Va Exam/dr Id

[deanbrt]

I had a recent neurology exam at my VAMC. I was not happy with the diagnosis and they are going to do a second exam. But my concern is this. the Dr. that examined me (a male) gave no indication he was anything other than a VA doctor. When I got the notes from the exam it was signed by a female neurologist, who is VA staff, and never saw ,me that day, like she had performed the exam. It turns out the person that saw me is a resident at the local university hospital.

I have had a resident do an initial exam before but the VA doctor always did the finish in person and the resident represented himself as such. I have complained to the case worker at the VAMC and the Patient Advocate there. Am I off base in thinking it is a serious breach of ethics, if not law?

[ks1k]

NO

[Hoppy]

Dean,

It happens in other clinics. I am familiar with cases where the testing and workup is done by an intern (MA degree) and the final report is signed by a specialist (PHD) who never saw the veteran.

[deanbrt]

ok. I had never seen it done that way before. I always saw the VA doctor.

[Pete53]

You woud be surprised how many Docs at VA are Interns

[Computer Tech]

At Sepulveda when I have an appointment I'm usually seen first by a medical student doing their clinicals, they check me out first then they go talk with the doctor who comes and does his own check.

Rick

[cooter]

It would be a total different story now if it was a C&P exam. So in this case, if your really uncomfortable with it, try and request to be seen by a real Dr. I'm going thru this right now at my private Dr office. I have these 3-4 year students check me out first before the doc comes in and changes everything the student said..lol I really get a kick out of it. They act so serious and business like and I would tell them they have to learn how to sit their butts down in a chair and stare at a laptop if they wanted to be a good doctor...Their not sure what to do, laugh or thinking I'm serious..lol

Coot