Vamc Clinic Visit

[Bound4heaven]

Greetings to all,

Two weeks ago I have a visit with a neuroligist about migraines. He also examined my feet because of no sensation in my toes. I requested the clinic notes and noticed he said wrote down several things that did not take place and if the RO seen them it might question the severity of one of my disabilities which I am rated at 100% loss of use.

I sent a letter directly to the doctor with a copy of the clinic report (the examiner in question is a resident and not a Dr) I highlighted the areas of issue and ask that they be removed, because it did not take place and I enclosed a self-addressed envelope for him to send me a copy of the corrected report.

I do not know if he will or will not do it, if he will not do it I will send a copy of the sent letter and clinic report and file a complaint with the patient's advocate office.

I have made a decision that I will never see again a specialist at the VA ( I have medicare). I see my primiary VA Dr once a year at a nearby clinic.

What do you guys think of writing the letter to the resident? was that you feel a good move?

God bless you all.

Bound4Heaven

[Pete53]

Residents are MD's practicing on us Larry. They only stay 6 months and most of them have a lot of other stuff on their mind like making lots of money after they get through with us.

[LarryJ]

What you say is true........just as it is true in any "teaching hospital" of which there are a lot of those and the VAMC's are not alone. My wife works at one of the most expensive "private" hospitals in Dallas. Yup, you're right, they are affiliated with Baylor School of Medicine and Baylor Hospital.

I was merely attempting to point out the incorrect belief that "residents" were not "doctors". Residents are, most certainly, Doctors. Graduated from med school, licensed M.D.'s. Licensed to do "doctor stuff". The reason they are "residents" is the fact that they are doing their "residency" in their chosen area of speciality. BTW, the reason they are called "residents" is the fact that, in years gone by, they "resided" in the "resident quarters" attached or in close proximity to, the hospital.

As I said, some need to get a grip. Writing all these complaints, complaining that "residents were treating them instead of real doctors"........well, it kinda draws into question, in the person's mind that is receiving this complaint, as to whether the complainant knows what they are talking about.

Doesn't it?

BTW, y'all do understand that the VAMCs, like ANY hospital, are NOT going to use someone that is not, actually, licensed to perform the medical care that they are dispensing to the patients.

Why?

LIABILITY. REGULATING BOARDS. JCAHO. etc.

[Jay Johnson]

What you say is true........just as it is true in any "teaching hospital" of which there are a lot of those and the VAMC's are not alone. My wife works at one of the most expensive "private" hospitals in Dallas. Yup, you're right, they are affiliated with Baylor School of Medicine and Baylor Hospital.

I was merely attempting to point out the incorrect belief that "residents" were not "doctors". Residents are, most certainly, Doctors. Graduated from med school, licensed M.D.'s. Licensed to do "doctor stuff". The reason they are "residents" is the fact that they are doing their "residency" in their chosen area of speciality. BTW, the reason they are called "residents" is the fact that, in years gone by, they "resided" in the "resident quarters" attached or in close proximity to, the hospital.

As I said, some need to get a grip. Writing all these complaints, complaining that "residents were treating them instead of real doctors"........well, it kinda draws into question, in the person's mind that is receiving this complaint, as to whether the complainant knows what they are talking about.

Doesn't it?

BTW, y'all do understand that the VAMCs, like ANY hospital, are NOT going to use someone that is not, actually, licensed to perform the medical care that they are dispensing to the patients.

Why?

LIABILITY. REGULATING BOARDS. JCAHO. etc.

They most certainly do have docs handling patients who have not yet past their medical boards....the federal gov is exempt from most liability and those pseudo-doctors don't even need malpractice insurance.

Also, while you may point out that a resident is a licensed MD, you failed to acknowledge that a resident is often **learning** a specialized field and, in the civilian world, works under a specialist for that particular field. In the military/VA, however, a resident can work in/head a specialized field which they are, at the time, unqualified to do.

There's a BIG difference between a resident doing general care for a vet and a resident doing a C&P for a specialized affliction like neurological disorders due to brain trauma or heart problems....this is why full general practice MDs with DECADES of experience send their patients to cardiologists/neurologists in the civilian world.

[LarryJ]

O heck, Jay, let's just fergit it. I just wanted to save one of our own from looking stupid.

Besides, you KNOW that I can PEE further than you..............

[Bound4heaven]

Dear Larry,

When I was almost died 2 years ago at the hands of a resident. According to federal law there is a grave difference between residents and on staff physicians.

1) When ever I have been at a clinic vist when I saw a resident it always had to be co-signed by another doctor. Why?

2) When I see a specialist in the clinic notes there is no co-sign? why?

Because a resident does not have the education nor expirence nor can he legally do anything without the a co-sign or the approval of a on staff physician.

I suggest that you look into the issue a little furthur before you made inappropriate comments. Thank you and God bless you all.

Bound4Heaven

[Pete53]

No need to get personal. Larry is correct that residents are Doctors. He was not correct that the VA uses properly licensed professionals as it seems that the VA can and does use people who are not certified. My nerve conduction tests was given by a College Student who was majoring in Chemistry when it is supposed to be done by an MD preferably 2 of them. Have to admit it was a good test though.

At the Dallas VA Larry the Dentists were doing plastic surgery on Dental Patients who volunteered. The head Dentist thinks that Dental Students (Residents) may need extra stuff to fall back on. The story came out on Channel 8 News a couple of years ago.

Its also pretty well known that some of the Doctors who have messed up have migrated to the VA.

I guess that the point being made here is noone really wants to be the one that a nervous brand new MD who has never cut on live people before learns his or her techniques. It also came out that the Doc's who were supposed to supervise these brand new MD's rarely showed up to work. I am sure that this happens at Baylor also but I am pretty sure that if I am a paying patient of Dr X that Dr X will probably be the one who cuts me. At the VA you really have no clue.