VA Medical Centers Navigating through it

288 topics in this forum

1. 

   Va Health Care Priority Groups

   September 27, 2013 by carlie

   • 0 replies
   • 2.3k views

   VA Health Care Priority Groups http://www.va.gov/opa/publications/benefits_book/benefits_chap01.asp The following four categories of Veterans are not required to enroll, but are urged to do so to permit better planning of health resources: 1. Veterans with a service-connected disability of 50 percent or more. 2. Veterans seeking care for a disability the military determined was incurred or aggravated in the line of duty, but which VA has not yet rated, within 12 months of discharge. 3. Veterans seeking care for a service-connected disability only. 4. Veterans seeking registry examinations (Ionizing Radiation, Agent Orange, Gulf War/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Ne…

   

   Last reply by carlie, September 27, 2013
3. 

   Travel / Lodging determined by travel department rather the specialty doctors. 1 2

   August 2 by MKAH

   • 2 followers
   • 8 replies
   • 139 views

   Hi everyone, After waiting months for an appointment, three days before my travel date I was denied hotel lodging (by the travel department of the destination hospital Mather VAMC) that my neurologist properly submitted a referral for lodging for imaging & EEG (electroencephalogram) to rule out brain injury due to SYNOPE, which was estimated to take several hours. I lost my drivers license due to this condition so my wife would be taking me. We are in our sixties and I am 80% SC disabled. The destination hospital is 175 miles away making it 350 miles round trip. Since the VA hospital is located on the far side of a major city from my location, the travel ti…

   

   Last reply by Lemuel, August 4

   • travel / lodging
4. 

   Vista medical records

   July 21 by Diz32548

   • 3 replies
   • 108 views

   I read something a while back about requesting a Vista cd from the VA? It's supposed to contain all notes in a patient's records and not just what is shown on Blue Button. I would like to get a copy of all my medical/administrative notes, to include interdepartmental communications between doctors. I cannot find the forum/thread where I read this before. Can someone point me in the right direction of that thread or how to go about getting all of my records please (this is something different than a C file)? Thanks so much for your help!

   

   Last reply by Vync, July 22

   • vista
   • records
   • (and 1 more)

     Tagged with:

     • vista
     • records
     • cd

   • 
5. 

   VA Schedule Appointments that your Dr Cancels?

   June 29 by Buck52

   • 4 replies
   • 125 views

   My VA MH Dr called me and said she had to cancel my appointment on July- 2- 2020 11:00 AM because she had a Dr Appointment came up unexpected on July 2nd and she had to see her Dr on my Appointment date. When she called me to cancel my VA Appointment with her I ask her if she would cancel my appointment to show the Clinic Cancel it, BECAUSE I do not won't to be showed a ''NO SHOW''she said she would. THIS WAS A WEEK AGO OR SO Well they still show I have this appointment July 2nd..its the Virtual Tele Health Scheduled Appointment. After this date >>.if it says NO Show'' THATS NOT MY FAULT and makes me look bad. My question to any of you member's …

   

   Last reply by broncovet, June 29
6. 

   Got this resposne after posting to va.gov

   May 18 by slangpdx

   • 3 replies
   • 297 views

   At suggestion of response to a post on this forum I sent a request for a test through the va.gov portal on 5-7, got this reply today 5-18. Do I need to "reopen"? Or is it being acted on? Is the "Facility Advocate" at my VAMC? What is the "Service Line Advocate"? va.gov routes to specific hospitals. I am asking for a urine test to substitute for a scope procedure, which I know the VA can obtain through two labs it has a relationship with, I verified it. The local VAMC head sent out email last week saying they are having covid outbreaks among staff in various departments. Appreciate the honesty, but have to assume there is a substantial problem or they …

   

   Last reply by slangpdx, June 5
7. 

   Does anyone have experience with "clinical appeals"? 1 2

   May 7 by slangpdx

   • 6 replies
   • 257 views

   I have been told about the existence of a "Clinical Appeal" process. Was just on hold for 35 minutes to the number given at the local Portland hospital before being disconnected. Does anyone have knowledge of this process or what the chances of success are or how it works? I am asking to get an FDA approved urine test that will be sent out to another lab. Results will be substitute for a scope procedure that has been cancelled due to pandemic. My assigned specialist retired because of it, I do not have a new one assigned at this point. I asked a clinic facilitator about the test a month ago and have received no answer. I already called the company that does the te…

   

   Last reply by slangpdx, May 11
8. 

   Appointment canceled without notice?

   December 5, 2018 by Buck52

   • 3 replies
   • 379 views

   Are they (VA OR VHA) Services suppose to notify us when they cancel an appointment? My MH therapist usually cancel early the same day and the clinic calls me to let me know my appointment as been canceled and my therapist will rescheduled ok that's fine But I was just surfing myhealthvet notes last night and checked my Appointments to make sure all is on the up&up and I have a Dental Appointment on the 12th Dec Its been set for about 60 days now...ok I just read on myhelthvet for future Appointments that the 12 th of Dec Dental Appointment has been canceled??? I was not notified grrrrrrrrrrrrrr no rescheduled note no nothing.

   

   Last reply by Buck52, April 22
9. 

   Not taking any Appointments at my VAMC!!! 1 2 3

   March 25 by Buck52

   • 14 replies
   • 566 views

   My wife called the VAMC Yesterday to see if I can get in to see the urologist Doc my appointment for them is not until July , But I Have an Appointment with MH Clinic therapist on the 26th and wanted to see if I can see the urologist clinic after my 11:00am Appointment with MH?.. I been having problems with Swollen prostate and other problems in that area, the NURSE that my wife talked to said No they are cleaning the windows in the clinic and not taking any veterans in at this time or until further notice?? ..The Nurse mention to my wife for me to check in at the E.R. After my appointment....but theses yahooos at E.R. don't know what the hell they are do…

   

   Last reply by Buck52, April 20
10. 

    Should I complain to patient advocate? 1 2 3

    March 1 by Backpay

    • 10 replies
    • 622 views

    I'm wondering if patient advocate is the correct person to go to or if someone else would be better or let me know if I'm overreacting. So Tuesday I went to a community provider for surgery to have gallbladder removed and part of my colon removed as well. The VA approved it ahead of time so that should be all set. On Wednesday the hospital social worker came to my room and verified the VA would be my pharmacy and we talked about the requirements (VA needs prescription and notes to approve or deny themselves) and she said she had a VA contact who she was working with and that she faxed it over. The social worker then gave me the paper copy of prescription and the…

    

    Last reply by AllTheWay, March 24

    • 
11. 

    Retro Service Connection= refund on meds? 1 2

    January 22 by blahsaysme2u

    • 8 replies
    • 508 views

    this was somthing i just thought of after looking at another guys post about benefits for 50% or more SC. one of them listed is free health and meds. now i have been getting meds from the VA since i enrolled in 2008. i was just bumped over the 50% this year and most of it was retro EED to 2008. does that mean im due a refund for all the money i shelled out for meds? https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/derivative_sc.asp

    

    Last reply by Guest pete992, January 29

    • 
12. 

    Needing a CPAP Machine 1 2 3 4 6

    December 20, 2019 by paulstrgn

    • 27 replies
    • 1.4k views

    I recently broke my CPAP machine (my son and I were horse playing and we knocked off my CPAP machine and broke it). I have been trying to get a new CPAP machine from the Hampton VA Medical Center (HVAMC) in Hampton, Virginia. I have had to go through the HVAMC director’s office to get one, someone on his staff finally was able to get the sleep medicine clinic to call me a set up an appointment. The woman gave me an appointment for November 27, 2020, well now I first thought she just got her dates mixed up, well no, I will need to wait 11 months to get a CPAP machine, this is absolutely crazy. She told me it was because they only have two technicians to handle the workload…

    

    Last reply by paulstrgn, December 31, 2019

    • 
    • 
13. 

    Non VA emergency room care 1 2

    August 31, 2019 by Grunt 8152

    • 6 replies
    • 769 views

    The other week I have a temp of 100 and lower abdominal pain that started week prior but was started to get pretty bad. I called the VA to see if I should get same day appointment or use the urgent Care benefit. They put me in touch with a triage nurse and based on my symptoms and the fact that a recent CT showed diverticulosis we agreed it was likely I had diverticulitis. She told me to go straight to the nearest emergency room and that I should not drive over an hour to get to the nearest VA emergency room. I asked if it would be covered and she said she wasn't billing and didn't know. I asked to be seen by my primary who could then send me to ER but she said no and tha…

    

    Last reply by Grunt 8152, December 10, 2019

    • 
    • 
14. 

    VA Aim is to Privatize Health Care 1 2 3 4 5

    December 3, 2019 by Richard1954

    • 20 replies
    • 1.2k views

    I saw my primary care doctor today at Temple Texas Medical Center... .the nurse got into a conversation with me and my wife about the direction VA Health care appears to be taking.. In her opinion, based on all she has seen and talking to her Union.. VA seems to be setting itself up to go private... She said this has been in the works for some time.... and is based on cost and savings analysis .. Guess we have to wait and see.

    

    Last reply by Buck52, December 10, 2019

    • 
    • 
    • 
15. 

    Can't believe what VA Billed my insurance! 1 2

    December 3, 2019 by USMCVMO

    • 7 replies
    • 392 views

    Since I recently moved to another state I decided to try the VA Primary Care facility near me. I am 50% service connected for back. The PCP wanted to order some blood work for my first visit. I had no health conditions except the back pain. I assumed this was the basic stuff any doctor would ask for to check cholesterol, etc. When I went to the VA lab they drew about 6 tubes of blood. I joked with the nurse and called her a Vampire. She said your doctor ordered a lot of tests. When I get the results I was iterated to find out they drug tested me. I am not a drug user and didn’t pop positive for anything, but I felt a bit misled. I logged into my priv…

    

    Last reply by Buck52, December 3, 2019
16. 

    New mission act & Community Care/Tri West??? 1 2 3 4

    November 26, 2019 by Buck52

    • 16 replies
    • 743 views

    Anyone having problems with the community care act to be approved by tri west insurance? I have been approved by the Community Care people at the VA They had me to find a Dr and I was approved for the care..I found a Dr the Dr sent me to a OT Therapist or Physical therapist (they do both) anyway the girls at the private physical care center in my home town calls us and tells my spouse they can't get a confirmation on the Approval from Tri West..they said they need the approval from Tri west because Tri West is how they get paid...I have check with my VA PCP and she said I was approved for the care....the girls at the physical therapist center (clerks)says t…

    

    Last reply by Vync, December 3, 2019

    • 
    • 
    • 
17. 

    Non VA ER Visit 1 2 3

    November 15, 2019 by shrekthetank1

    • 11 replies
    • 820 views

    Can I be seen at a different emergency ER and not the ER at the va? I need to know as I may have a serious neurological issue and I am not sure the va here has a good on.

    

    Last reply by Valhalla0321, November 17, 2019

    • 
    • 
    • 
18. 

    Hadit business cards

    November 13, 2019 by vetquest

    • 3 replies
    • 204 views

    We were talking about Hadit business cards. I have gotten a file from Tbird and created some business cards on vistaprint. You can see it and print 100, 200, or 500 copies for $20.00. http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/gateway.aspx?s=4009498015&preurl=%2fshare-design.aspx%3fdoc_id%3d3859200575%26shopper_id%3dPH1Q4JVWJPDV1J5XR7QW5TFGGMZPOHX2%26xnav%3dsharesource_8%26share_key%3d75e5c405-e305-435c-957f-8c8ddf2d42c0

    

    Last reply by Buck52, November 13, 2019

    • 
    • 
    • 
19. 

    Blue Button Secure Messages? 1 2 3

    October 23, 2019 by Buck52

    • 10 replies
    • 662 views

    Something sneeky is going on with the VA SECURE MESSAGE SYSTEM. I sent a secure message to my VA L.C.S.W. To Cancel an appointment I had on 10 03/19 because my wife fell 10-02.19 that evening about 5::30pm..cooking supper she lost her balance in the kitchen and fell backwards on her hip (she has osteoporosis very bad anyway..well she hollared for me I came in from the bedroom and she was lying in the floor with great pain I could not move her..I called 911 they came ad took her straight to the nearest Hospital...I stayed up there until they got her pain down and awaiting on a surgeon to arrive the next day for her hip surgery.....I came home that same night while …

    

    Last reply by Buck52, October 24, 2019

    • 
    • 
    • 
20. 

    Central Texas VA Medical Centers

    October 8, 2019 by Richard1954

    • 1 reply
    • 313 views

    Today while at the home oxygen clinic in the Temple Texas VA... I was informed that the VA is going to start issuing portable oxygen concentrators in about 3 months. Previously, the VA would only contract for Oxygen Tanks ... they are coming into the modern world. So any veteran that needs oxygen should consider this service, as in most cases the service will be free. I like Free, especially since I am service connected for my lungs and for the last 12 years I have been getting portable oxygen concentrators thru Medicare/Tricare, and the local provider doesn't care how slow they are when it comes to providing replacement equipment, as long as they are being paid.. This …

    

    Last reply by vetquest, October 9, 2019

    • 
    • 
    • 
21. 

    Newbie ER experience, timeline from enrollment, tips for new IMHO 1 2

    October 2, 2019 by ToxicSgt73

    • 5 replies
    • 540 views

    In 30 days, from enrollment, I have had my initial appointment, a disappointment, then after some research and a few phone calls, I think I found the answer. See a social worker before your appointment if possible, or at a minimum ask to see the social worker ASAP. Ask a lot of questions, get a lot of answers. Have a list of what you want FROM the doctor, don't wait for him to offer anything, you will run out of time. When my questions were interpreted as a complaint, I got to talk to a social worker and I was set up for the 9 referrals that I wanted to start off with. Two of them are actually set up as appointments now and another 4 or so show up on MyH…

    

    Last reply by Vync, October 3, 2019

    • er
    • newbie
    • (and 2 more)

      Tagged with:

      • er
      • newbie
      • vamc
      • vahc

    • 
    •