Posted on Mar 20, 2016
4 Things I Learned During My First Appointment At The VA
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Thanks for sharing the 4 "Things I Learned During My First Appointment At The VA" SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
1. Not all VA clinics are created equal. [I would go further to state that not all VA medical Centers treat veterans the same.]
2. An extra copy of medical records would have been useful. [That wouldn't have helped me since my packet was several inches thickk and all necessary information had already been entered by the VFW POC who helped me file my claim.
3. Not everyone has a co-pay. [Those of us who have sufficient service-connected disability and no other health insurance are fully covered with no copay. TRICARE insured people may have a copay.
4. Veterans contribute to the delay in appointments. [No-shows cause problems because they bump others. However, the degree of illness or injury which each of us has is generally not out fault so I would not blame us for delaying appointments. I have been delayed a couple time because somebody else needed emergency surgery.]
1. Not all VA clinics are created equal. [I would go further to state that not all VA medical Centers treat veterans the same.]
2. An extra copy of medical records would have been useful. [That wouldn't have helped me since my packet was several inches thickk and all necessary information had already been entered by the VFW POC who helped me file my claim.
3. Not everyone has a co-pay. [Those of us who have sufficient service-connected disability and no other health insurance are fully covered with no copay. TRICARE insured people may have a copay.
4. Veterans contribute to the delay in appointments. [No-shows cause problems because they bump others. However, the degree of illness or injury which each of us has is generally not out fault so I would not blame us for delaying appointments. I have been delayed a couple time because somebody else needed emergency surgery.]
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
LTC Stephen F. thanks for your in-depth analysis of the 4 "Things I Learned During My First Appointment At The VA". Well said and profoundly stated!
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I am going to assume there are many cancelations and no shows. I might be in some funny stuff as the VA makes appointments for me sometimes then cancels them without my knowledge of either event.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
MAJ Ken Landgren it happens all the time, due to this or that with the VA.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL - Some asshole wants to take my wife out of the VA system as my spouse. All the way back to 2013. I don't have a warm and fuzzy on this.
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I will add to the no show cancellations this fact:
Ask when you are checking in to appointments for a print out of upcoming appointments. I have noticed quite a few times that appointments were scheduled that I was unaware of. You can go to those clinics and get an appointment that you can fit into your schedule or plan into your schedule.
We as veterans must be proactive with our Healthcare and stay vigilant. Trust me, I've gone to every clinic in my facility enough times that they know me by name when it comes to rescheduling appointments. And going in with a positive disposition always helps.
Good luck!
Ask when you are checking in to appointments for a print out of upcoming appointments. I have noticed quite a few times that appointments were scheduled that I was unaware of. You can go to those clinics and get an appointment that you can fit into your schedule or plan into your schedule.
We as veterans must be proactive with our Healthcare and stay vigilant. Trust me, I've gone to every clinic in my facility enough times that they know me by name when it comes to rescheduling appointments. And going in with a positive disposition always helps.
Good luck!
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