Nashville Vs Murfreesboro Vamc

[Barbamatt]

I am planning on moving to Tennessee soon for financial reasons...and to be near family. Right now I live in the Atlanta area. By comparison what are the two VAMC in TN like?

I am more familiar with the Nashville area locally...but know that the VAMC in Murfreesboro is larger. I've never been to Murfreesboro before. But would it be worth it if the VAMC is nicer?

When I used to live in Nashville it was before I joined the military so I wouldn't have had any reason to go to the VAMC then.

What is a better area to live considering cost of living? Things to do? Less out in the sticks?

More importantly which VAMC has more availability for appointments, better reputation, womens health, and mental health care. Which would you choose?

For the first few months I will be closer to Nashville, because I will be near family...but later on I might want to move. What can I expect from the TN VAMC?

[chr49]

Barbamatt..

I don't live in Murfreesboro or Nashville so I can't tell you about living in the area but I chose to use Nashville/Murfreesboro VAMC's over the Johnson City VAMC (which is about equal distance from my home) due to my medical needs. My primary care & MH are done in Murfreesboro but I am sent to Nashville for some of my speciality issues (vascular and orthopedic). I've been to both ot the emergency rooms and received care quickly in both situations. The only time I was hospitalized it was in Nashville and I felt my care was fine, the personnel/doctors were especially good to my wife. As far as primary care goes, the longest wait I've experienced was 1 hour and they have slipped me in early several times, especially if I had multiple appointments. In my experience, appointments with a specialist mean longer waits but I've received excellent care. The two VAMC's are in the same system and they have a shuttle bus if you need it. I've found both facilities friendly and easy to navigate. Hope this helps.

[jbasser]

Nashville is in cahoots with Vanderbilt. A very good school. You do get some residents there. Murfeesboro is OK but I like Nashville. I spend a lot of time in Franklin. Now as for Tennesee as a whole. Do you really want to spend 9.75 percent sales tax. Tennesee is 7 percent but each town charges their own so it can as high as 9.75 percent.

J

[chr49]

Nashville is in cahoots with Vanderbilt. A very good school. You do get some residents there. Murfeesboro is OK but I like Nashville. I spend a lot of time in Franklin. Now as for Tennesee as a whole. Do you really want to spend 9.75 percent sales tax. Tennesee is 7 percent but each town charges their own so it can as high as 9.75 percent.

J

Boy is that the TRUTH!! It's 9.75% where I live. Not a cheap state to live in. Check the areas out carefully before moving.

[Barbamatt]

I'm in Atlanta, and the VA here is OK but it has a lot of issues and they don't have the best customer service at all. The quality of care is fine, but they have long wait times and nobody ever answers phones. You have to wait about 2-3 months for appointments. Some clinics are downright rude at times.

My family is in Tennessee. I might be losing my house and my aunt offered me somewhere to stay if/when it happens and she is in Tennessee. It is near Nashville. I used to live in Nashville before I joined the military, and it was my home of record for a long time.

I'm not from Georgia nor do I have any real ties to keep me here. I am originally from Michigan, but don't have anyone back there either.

I was told that Nashville VAMC was closing mental health services. I've tried to look it up on the internet, but haven't found anything that supports that. That is why I asked about Murfreesboro. I really don't want to end up in the deep country sticks. I prefer a more urban area with the benefits of city life. I'm not a country girl.

[Guest]

I use both and both of them are good but VA Murfreesboro is broken down to several buildings and hard to get around when you have multiple appointments. VA Nashville is in one building and is better if you have mobility problems.