month or two of the chemo drugs. When his son, who is also in the Navy came to visit around that time, found out about the problem, he went into the local clinic office and chewed them a new one, finally they reinstated John and started paying for his meds and giving him treatment again. They never reimbursed him for the money he was forced to spend.

Charlie, another older Vet from work is forced to drive his cancer ridden wife 6 hours away on a monthly basis for her cancer treatments because the local VA clinic refuses to pay the local hospital for the cost of treatment. The woman is going to Mayo clinic (which I doubt costs much less but rather, probably costs more).

About 5 months ago my SO came down with a sinus infection. He had trouble trying to transfer his files to our local clinic. When contacting the VA hospital that is 3 hours away and was responsible for the transfer, he found that they could not find his files. He tried calling the woman responsible for transfering the files and made calls to her at least once a week for 3 months. Never getting ahold of her and never receiving a return call or answer to the many messages he left. Finally I found the phone number of the patient advocate for the Great Lakes VA system and after he called that woman he had an appointment set up for he very next week.
That wasn't the end of the problem though. He has spent 5 months trying to get answers to the multiple tests, driving 3+ hours just to get an X-Ray, or MRI and now is looking at driving 5 hours just to see an ENT when I know there is one within 20 miles, but they don't belong to the VA system.

I've been amazed at the rudeness, incompetency, and downright bullish attitude of the VA's health care personel. There have been a few concientious individuals but there are so few of them that they can't make up for the other's who are completely lazy. I pity any of our Vets that are coming home now with injuries. What are they going through, just to get medication for a sinus infection??

Besides all that, the only Dr at the local VA clinic is leaving to go into private practice this year because he's fed up with fighting the red tape just to get guys antibiotics for a sinus infection and similar problems.

01-23-2009, 06:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
raeanna74 I'm not a blonde! I'm knot! I'm knot! I'm knot! Location: Upper Michigan	Does the VA care at all about our vets? I didn't have much contact with veterans who used the VA Clinics or hospitals before this past year. What I've seen of the care, or lack thereof, amazes me. One fellow, John, from work went through cancer treatment in the past 5 years. A year ago he was still on the chemo therapy drugs and suddenly the VA lost his info and dropped him. Refused to pay for his drugs. He ended up paying thousands just for a month or two of the chemo drugs. When his son, who is also in the Navy came to visit around that time, found out about the problem, he went into the local clinic office and chewed them a new one, finally they reinstated John and started paying for his meds and giving him treatment again. They never reimbursed him for the money he was forced to spend. Charlie, another older Vet from work is forced to drive his cancer ridden wife 6 hours away on a monthly basis for her cancer treatments because the local VA clinic refuses to pay the local hospital for the cost of treatment. The woman is going to Mayo clinic (which I doubt costs much less but rather, probably costs more). About 5 months ago my SO came down with a sinus infection. He had trouble trying to transfer his files to our local clinic. When contacting the VA hospital that is 3 hours away and was responsible for the transfer, he found that they could not find his files. He tried calling the woman responsible for transfering the files and made calls to her at least once a week for 3 months. Never getting ahold of her and never receiving a return call or answer to the many messages he left. Finally I found the phone number of the patient advocate for the Great Lakes VA system and after he called that woman he had an appointment set up for he very next week. That wasn't the end of the problem though. He has spent 5 months trying to get answers to the multiple tests, driving 3+ hours just to get an X-Ray, or MRI and now is looking at driving 5 hours just to see an ENT when I know there is one within 20 miles, but they don't belong to the VA system. I've been amazed at the rudeness, incompetency, and downright bullish attitude of the VA's health care personel. There have been a few concientious individuals but there are so few of them that they can't make up for the other's who are completely lazy. I pity any of our Vets that are coming home now with injuries. What are they going through, just to get medication for a sinus infection?? Besides all that, the only Dr at the local VA clinic is leaving to go into private practice this year because he's fed up with fighting the red tape just to get guys antibiotics for a sinus infection and similar problems. __________________ "Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama My Karma just ran over your Dogma.