VA Medical Centers Navigating through it

293 topics in this forum

1. 

   Va Health Care Priority Groups

   September 27, 2013 by carlie

   • 0 replies
   • 2.4k 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
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3. 

   VAMC Timelines for Pain Treatment 1 2 3

   August 9, 2017 by Vync

   • 9 replies
   • 1.5k views

   I am in need of another epidural pain block for my spine. I normally use a non-VA doctor with my private health insurance and the wait is usually a week or two. However, this was a great opportunity to track durations from one stage to the next. Each duration is calculated from date to date and include weekends and holidays. 1. Primary care referral to Neurology appointment: 38 days 2. Neurology referral to pain clinic appointment: 76 days 3. Pain clinic referral for outside care (no pain doctor available): 16 days 4. Outside care (Business Office) calls and asks if I would like to use the Choice program. Says it may take up to 7 days to receive…

   

   Last reply by caubulldog, February 17

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4. 

   VA Myhealthevet

   January 7 by newhere

   • 2 replies
   • 142 views

   On Myhealthevet messages... Are these messages that are sent to providers, Pact Team, and others. Are they required by law to be uploaded into my health records? I have one on my primary care nurses, who has not uploaded them into my records. I've been asking for referrals since September. Are the clinics required by law to log phone calls, if ordering Rx, or getting a message to providers? One of the clinics only had provider and front would only log calls once 10 days to keep workload down. Not to mention on Dec 24th, Two vets I know was supposed to have labs done, but all day long was the on hold music, then 1631 hours it went to t…

   

   Last reply by newhere, January 13

   • va records myhealthevet

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5. 

   VA denied paying for my $28K gallbladder surgery? 1 2

   January 1 by Jedmo1961

   • 7 replies
   • 254 views

   I live in Montana and reside 87 miles from the nearest full service VA Medical Hospital. We have a VA clinic locally but I was referred to the main VA hospital 87 miles away for surgery consultation at the main VA hospital? I'm 100% P&T, SSDI and retired. Shouldn't have my local VA clinic PCM suggest community care under the new Mission Act of 2019 since I would have to travel 1.5 hrs for the appt and then again to have gallbladder surgery? Especially with my distance situation? Heck, I could be the foster child for community care? Sec. 142. Veterans Choice Fund flexibility and Sec. 143. Sunset of Veterans Choice Program. I'm a covered veteran but the direc…

   

   Last reply by Buck52, January 4

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6. 

   Va Med Center Chain Of Command 1 2 3

   August 16, 2010 by scythis

   • 9 replies
   • 12.1k views

   So I am about to go up the VA medical center "chain of command" and I've learned from many posts that this is common... What is the typical chain of command at a VA medical center (above the Patient Advocate)? I dislike complaining but am not averse to it where treatment and people become inaccessible. There must be a ton of people in between the Pat Adv and the Director.... I'm sure its like the military - if you go right to the base commander with an issue, you not only make the problem worse, you piss off a bunch of people in between him and yourself in a big hurry. Thanks! Dante

   

   Last reply by GBArmy, November 21, 2020
7. 

   VA SOCIAL WORKER WRITING MISLEADING INFORMATION IN MYVAHEALTH 1 2

   November 20, 2020 by 1454th Solider

   • 1 follower
   • 5 replies
   • 220 views

   What can be done about a mental health social worker writing misleading information in your medical records? Questions you were never asked but they answered for you, statements you never made and contextual factors to your mental health that are the result (family problems, marital discord, lack of social support) of your conditions but it looks like they are saying this is what is causing it?

   

   Last reply by GBArmy, November 20, 2020

   • va health care

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8. 

   VAMC APPOINTMENTS BEING CANCELED? 1 2 3 4

   October 25, 2020 by Buck52

   • 2 followers
   • 15 replies
   • 308 views

   Anyone been having problems with the VA Clinics cancelling your future out appointments? I have had 2 appointments schedule out for next year FORmy PCP REGULAR CHECK UP and I need to have some issues addressed and lab work done, and they just cancelled this appointment and sited no reason? I mention this to my MH Dr during a VCC Appointments last thursday and she said for me to instant message my PCP and ask why this appointment has been canceled because you need to keep this appointment for some medical issues that have came up and you need to check on your existing medical condition you are being treated for. I sent my V A PCP an instant message on Myh…

   

   Last reply by Buck52, October 30, 2020

   • canceled va appointments
   • no reason

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9. 

   Does anyone have experience with "clinical appeals"? 1 2 3

   May 7, 2020 by slangpdx

   • 8 replies
   • 414 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 broncovet, October 14, 2020

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10. 

    Can't believe what VA Billed my insurance! 1 2 3 4

    December 3, 2019 by USMCVMO

    • 1 follower
    • 12 replies
    • 589 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 deedub75, October 14, 2020
11. 

    Clinical Appeal

    October 14, 2020 by Oceanbound

    • 1 follower
    • 3 replies
    • 140 views

    I filed a clinical appeal to get treatment as well as caled the White House Hotline. Got the letter back from the local VA saying that they had an "expect" look at my medical file and agreed with the VA doctor that Hyperbaric oxygen therapy isn't necessary for me because they don't want to pay for it. Have yet to hear back from the White House hotline. Will be filing complaints to my senators and congressman this weekend about VA denying me this treatment and pressing this issue further to I get it.

    

    Last reply by broncovet, October 14, 2020

    • clinical appeal

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12. 

    Travel / Lodging determined by travel department rather the specialty doctors. 1 2 3

    August 2, 2020 by MKAH

    • 2 followers
    • 8 replies
    • 272 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, 2020

    • travel / lodging
13. 

    Vista medical records

    July 21, 2020 by Diz32548

    • 3 replies
    • 184 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, 2020

    • vista
    • records
    • (and 1 more)

      Tagged with:

      • vista
      • records
      • cd

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14. 

    VA Schedule Appointments that your Dr Cancels? 1 2

    June 29, 2020 by Buck52

    • 4 replies
    • 191 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, 2020
15. 

    Got this resposne after posting to va.gov

    May 18, 2020 by slangpdx

    • 3 replies
    • 386 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, 2020
16. 

    Appointment canceled without notice?

    December 5, 2018 by Buck52

    • 3 replies
    • 425 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, 2020