[DARTHPAUL]

Finally got my VA appointment. Go in June 8, for the initial bloodwork and June 12 for my first physical. Good thing I'm not doubled over in pain.

 

[subbie27x]

Finally got my VA appointment. Go in June 8, for the initial bloodwork and June 12 for my first physical. Good thing I'm not doubled over in pain.

Welcome to government healthcare. Just a preview of the future for ALL of us if Obamacare stays in effect.

 

[gunjunkie]

Hurry up and wait.

 

[jonnin]

I would hope if you were in pain and in need of care, it would go a bit faster (probably move you to the front of the line, making people there for a physical wait...!). But I have heard the system is way overloaded and not working well right now.... might want to get some private insurance to go with that GI stuff if you are unwell.

 

[DARTHPAUL]

This is my initial set-up, I'm not even in the system yet. My fault for waiting so long.

 

[phideaux]

Welcome to government healthcare. Just a preview of the future for ALL of us if Obamacare stays in effect.

One difference ...

Some of us have earned the care.

DV , hope your experience is as good as mine has been.
Get to appts early, and your out before your appt time.
Never have sit and waited more than 15 minutes. Just FOLLOW their rules and you will be fine, also a little kindness goes a long ways.

Around here all the doctors are tops in their field, and are VETS.
Most major services are done in hospitals outside the VA anyway.

If your in pain, go to VA emergency and you will not wait in line.
Some guys have had problems, mostly because they dont follow procedure.
A lot of guys shoot it down ,that have never used it , and only listen to those that had bad experience, sorta like some of the KTOG firearm topics, only post the problems..

Good for you. Keep a positive attitude, and you will have positive things happen.


Jim

 

[DARTHPAUL]

Thanks Jim. I'm not in terrible pain, actually getting used to it, kinda goes away when I'm focused on work. Nights are the worst if it wakes me up. To top it all off, I got bit by a poodle today delivering permit results to a customer. Little sucker drew blood.

 

[TxCajun]

The Best Care Anywhere

Ten years ago, veterans hospitals were dangerous, dirty, and scandal-ridden. Today, they're producing the highest quality care in the country. Their turnaround points the way toward solving America's health-care crisis.

And so it goes today. If the debate is over health-care reform, it won't be long before some free-market conservative will jump up and say that the sorry shape of the nation's veterans hospitals just proves what happens when government gets into the health-care business. And if he's a true believer, he'll then probably go on to suggest, quoting William Safire and other free marketers, that the government should just shut down the whole miserable system and provide veterans with health-care vouchers.

Sounds like they are talking about you...

Welcome to government healthcare. Just a preview of the future for ALL of us if Obamacare stays in effect.

Yet here's a curious fact that few conservatives or liberals know. Who do you think receives higher-quality health care. Medicare patients who are free to pick their own doctors and specialists? Or aging veterans stuck in those presumably filthy VA hospitals with their antiquated equipment, uncaring administrators, and incompetent staff? An answer came in 2003, when the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine published a study that compared veterans health facilities on 11 measures of quality with fee-for-service Medicare. On all 11 measures, the quality of care in veterans facilities proved to be "significantly better."

Here's another curious fact. The Annals of Internal Medicine recently published a study that compared veterans health facilities with commercial managed-care systems in their treatment of diabetes patients. In seven out of seven measures of quality, the VA provided better care.

It gets stranger. Pushed by large employers who are eager to know what they are buying when they purchase health care for their employees, an outfit called the National Committee for Quality Assurance today ranks health-care plans on 17 different performance measures. These include how well the plans manage high blood pressure or how precisely they adhere to standard protocols of evidence-based medicine such as prescribing beta blockers for patients recovering from a heart attack. Winning NCQA's seal of approval is the gold standard in the health-care industry. And who do you suppose this year's winner is: Johns Hopkins? Mayo Clinic? Massachusetts General? Nope. In every single category, the VHA system outperforms the highest rated non-VHA hospitals.

More here:
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2005/0501.longman.html

 

[ldnn]

It'll be a few more years before I have to worry about the VA but I still don't like Tricare...in my experience dependents are treated like welfare recipients.

 

[JR37]

It'll be a few more years before I have to worry about the VA but I still don't like Tricare...in my experience dependents are treated like welfare recipients.

Wife and I are in Tricare for Life. We have no complaints as of yet. Been using it for five years.

Life is short, be happy
Jack

 

[DARTHPAUL]

Almost forgot I started this biography. Well on the 8th they just took blood. On the 12th talked to the nurse and am now scheduled for a sonogram and they took more blood. Good news is I don't have leukemia

 

[Pancho_Villa]

Almost forgot I started this biography. Well on the 8th they just took blood. On the 12th talked to the nurse and am now scheduled for a sonogram and they took more blood. Good news is I don't have leukemia

That is good news. I am not a vet so I have not had to deal with the system much. Did have to take my dad a few times back in the 80s after he had retired from his job. He was a WWII vet with injuries. He never did like going to the VA hospitals.

 

[instymp]

the VA here in Asheville is fantastic, I have friennds that go there & they are on time & he likes them better tham his private Dr.s

 

[phideaux]

What a lot of guys do not realize is that the VA healthcare system has changed drastically in the last 10 yrs , even more so in the last 5 years.

They are my lifeline.

But they do no like to share your health care with outside doctors, theres too much to try and keep up with. They want you to be 100% VA , and you cant blame them for that, it keeps things simpler.

They dont know what the outside docs are doing with you, their records only reflect what they do for you.

Will never hear a negative on them from me.


Jim

 

[DARTHPAUL]

I only just got in the system and one phonecall got some action. I went to the first physical and they scheduled a sono-gram, pain went from a 5 to a 7 so I called to ask how long it usually takes to get a confirmation and what the lead time would be as I still work. Got a call back within an hour with an appointment for next Thursday. I just hope I'm not pregnant as I would have no idea as to who the father could be.

 

[phideaux]

Could be twins....


Just sayin,



Jim

 

[DARTHPAUL]

You saw the KSG pic didn't ya I have to admit to feeling a little bloated lately.