How fast do you get in and out of your VA Hospital?

2015-10-02T16:20:28-04:00

http://www.southtexas.va.gov/locations/directions.asp

Today I went to Audie Murphy because my doc wanted me to get blood drawn and X rays. Both of these are first come first serve.

I get to the hospital where there is VALET parking FREE to everyone. Pull up, give them my keys and walk inside. I go get my blood drawn.

Take a ticket. I'm #26 and they are on #18...in less than 5 minutes, I checked in. Within 8 minutes I'm called to have my blood drawn.

Next I walk down a long corridor to X Ray. I sign in and in about 10 minutes I'm called back to get my Xrays.

I'm done...I walk out..give my valet ticket to the guy and in 6 minutes my car is sitting in front of me.

Every time I go to the VA in San Antonio, It's just this easy.

WHY can't all of the other VA facilities be this easy..

and if you don't want to come to the main hospital...there are three other places in town you can go to do draw blood, but for XRays you have to come here...unless its' for a mammogram.

SN Greg Wright TSgt Hunter Logan SSgt Alex Robinson LTC Stephen F. Capt Christopher Mueller CPT Private RallyPoint Member Sgt Tom Cunnally SrA Christopher Wright Capt Seid Waddell Capt Private RallyPoint Member @

Audie L. Murphy Memorial VA Hospital - South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS)

Public TransportationThe Medical Center is conveniently located on the numbers 91, 602, 604, and 606 bus routes servicing the South Texas Medical Center Transit Center.

Response by SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz made Oct 2 at 2015 4:23 PM

2015-10-02T16:23:12-04:00

I do not understand your question. Can you rephrase it?

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Oct 2 at 2015 4:27 PM

2015-10-02T16:27:52-04:00

I arrive at the VA Med center and go the area of the appointment [1st on] and wipe my VA disability card and check in and and to be called for the appointment. Process is repeated for 2nd and 3rd and sometime 4th appointments. I try to combine as many as I can on one day.
Before I leave I swipe my VA disability card for mileage reimbursement process.
Emergency check in is a little different - done that twice in the past four months. There I check in with a nurse who assesses me and gets my vitals. The Triage system works me into the process based on the needs of other emergency room patients which like any emergency room varies.
Similar process for VA Med Center remote facilities like the one at Fort Detrick I go to for my Primary care and Physical Therapy.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Oct 2 at 2015 4:33 PM

2015-10-02T16:33:17-04:00

It's great to hear of good news at a VAMC. There are good ones out there...

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 2 at 2015 4:36 PM

2015-10-02T16:36:10-04:00

You lucky duck!

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Oct 2 at 2015 5:56 PM

2015-10-02T17:56:27-04:00

Sgt Kelli Mays I do not go to the VA hospital anymore.

Response by MAJ David Wallace made Oct 2 at 2015 5:58 PM

2015-10-02T17:58:30-04:00

When I got back from Iraq in 2006, I started using the VA facility in Richmond, VA. The McGuire VA Hospital is pretty large, but I've gotten nothing but good service there following my deployment. I used the dental services most and had great providers. I had a gold crown provided for a broken tooth. The first one didn't fit right so they recast it. I asked the dentist if I could have the old one, jokingly, and she said 'Sure!" A dental tech pocketed my tooth and tried to take off with it. I called her on it, and she gave it back reluctantly....strange incident.
The community clinics are pretty nice and convenient too. They are really beneficial for our older veterans who have a tough time getting down to McGuire on a regular basis.
It's such a shame that many of our fellow service members are getting poor treatment across the country. The VA scandals are a national disgrace and those managers at the highest levels need to be held accountable.

Response by PO3 Michael James made Oct 2 at 2015 6:14 PM

2015-10-02T18:14:51-04:00

Told a 6 Month WAIT time for an Aorta Arch Aneurysm !! I use respected local doctors and hospitals.. So far so good..

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2015 6:21 PM

2015-10-02T18:21:52-04:00

Sgt Kelli Mays, First off, I'm disappointed I wasn't included in the tags, but I'll live.(-;
At the VA here in Houston, we also have valet parking but ours isn't as quick as yours is. Arriving there, are car after car after car. We have to drive to the end of the cars in line, just to get to the entrance of the valet parking. That usually doesn't take very long. What does take a long time is waiting in line for an attendant to give you a ticket. Sometimes it's 20 minutes. Sometimes it can be up to 40 minutes. It only takes me 20 minutes to get to the VA. if I'm there for labs, it can take 10 minutes up to an hour to get my lab work done. All of my other appointments for dental, vision, x-rays, audiology, etc go pretty quick. The parking and the lab has always been the black eye. The company before this new one had the valet parking down to a tee. This new one sucks big time. I think with enough complaints, not only by the vets, but the staff also, will get better. The staff don't like us coming in late, time after time because of the parking. Otherwise, I'm happy I have a VA to go to.

Response by CPL Carolyn L. Day made Oct 2 at 2015 6:27 PM

2015-10-02T18:27:36-04:00

In & Out, no problem; I have a wonderful doctor. She really knows her job (India) Wichita, KS

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Oct 2 at 2015 9:53 PM

2015-10-02T21:53:51-04:00

The only trouble I have is when valet is full. It is impossible to find parking. So I park at the shopping center across the street and walk. They over book at the eye clinic. And my appointment has taken a long time.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2015 10:26 PM

2015-10-02T22:26:41-04:00

Sgt Kelli Mays I went to the S Dallas VA this past Wed. I arrived an hour early (0700) and was ready to go when the clinic opened. I was done at 0815. For the clinic I went to, it was slow and there wasn't a lot of people. The rest of the hospital was fairly busy and the parking lot was packed.

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Oct 3 at 2015 2:41 AM

2015-10-03T02:41:05-04:00

Usually 2 hours but depends on my visits... but us Old Farts, living on borrowed time really should not bitch... we are lucky to still be around when most of our comrades are gone.. I check the Obit Page in the Boston Herald every day to see if any of my Buds are listed & if my name appeared ...If my name is not listed... I'm good to go for one more day; so old world watch out here I come...

Response by SSgt Ed Lewandowski made Oct 3 at 2015 3:23 AM

2015-10-03T03:23:47-04:00

lmao last time i wet to get blood drawn i waited 3 hours cause they 1st come 1st served . xray in cleveland i waited 2 hours . they refused to to do a cat scan a dr out side the va ordered after i lost my job after prostate surgery . i dont trust the va at all

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Oct 3 at 2015 3:47 AM

2015-10-03T03:47:12-04:00

Like a flash as I drive by. I am not eligible.

Response by Sgt Christopher Collins made Nov 24 at 2015 9:43 PM

2015-11-24T21:43:48-05:00

When it comes to the Atlanta VA.... not too bad... but go to the ER and you are there for hours unless you are dying.