VA Surgeon says nothing to offer

DennisR

Mike49 said:

Let me be clearer
The VA surgical department has lost my confidence, the rest of the operation has been quite good, yes sometimes I have to wait> I continue to see the VA Oncologist and the infusion chemo section because they havetreated mr great. My oncologist give ne his personal cell number and he is a compassonate and active advocate for me.

The surgery department is just behind the times in terms of hou they practicee. I have nt given up on VA but I know I can't just let the system fall apart. Since my first post the surgeon has called me and tried to work things out. I am a fighter and not only of cancer but for veterans, one of the labels I am most proud of.

Thanks for all the kind posts

Hi Mike,
I didn't intend to
Hi Mike,

I didn't intend to seem to doubt that what you (and others)had posted regarding their personal experiences with the VA Health Care System.
I was extremely fortunate that when I went to the VA and learned that I needed emergency surgery that the new Head Surgeon had only recently came to the VA after having been a Surgeon for many years at a large and famous Hospital in Minneapolis, Mn.
This man is an absolute gem of a Surgeon, a very caring, and compassionate person, as well as being extremely experienced in nearly all phases of his profession. It was most definitely our benefit and Minneapolis' loss when he came to our little VA Hospital.
Same is true of my new PCP who had a private practice in Helena, Mt for 25 years before recently joining the VA. Prior to that I had a PCP who ignored the lab report that indicated I had internal bleeding that showed up in the smear test I had submitted two months prior to my latest Dx of Colon Cancer. Lucky for me that I insisted on an Xray to verify her Dx of diverticulosis because the Xray showed a stage 2 tumor that had encircled my intestine and was choking things off causing extreme pain. That PCP is no longer with the VA, though not through any effort on my part.
All That being said, the local VA also just discovered one of the PCPs was mis-Dxing patients and billing for services he never performed, so as I say there are always bad apples in any bushel, and the sooner they're exposed the better. Keep up the good work you're doing for the DAV, Mike.
DennisR

Unknown

DennisR said:

Hi Mike,
I didn't intend to
Hi Mike,

I didn't intend to seem to doubt that what you (and others)had posted regarding their personal experiences with the VA Health Care System.
I was extremely fortunate that when I went to the VA and learned that I needed emergency surgery that the new Head Surgeon had only recently came to the VA after having been a Surgeon for many years at a large and famous Hospital in Minneapolis, Mn.
This man is an absolute gem of a Surgeon, a very caring, and compassionate person, as well as being extremely experienced in nearly all phases of his profession. It was most definitely our benefit and Minneapolis' loss when he came to our little VA Hospital.
Same is true of my new PCP who had a private practice in Helena, Mt for 25 years before recently joining the VA. Prior to that I had a PCP who ignored the lab report that indicated I had internal bleeding that showed up in the smear test I had submitted two months prior to my latest Dx of Colon Cancer. Lucky for me that I insisted on an Xray to verify her Dx of diverticulosis because the Xray showed a stage 2 tumor that had encircled my intestine and was choking things off causing extreme pain. That PCP is no longer with the VA, though not through any effort on my part.
All That being said, the local VA also just discovered one of the PCPs was mis-Dxing patients and billing for services he never performed, so as I say there are always bad apples in any bushel, and the sooner they're exposed the better. Keep up the good work you're doing for the DAV, Mike.
DennisR

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DennisR

unknown said:

This comment has been removed by the Moderator

Hi Babs,
I've had a PCP with
Hi Babs,
I've had a PCP with the the VA for the past 10 years, also a Surgeon, and an Oncologist, all of whom I'm on a first name basis with. I also see a Nurse that's one efficient and knowledgeable operation all by herself. I understand that some of the outlying clinics are located in smaller towns, but your husband should hqve a PCP assigned to him. I'm aware of a number of patients that are picked up by a DAV Van daily and brought to the local VA Hospital to see their PCP and for certain procedures. I'd ask a few more questions about the care you're getting, I'm sure your Nurse has to be reporting to a Doctor that your husband is assigned to as a patient.
Montana is building a number of new clincs in the more remote areas to improve their service to the Veterans in the State, and our VA Hospital in Helena is being remodeled into an ultra-modern facility capable of performing all except the most exotic procedures. It isn't perfect but, I had so much better care than my Sister in Law who had a California State Employee private insurance plan, that it was almost ridiculous. She had to find her own Specialists, arranged for her own travel, and even her own accomodations which ran her treatment costs sky high. Mine were all arranged and paid for by the VA, except for my co-pay which I'm paying off on a monthly installment plan, with no interest. Now even the Co-pay has been eliminated and I'm 100% covered for anything at the VA.
I hate to see that not everyone in the VA system is recieving the kind of care I'm recieving, but there's apparently a great need for improvement in the overall VA system.
DennisR