Posted on May 13, 2020
Can I request a new or different doctor at the VA Hospital?
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This past February I became deathly sick, (not COVID) long story short, I was sent home with a PICC line and was on an 8 week antibiotic regiment along with home healthcare visits from a nurse.
During all of this, there was constant discussion of possible damage to my heart valve.
I'm not sick like I was, but I really haven't recovered and find myself winded.
I've since had several telehealth appointments with a new doctor who has taken over.
I'm pretty sure she is a med student. That not withstanding, I'm having issues with her.
1) She contradicts herself constantly. She'll say something, then a moment later change her mind and decide something different.
2) English is a struggle for her. I have a tough time understanding her. I'm also pretty sure this is the reason she contradicts herself.
3) Follow up communication is bad at best. She ordered tests for me, I show up to do these tests and she cancelled them without letting me know. I drove 82 miles round trip to find this out.
I don't know if or how I can address this. I don't want to sound insensitive, but there is a serious language barrier. I can't understand her, and I don't think she's understanding me.
I often leave the conversation with her with more questions than answers.
During all of this, there was constant discussion of possible damage to my heart valve.
I'm not sick like I was, but I really haven't recovered and find myself winded.
I've since had several telehealth appointments with a new doctor who has taken over.
I'm pretty sure she is a med student. That not withstanding, I'm having issues with her.
1) She contradicts herself constantly. She'll say something, then a moment later change her mind and decide something different.
2) English is a struggle for her. I have a tough time understanding her. I'm also pretty sure this is the reason she contradicts herself.
3) Follow up communication is bad at best. She ordered tests for me, I show up to do these tests and she cancelled them without letting me know. I drove 82 miles round trip to find this out.
I don't know if or how I can address this. I don't want to sound insensitive, but there is a serious language barrier. I can't understand her, and I don't think she's understanding me.
I often leave the conversation with her with more questions than answers.
Posted in these groups: 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
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VA patient advocate at the VA hospital is the way to go. You might ask to be referred to a nurse practitioner. NPs often are better at making and following care plans than MDs. Sounds like what you need.
Do mention the language issue. Teleconferencing deprives is of many of the visual and sound clues that make language understandable. Hearing deficits make it worse. Degrades communication both ways.
Do mention the language issue. Teleconferencing deprives is of many of the visual and sound clues that make language understandable. Hearing deficits make it worse. Degrades communication both ways.
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Yes you can request a new Doctor if you feel unsafe or that you aren’t being taken care of. Speak to patient advocacy. I’m assuming you were joking about your Doctors status as a med student but a quick google or talk to Advocacy could clear that up too.
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CPT (Join to see)
They're not really med students, they are interns and residents. They are graduates of medical school and licensed doctors, just really new to actually managing care and still learning how to operate in the real world. The attendings ensure they are managing care appropriately and teach them throughout their years as interns and residents. Your medical care is being overseen by an attending, even if you rarely (or never) see them. Most of the big VA hospitals are teaching facilities like the big University hospitals.
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SGT Chris Padgett
CPT (Join to see) - Well, you know what they call the med student who graduates with a 2.0?
Doctor.
Doctor.
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SSgt Christophe Murphy
SGT Chris Padgett
I would believe that they are residents or interns but having spent a lot of time working at Hospitals I find it hard to end live that a med student has full run on patients. If that is the case it needs to be reported. But I’m guessing they are just residents
I would believe that they are residents or interns but having spent a lot of time working at Hospitals I find it hard to end live that a med student has full run on patients. If that is the case it needs to be reported. But I’m guessing they are just residents
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SGM Steve Wettstein
SGT Chris Padgett - She's probably going through residency. Doctors going through residence get farmed out all over the place. The last three Army Hospitals had civilians going through residency.
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Talk to the patient advocate at your VA facility. They do a lot of good work and, in my experience, genuinely have the veteran's best interested at heart and will fight for a beneficial outcome for their patients. They may also work with the physician to ensure others don't end up with the same issues you are having. https://www.va.gov/health/patientadvocate/
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