Complaining About Va Medical Care?

[Vync]

I would like to know the best and most effective way to complain about poor medical care at a VAMC.

I was recently injured by an x-ray tech at the VAMC. During the same visit, I was also given large amounts of IV and oral steroids, which resulted in me missing almost two weeks of work due to an adverse reaction (i.e. severe side effects).

Should I deliver my complaint through:

- Patient representative at the VAMC

- The IRIS web site

I have everything ready to go, just need some opinions on the best route to take.

Thanks!

[Cruinthe]

I had an issue with a VA nurse that led to me filing a complaint with the state nursing board.

I never expected the board to reply, let alone investigate, but 3 months later I got a call from them with a request for clarification.

The lady from the board said if things are as I state they are, a reprimand will be placed against the VA nurse. The board also faxed me a release form so they could access my VA medical records to verify the situation. She also said the VA is very slow to reply to inquiries from the state nursing board. So that leads me to think they do get alot of complaints about the VA.

Long story short, they may WORK for the VA, but they are STILL under the rules of the AMA and nursing board. So file those complaints any time you feel you have a problem.

Granted, I live in Virginia now, and I cant say your state nursing board will respond. But all in all, II think its worth the effort to at least try.

[Pete53]

Nice to know. On the other hand I think if we complain we should also commend the VA who do a good job

[john999]

There is a process within the VA that starts with the patient advocate. It does not end with the advocate. You can appeal any medical decision regarding your care to the head of the medical department. It is a formal complaint process. The job of the advocate is to short wire that process.

[carlie]

Vync,

Have you inquired about the VA RXing and providing a Nebulizer for

home use and Albuterol.

Rescue Inhalers are just that - Neb. treatments are longer lasting.

I would not be without mine.

carlie

[mrsvet28]

I would file my complaint with the Director of the VAMC.

jmho,

carlie

I WOULD TRY THE SENATORSOFFICE IF NO REPLY FROM VAMC JUST MY OPINION B)

[Vync]

Carlie,

Ironically, after the first ER visit, I went in the next day and my VA PCP actually wrote me a script for a nebulizer and a bunch of albuterol. I had the unit with me, still in box, as I was leaving, which was when I went for my second ER visit. The week after I went to the ER, I visited my allergy/asthma doc and only could push 300 on the peak flow meter. At almost 6 feet tall, I should be pushing about 650+. I use the nebulizer frequently and when I got my allergy shot last week, I could push 450-475 on the peak flow meter. The nebulizer has made a big difference.

Berta,

I'll follow up with the incident report. They clearly failed to do their job by not logging a VA-inflicted head injury into my records. Also, I visited a psych doc there the same day I saw the oral surgeon, because the medicine made me feel so awful. The woman acted like she did not want to talk to me at all, but eventually conceded, which ended up being a waste of time. I tried to get a copy from the release of information office, but after almost two weeks, I still have not received a copy. I will call down there later today to find out why. I know they have the discretion of releasing MH records, but what should I do if they fail to authorize a release of the records?