OT: VA Healthcare

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OT: VA Healthcare

Post by USMCVet » Thu Dec 07, 2017 7:47 pm

A couple weeks ago I went in because I'm completely exhausted and was waiting on sleep study results still. Doctor told me I had a left bundle branch block and was pre diabetic. I was upset because no one told me sooner. Also was told to take xanax to sleep even though I was suspected to have sleep apnea. Also because my heart rate was high at that appointment and because of left bundle branch block she decided to put me on a beta blocker. I had a reaction and stopped taking it. She gave me print out of EKG that showed heart issue and told me to bring it to my next cardiology appointment.

Today I had my cardiology appointment. I didn't look at EKG closely and I should have. The doctor that said I had heart issues and changed my meds and everything did so based on someone else's EKG! Not only that but she gave me a copy of another persons EKG which obviously violates HIPPA.

I guess all those articles about VA doctors making lots of mistakes isn't exaggerating.

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Re: OT: VA Healthcare

Post by Okie bipap » Thu Dec 07, 2017 8:15 pm

In 1987, I tore some cartilage in my right knee, and not knowing where else to go, I went to the VA to get it checked. They gave me the option to either get an orthogram in 1 week, or wait six weeks and have an MrI done on the knee. I opted for the orthogram. When I went in to get the results of the test, the doctor that had ordered the test was no longer there. The new doctor I saw said it looked like I had a small tear in the cartilage, but he wanted to see an MRI instead of the orthogram. I finally had the MRI six weeks later. I got the results of the MRI two weeks after I had it performed. I was then scheduled for knee surgery. I went in and had all of the normal preop procedures done two day before the scheduled surgery. I showed up the morning of the surgery, got checked in and put in a room. I was scheduled for 9:00. At 8:45, I was told I couldn't go to surgery at the time I was scheduled because I had not had an EKG done. I told them I had it done two days earlier. They put some one else in my slot, and sent me to get a new EKG done. I finally got into surgery at 1:00, and was back in the room at 2:30. My wife and I waited around the room until 8:30 that night waiting for the nurse to say I could leave. I finally asked when I would be discharged, and was told they were waiting for me to say I was ready to leave. They handed me a pair of crutches, and sent me out the door. The only thing I have done at VA since then was get hearing aids for several years until my company medical insurance started paying for hearing aids. Now, I buy my own hearing aids, and have not been to the VA since. It is much easier to use Medicare and Tricare for life.

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Re: OT: VA Healthcare

Post by USMCVet » Wed Dec 27, 2017 7:43 pm

So I have paronychia on one of my fingers. Called after hours number and was told to call and get same day appointment in morning. I did that and was told to come in to have it drained. I show up and guess who they have me see?
Yup the person who treated with someone else medical records! So during this visit she tried to give me antibiotics and send me on my way because she wasn't allowed to drain it. Yes a doctor with 20 + years experience. Honestly I wouldn't of let her touch me if she could. She in front of me asked a nurse what to do. The nurse said she was the doctor and needed to make a decision. So after 30 minutes most of which was silence because she had no clue what to do (she even was pacing hall to find someone to help her) I heard a nurse I spoke with on the phone. I have dealt with him before and he is great. I called him in room because I heard him talking about me. I caught him up to speed and he was upset that I was seeing that Dr. And told her what to do which was to authorize me to go to the emergency room.
So I go to the emergency room as instructed. They tried to do a block on finger to numb it. I don't like needles so I don't look when getting stabbed. I told the guy it felt like he went all the way through my hand. He said he didn't. Well I now see that he did. Since he didn't do the block right the part that needed to be numb wasn't so needless to say it was pretty painful when they drained it and stuffed it .
So I think I have learned that there are so many mistakes made in medicine and that I am just unlucky lol.

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Re: OT: VA Healthcare

Post by chunkyfrog » Wed Dec 27, 2017 11:18 pm

It sounds like this "doctor" is a disaster just waiting to happen.
Perhaps someone needs to blow a whistle before she causes real harm.
She could easily lose her malpractice insurance--when she does the inevitable.

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Re: OT: VA Healthcare

Post by USMCVet » Wed Dec 27, 2017 11:42 pm

VA covers malpractice and Dr's don't have to pay for the insurance.
Going to report her again.... I was also told she is going to a different state in a few weeks...... I'm also going to review her online if I can to warn people.

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Re: OT: VA Healthcare

Post by Woody » Thu Dec 28, 2017 5:06 am

Two months ago I had to go to the funeral of a close friend because the VA failed
to diagnose his prostrate cancer till it had spread to this bones.

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Re: OT: VA Healthcare

Post by Okie bipap » Thu Dec 28, 2017 9:37 am

Stories like this is why I chose to stay away from the VA. When I had my knee surgery several years ago, the surgery was done by a doctor from Loma Linda medical school which was about four blocks from the VA hospital. If you can qualify for Tricare, check on the price of a Tricare supplement insurance. I used that for several years until I qualified for Medicare.

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Re: OT: VA Healthcare

Post by USMCVet » Thu Dec 28, 2017 9:59 am

I haven't checked but pretty sure I don't qualify for Tricare.
Tuesday I called VA at 330pm when I got back from hospital to schedule follow up as part of my discharge. Was told I would get a call back. Fast forward to today and still didn't get a call back so I called back again to be told they will call me back.
I don't expect a call back and I should have a follow up tomorrow.

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Re: OT: VA Healthcare

Post by USMCVet » Thu Dec 28, 2017 10:08 am

They actually just called back finally which is surprising. They can't see me for about a week when discharge instructions said I should be seen by tomorrow. Honestly I told them not to bother then. If it gets worse I'll worry about it then.

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Re: OT: VA Healthcare

Post by Goofproof » Thu Dec 28, 2017 11:05 am

I use them lightly, as a backup plan, for when and if, my first provider is taken away from me, and to treat service connected problems.

I wouldn't want to live in any medical system, all have forms of bad, a better idea is to use them all, if you have to, but don't live there. You won't find me pitching my tent in the parking lot. Jim
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Re: OT: VA Healthcare

Post by Josiah » Thu Dec 28, 2017 11:07 am

Having received all of my healthcare through the VA for the last 45 years, I admit to being shocked by the mistakes you describe. Admittedly I pay more attention to my healthcare than the average veteran, but on the whole I've been pleased with the quality of care I've received in quite a number of VA facilities. Mistakes have been made, and I have often had to initiate steps that healthcare providers should have brought to my attention. Given the relatively early adoption of an all electronic record system by the VA not much stuff falls through the cracks, still inputted mistakes happen.

Your story is very disturbing and I hope you are successful in bringing attention to this clear case of malpractice.
Josiah

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Re: OT: VA Healthcare

Post by chunkyfrog » Fri Dec 29, 2017 2:58 pm

Goofproof wrote: . . . pitching my tent in the parking lot. Jim
When my mother-in-law was in the hospital, my brother-in-law parked his
CAMPER in the hospital parking lot--just to have a warm place to SMOKE.
He passed about a year after his mother.

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Re: OT: VA Healthcare

Post by Janknitz » Fri Dec 29, 2017 4:35 pm

I have a congenital heart condition, and one of the things that has been found is a Right Bundle Branch Block. I've been told it's of no consequence as it doesn't cause me any problems at all. I'm followed pretty closely with regular cardiac consultations, but only every 5 years since I'm essentially stable.

It would be difficult to sort out the cause of your exhaustion and high heart rate until your apnea is treated. If these symptoms persist once you have effective treatment, then it would be worth it to get a cardiology consultation outside of the VA if you don't have a choice of physicians in the VA system and are stuck with this bozo.

The single most important thing you can do to protect your heart health after CPAP is to get your blood sugars down. Pre-diabetes really IS diabetes and it means you are already suffering organ damage. Two really good resources: http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/index.php and https://www.dietdoctor.com/diabetes#normal

Never let a doctor tell you they are "watching" your pre-diabetes. You can reverse it NOW, later too much damage is irreversible.
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Re: OT: VA Healthcare

Post by USMCVet » Fri Dec 29, 2017 6:51 pm

Janknitz wrote:I have a congenital heart condition, and one of the things that has been found is a Right Bundle Branch Block. I've been told it's of no consequence as it doesn't cause me any problems at all. I'm followed pretty closely with regular cardiac consultations, but only every 5 years since I'm essentially stable.

It would be difficult to sort out the cause of your exhaustion and high heart rate until your apnea is treated. If these symptoms persist once you have effective treatment, then it would be worth it to get a cardiology consultation outside of the VA if you don't have a choice of physicians in the VA system and are stuck with this bozo.

The single most important thing you can do to protect your heart health after CPAP is to get your blood sugars down. Pre-diabetes really IS diabetes and it means you are already suffering organ damage. Two really good resources: http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/index.php and https://www.dietdoctor.com/diabetes#normal

Never let a doctor tell you they are "watching" your pre-diabetes. You can reverse it NOW, later too much damage is irreversible.
Left bundle branch block is the more serious one. I don't have it though, they gave me someone else's results. I'm starting to feel better on cpap therapy which is great as well. Honestly I'm probably just going to be their biggest nightmare. I'm at the point or becoming very informed with VA policy and forcing them to do everything by the book.

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Re: OT: VA Healthcare

Post by USMCVet » Thu Jan 18, 2018 9:14 pm

Why not add to this topic. Last week did overnight oximetry test for VA. Tuesday I went in an got the results from records release and not from Dr. Spent 93 minutes under 88% and about 5 hours under 90%.
VA notoriously is slow for me so I took results to patient advocate saying I wanted help getting oxygen ASAP. She took results over to my health team that day. So apparently the Dr that has been seemingly trying to kill me decided in her infinate wisdom that I needed an overnight oximetry test. Yes that's right after getting my results from that test she put in request for the same test??????? I asked the nurse manager about this who was as perplexed as me. But hey the VA claims to give excellent care!

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