Assigned New Mh Physcian.

[Mcafee]

Hello All Hope All Is Well. I need your Help on this one I have been assigned another Mental Health Specialist.For reason i do not know why and would not be explained to me.To Start a new is very taxing on oneself to explain yourself all over again because they just do not review past history and it is very cumbersome. However my concerns are this are the two of us going to sit there for thirty min .and stare at each other. This is a difficult subject for me to speak about.Your Thoughts?

[william n]

Mcafee, let me share my experience,which is the same that has happened twice to me in 9 months.

1st event--- My original MH Doc,for 6 months,who I shared my personal traumas with, left Bay Pines,Fla.VHAMC with a bunch of others(never informed he had left) after the Head Psyc. changed protocols. 3 Docs and 3 Soc. Workers all left or requsted transfers. They would'nt tell me the reason either, but I talked to a connection I have, and was told this. 2nd event---New MH Doc, 2 visits, and that MH Doc was transferred to a new clinic closer to her home. My new MH Doc (which i strongly requested through my PCP,I have an appt. w/Oct. 5th. Soooo, I share your pain and theres not alot i can do about there protocol. It sure does make it tough for a Vet trying too resolve any mental health issues or establish a MH record to use in support of a claim or even get a diagnosis. If I was paranoid, which I"m not..I would think this is something that is being done on purpose, so the vet cant establish the Dx. or proper relationship. They tell me they are short of MH Psyc. Docs to contiue 1 on 1 therapy, so if your stable they let your Primary follow you and renew meds. Just my experience. Peace, William

Oh Yea, forgot the good news!!!..All my appts.(psyc. and primary) now are at the Dunedin Clinic 2 miles from my house,HAHAHA nooo more BAY PINES !!!

Edited September 26, 2008 by william n

[john999]

My thoughts are that if the VA creates enough discomfort for the veteran he/she will just stop using the VA. This may be their goal. It is their goal as far as the pain clinic in Tampa. However, for the sake only of your claim I would just bite the bullet and explain everything all over again each time they do this to you. Don't let them chase you off by this tactic. I am paranoid and yet most of what the VA does is due to incompetence and cheapness. They are not really smart enough to engineer a plot except in general terms by being so cheap and inconsistent that the vet just stops dealing with them. They would love to just treat OIF/OEF vets and forget the rest of us. I have had many psychiatrists and PCP's in the last ten years. I get my real care from private doctors, but I use the VA system for pills and to document my disabilites. It is not a place to get real help with emotional problems. That is for professionals and not medical students.

[cowgirl]

Mcafee, here hoping the doc reads up on where you were and are today. Who knows, hard to say why new Mh Dr is assigned. You deserve a 'reason why' explanation. Probably nuthin but a thing, Hang in there, new doc could be a good fit.

cg

Years ago saw my first VA Mh dr for few visits and meds. Ok, waited for next visit call from clinic. Didnt happen. Wondered and struggled til a year or so later, called to be told 'X not with the VA' Thats all. I was left ALONE, not told or given new provider after doc 'left'. Truly dumb on my behalf. Alls good now, but sure left hangin for a while.

[carlie]

Mcafee,

Just the past four weeks I started with the situation you are in now, a new

therapist. This past tuesday was our fourth meeting and I just opened up

enough to say to her, "Have you even read our my FU*^#ng records!"

The first three meetings were spent by me asking her,

1) Where were you born

2) Are you married

3) Do you have kids

4) Where did you go to school

5) Why did you go into the Mental Health field

6) Are you a veteran

7) Why have you come to work at the VA

8) How long do you anticipate working at the VA

9) What is your caseload here

10) Who is your supervisor

11) Does it bother you to see so many people crying, FKD-up and depressed

12) Have you even read our my FU*^#ng records !

Hope this helps you feel better - ha, ha

carlie

[SouthernBelle]

Carlie, I'm interested in the answers she gave to some of your questions! Those are some tough questions for people who are used to asking all the questions. I like your gumption!

Mcafee,

Just the past four weeks I started with the situation you are in now, a new

therapist. This past tuesday was our fourth meeting and I just opened up

enough to say to her, "Have you even read our my FU*^#ng records!"

The first three meetings were spent by me asking her,

1) Where were you born

2) Are you married

3) Do you have kids

4) Where did you go to school

5) Why did you go into the Mental Health field

6) Are you a veteran

7) Why have you come to work at the VA

8) How long do you anticipate working at the VA

9) What is your caseload here

10) Who is your supervisor

11) Does it bother you to see so many people crying, FKD-up and depressed

12) Have you even read our my FU*^#ng records !

Hope this helps you feel better - ha, ha

carlie

[Pete53]

Unfortunately for Veterans it is extraordinary to keep the same Doc at most VA's. My Doc who I have not seen yet is busy with special projects at the Dallas VA. I have my7 second shot at seeing her in October. I have had my prescriptions for new medice refilled twice and upped once and still not seen her.

My Primary Doc who I like I have been seeing for 4 years.She is a big exception