Medi Ports

[rthomass]

The VAMC Hopital here in Louisville Kentucky is operating on Veterans to insert medi ports primarily for Chemotherapy patients whose veins are so damaged by the tratment that finding veins is near impossible and causes a great deal of pain. These ports were used not only for chemo treatmens but were accessed to allow dyes for Cat scans to be done in the Radiology Department.

Recently the VAMC received a new Phillips CT scan unit that utilizes a computerized high speed infusion method. This new infusion method does not allow the old ports presently used by Chemo Veterans at Louisville to be used with this new injection method. The radiology department did this change with no prior notice to Veterans (or for that matter even the AETC Chemo Therapy Department)with the Old Medi Ports forcing the nurses to have to go back to hunting for non existing veins to insert IV accesses into; which I can personally attest to is extremely painful. There is a new High speed infusion medi port but that entails removal of the old medi port and insertin of the new high speed infusion port. No problem you think? well my oncologist attending physician ordered his new port to be placed in my upper chest. Personnel in the Radilogy department stated there was just too much of a chance of infection andthey refused to do the procedure.

[rthomass]

The VAMC Hopital here in Louisville Kentucky is operating on Veterans to insert medi ports primarily for Chemotherapy patients whose veins are so damaged by the treatment that finding veins is near impossible and causes a great deal of pain. These ports were used not only for chemo treatmens but were accessed to allow dyes for CT scans to be done in the Radiology Department.

Recently the VAMC received a new Phillips CT scan unit that utilizes a computerized high speed infusion method. This new infusion method does not allow the old ports presently used by Chemo Veterans at Louisville to be used with this new injection method. The radiology department did this change with no prior notice to Veterans (or for that matter even the AETC Chemo Therapy Department)with the Old Medi Ports forcing the nurses to have to go back to hunting for non existant veins to insert IV accesses into; which I can personally attest to is extremely painful. There is a new High speed infusion medi port but that entails removal of the old medi port and insertion of the new high speed infusion port. No problem you think? well my oncologist attending physician ordered this new port to be placed in my upper chest. Personnel in the Radilogy department stated there was just too much of a chance of infection and they refused to do the procedure.

Can a Radiolgist Practitioner Assistant who is not a Doctor " Surgeon" insert medi ports ino Veteran Oncology patients? Local civilian regulating agencys in Louisville said absolutely not but of couse this is VA which they do not regulate; what is the regulating authority that allows a Radiologist Practitioner Assiatant to perform this surgical procedure?

[Guest RickB54]

The VAMC Hopital here in Louisville Kentucky is operating on Veterans to insert medi ports primarily for Chemotherapy patients whose veins are so damaged by the tratment that finding veins is near impossible and causes a great deal of pain. These ports were used not only for chemo treatmens but were accessed to allow dyes for Cat scans to be done in the Radiology Department.

Recently the VAMC received a new Phillips CT scan unit that utilizes a computerized high speed infusion method. This new infusion method does not allow the old ports presently used by Chemo Veterans at Louisville to be used with this new injection method. The radiology department did this change with no prior notice to Veterans (or for that matter even the AETC Chemo Therapy Department)with the Old Medi Ports forcing the nurses to have to go back to hunting for non existing veins to insert IV accesses into; which I can personally attest to is extremely painful. There is a new High speed infusion medi port but that entails removal of the old medi port and insertin of the new high speed infusion port. No problem you think? well my oncologist attending physician ordered his new port to be placed in my upper chest. Personnel in the Radilogy department stated there was just too much of a chance of infection andthey refused to do the procedure.

If you are asking what to do..... then I would say....If they don't want to do the procedure then perhaps you need to talk to your doctor and get this resolved.

[rthomass]

The only way I have to resolve this problem in order safe guard my health is to have a private Surgeon remove the old port and place a new high speed port into my chest. They indeed are aware of the problem. Big question is can they use a non-surgeon to do this procedure?

Edited April 8, 2007 by rthomass (see edit history)

[LarryJ]

What IS a Radiologists Practitioners Assistant?

I've never heard of such an animal. Not saying that there isn't one, just saying I've never heard of one.

[rthomass]

Go to acr.org on the internet or call the Radiology Manager at Louisville, KY VA Hospital (502)297-5992. They exist but are rare. The real question is not what are they but why are they doing surgey.

Edited April 8, 2007 by rthomass (see edit history)

[rthomass]

Well this subject is mute now. I took ther bull by the horns and had a high sped medi-port implanted in my upper right chest by my private surgeon. The VA hospitalhere in Louisville, Ky is an excellent medical facility but like every big business or hospital there are rogue individuals making decisions that are not always in the bet interest of their patients (in this case the veterans). The VA Radiology department here definitely in this instance failed me and my fellow veterans....intimidation to save a few bucks only goes so far.