Nurse Practioner Are Seeing Patients Instead Of Doctors

[tmoe]

The previous post was closed.was told to start over,anyway I ask the question about NP as being my primary doctor. Is this going on at all

VA medical center or just in Augusta Ga.Carlie says its been going on but in my seven years as seeing VA doctors this is my first with a

NP.She is doing good so far even givin some pain meds. I think it maybe a good ideal stay on her good side,because they are the one

that does C&P exams mostly. I guess you see the doctor when dying only.I know a lot of MH doctors quit at Charlie-Norwood but looks

like regular doctor also

[tmoe]

VADDS, It is about dollars, not the vet's health or safety.like why pay a doctor when a NP can do the same thing.

caelie,just saying when you got NP treating patients,NP giving opions,NP doing the exams and no one complaining

it is a problem. I don't trust doctors anymore more less a NP. Glad I got more insurance other than VA. At least I can see a real doctor

and not the want the be's, VADDS,you are right it;s about the money

[Pete53]

Who would you rather see a NP getting a fair wage or one of the VA MD Hacks that can't find a job on the outside?

[Chuck75]

The problem is time. There are not enough doctors to treat Veterans, so the system goes to a doctor sub-culture. It seems it is like a pyramid system. The more the VA is cuts back on actual Veterans Care the lower down the pyramid the Vets go.

I do think that NP's are used for C&P exams so that the Veteran can overcome the C&P with an IMO and also used to accomodate the legal system and time involved with the system. If you look at your C&P statements in your SOC and SSOC you would think that these people are just janitors or maybe community service workers sent by the courts to the VA.

The VA uses C&P Examiners to supposedly provide information to the RO. The VA "examiner" may or may not be even marginally qualified to do the "exam". The VA really does not want to see an exam refuted, and some how also trains (formally or informally) examiners to look no further than they must, and minimize what they can. Few of the examiners I've encountered will say anything more than the minimal statement concerning service connection. (As likely as not) Others will say that they cannot decide at all, based upon the fact that they were not required to research the veteran's records. When I went to a C&P last, I was already SC'd for DMII. The C&P had to do supposedly with IHD. I gave the examiner a few page current medical record documenting the LVEF level, and other details. At least, the examiner placed the fact that she had viewed the records in the exam report, and what they documented, along with the fact that I was an A/O "feet on ground" veteran. That was about as favorable (but incomplete) exam as I've heard of.

[tmoe]

Who would you rather see a NP getting a fair wage or one of the VA MD Hacks that can't find a job on the outside?

either way you get screwed. I like to see a doctor and not the want to be. i won't get a foot doctor to do a open heart surgery and i will not let

a NP practice being a doctor on me either. My choice. If you are fine with a NP thats your choice, I'm not happy but I do have a choice were as

some vets just has to live with it and don't have a choice of providers and these are the one 's it hurts most

[Teac]

TMOE,

Some times a veteran has no choice, even if they have other health care or insurance like me they still need to use the VA for some issues.

For example, last year San Antonio prosthetics denied my second clothing allowance because they said they did not have a record of my drop foot brace, fore arm crutches, or manual wheel chair being issued by them. When I provided copies of the medical records that showed the items were issued ( by other VA facilities) they stated that the items must be in the local system, and that since they were not issued by them they would not grant the second clothing allowance. There is no such requirement that a item be issued by the VA, only that the item be issued for a service connected condition.

In another example, veterans who need power chairs, scooters, oxygen services, and a whole host of other items that are supplied by prosthetics free of charge for service connected conditions, must use the VA to get what they need or pay a co-payment and now taxes on such items.

Personally, I hate some things about the VA medical system, I dislike the way they make you feel like a second class citizen, and I really dislike it that I can't get a same day appointment when I need it or for that matter an appointment in between my 6 month check ups....but that is the nature of the beast .. 6 years ago things were not so bad, now when I get the reminder to make an appointment with my PCP, I just toss it until I must go to get meds refilled... I just don't want to go in there for any reason unless I really have to. or unless I am sick. San Antonio VA Medical Personal are very unpleasant to deal with and the process is dehumanizing.

Edited February 15, 2013 by Teac

[71M10]

Remember everyone, next year we are putting about 30. - 32 million more people into the primary care system. You thought wait times and seeing a real doctor is bad now for primary care! Of course, that will just allow the VA to say, hey our wait times arn't that bad.