Needing a CPAP Machine

[paulstrgn]

I have also heard that the one in Richmond VA is also good.

[GBArmy]

I might be all wet, but there are a few VA hospitals that basically aren't run very well, and because of various reasons, are not staffed with the best medical and tech people. I suppose there are actually some that are run very well and treat veterans with respect and provide good health care. But I think most of the VA hospitals fall somewhere in between, with the quality of care directly related to the management direction from the top (director) and the individual doctors, specialists and tech that you personally come in contact with. If you get good care, treated promptly, good follow up, treated with dignity, etc., you would say it was a "good hospital." Not treated well, then not such a great place. I can say from my personal experience, that the VA health care I receive now is a whole lot better than it was 8 years ago when I first started to use them. I had a GP that I would rate as one of the best doc I have ever had; very professional, she knew her stuff and made things happen. Maybe it was the luck of the draw, but I believe that the quality of care has gotten better. I also know a lot of guys would take exception to what I say, as we all know some horror stories of what happened not all that long ago. Hopefully, for the sake of a lot of veterans, I am right.

[paulstrgn]

GB it is like anyplace, there are good ones and bad ones. This is just the way it is with any large medical facility; no director wants bad staff but sometimes you have to work with the hand you are given. Hopefully the directors with substandard employees is working to either change the way they are or getting rid of them. With the government if the person does the bare minimum it can be very hard to get rid of them. It is a shame for vets deserve the very best treatment possible.

[broncovet]

Paul...It sounds like you got your cpap, or will get it soon. That is great!   Correct, it "shouldn't" be that much of a hassle, but many VA employees treat us "as if" we are welfare cases and that we deserve to wait because we are getting free care. 

I earned my health care at VA.  I could have earned 5 times as much money had I not been in the military, especially if I was willing to go "wherever" and "whenever" they tell me to go, including a war zone.  

The military sometimes uses certain civilians, and they have to pay them about 150k plus per year to go overseas into dangerous areas...or, they pay troops maybe 30k per year to do the same thing.  That extra 120k per year would buy a lot of health insurance better than Va care!!!! 

[vetquest]

5 hours ago, broncovet said:

Correct, it "shouldn't" be that much of a hassle, but many VA employees treat us "as if" we are welfare cases and that we deserve to wait because we are getting free care. 

We are welfare cases aren't we?  Oh, I forgot welfare is for people that have not worked or are healthy.  We are unhealthy because we paid for our care with our health and several years of our lives.

[Buck52]

This is BS Paul

I remember when the VA gave me my C-PAP Machine  there were about 7or 8 of us at the sleep clinic  and we went into this room where they had stacks and stacks of Brand New C-Pap Machines (maybe 150/200 or so.

I got my C-pap Machine replaced because it just stopped working  I called  the and the idiot I talk to said did you check the electrical plug??  Idiot of course I did..anyway he said bring the old one back and he get me a new one  so that's what I did  No waiting 11 months  that is totally ridiculous and danger to your well being.  

We Veterans must remember who were dealing with at the VA They do seem to hire nothing but Idiots.