The New and Improved VA Hospitals
Even thought the VA hospital has been an option for me to use for about 11 years, I have never really used it. I mean, after I first got out of the active Army I went there to file my disability claim and I was not encouraged to much by what I saw and experienced. I had several appointments there as part of my claim and they did not always go the best. I remember getting the feeling like I was a bother to the docs, nurses and administrators. They seemed to act like anyone who was in there was nothing more than a burden on them and this was expressed in body language, tone, and actions.
Needless to say, after that experience I never went back. Once my claim was complete and the findings were issued I just went to my civilian doctors and utilized my company provided medical insurance. I did end up using the VA one more time after I moved to Buffalo. I had come to Buffalo ahead of my family since my company really wanted me here. We were waiting until the summer time to sell the house and move the family, so I was in Buffalo by myself for a few months. The medical insurance we had at the time limited me to just my home area, and since my family was in Alaska still that really limited me to just being seen in Alaska. I got hurt playing softball while in Buffalo, so I tapped into my free medical care at the VA that was granted to me by being a disabled vet.
This experience was not the best either and I was even more discouraged at the lack of sympathetic care and poor attitudes demonstrated by the staff that I saw. They really did the bare minimum and again showed to me that I was nothing more than a bother to them. So my experience at two separate VA hospitals, thousands of miles apart, was not good. I am not sure if they were this way to everyone or just to “young” guys like me since I am positive that the average age of VA patients is probably in the 60s.
Now that I am back from an Active Duty tour in Afghanistan I had to re-engage the VA again. I had to get my disability payments started back up and I have some leftover issues from my tour that need to get addressed. I had talked with several guys that were on my team in Afghanistan whom said their experience was really good and it was nothing like they had heard (which was similar to what I had experienced). One of them told me that in recent years many people had retired, been forced out or whatever and that the new staffs of VA hospitals were much better to deal with. Due to this new information I figured I would give them another chance and I am glad I did. I have been there twice and what I have seen is remarkably better than what I ever saw before.
I went in and met with my primary doctor who was a young guy that used to be a Navy Corpsman back in the day. The entire staff from the nurses to the pharmacy to the doc himself were very informative and extremely pleasant to deal with. Things also moved very fast throughout the whole ordeal. I went right up to the x-ray department after my meeting with the doc and they took a whole bunch of x-rays that I needed. Two days later I came back to get some blood work done and I was in and out faster than it took me time to find a place to park. Today (while out of town and on vacation) I checked the messages on the home voice mail and heard a message from them that they had an appointment for me on Monday with Orthopedics. This blew me away, because only 1 week after meeting with my doc for the first time I had another appointment. Unfortunately I cannot be there because I am out of town, but I called them back and told them what day I would be available. I am hoping to hear back from them next week telling me that I have an appointment that day. The VA hospitals today are not the same VA hospitals they were just a few years ago. From what I have seen at mine and heard from buddies that went to two different ones they seem to all have a new focus and mission. They now look at their patients as their customers and I truly believe see their patients for what they are, patients who need care and the reason they all have a job.
**NOTE, Troy is a 1SG in the New York Army National Guard and writes several blogs on his website at http://www.bouhammer.com**
Rachel
August 18th, 2007 at 10:57 pmFrom what I have seen at mine and heard from buddies that went to two different ones they seem to all have a new focus and mission. They now look at their patients as their customers and I truly believe see their patients for what they are, patients who need care and the reason they all have a job.
A truly enlightening blog! I live in the Buffalo NY area and have heard the ‘unsatisfied’ patient’s for many years. I am glad to see, that finally, they have come to the realization that those in need are those that ‘need’. The VA for far too long was over looked and under funded. I shall stay on top of this issue and follow it more closely; especially since this it is right in my backyard. Thanks you friend..and God Bless you for your service.