VA rant

[zinfamous]

yeah, i thought that too, but i wasn't sure, so i said "certain meds". didn't know if antibiotics were ok or not.

even if your pal prescribes you something, aren't you legally required by the oig to have some form of documentation in the form of medical records (i.e. soap note)? i mean, yeah, who's gonna check, but... i dunno...

it's in place not just because you could abuse pain killers, but because self-diagnosis is problematic. Especially for physicians, one generally should seek outside opinion of what is going on with them.

 

[sjwaste]

It's the bullshit posted here that justifies how I've "wasted" my intelligence on a career as a management consultant and (later) attorney. Could also be I'm not really that smart, though.

From the way the AMA/AAMC accredit schools and create a shortage of physicians, to the way we Americans pay for basically all of the drug R&D for the rest of the world's benefit (through our fucked up insurance/billing system), to the way physicians have to churn through patients just to keep the system running. Wow.

I'm not saying my profession isn't screwed up, but when dealing with life and death we can do a whole lot better. It's so bad I can't even pinpoint one entry way into fixing the system, or I'd sure as hell try and involve myself.

(No I don't do med-mal, but that's a drop in the bucket compared to total American medical costs)

 

[boomerang]

My oldest stepson came close to losing his leg at the hip due to incompetence at the VA. I've told the story before here but basically because they wouldn't do an x-ray to diagnose the multiple fracture in his femur, he developed a massive infection.

 

[shortylickens]

Also, I dont think it matters much but I believe the Fargo/Moorehead VA is considered to be much better than most others.
One of my uncles said the Richmond hospital is better than the DC one.
So apparently location matters.
Shame the nations capital gets a mediocre treatment though.

 

[Sust]

Also, I dont think it matters much but I believe the Fargo/Moorehead VA is considered to be much better than most others.
One of my uncles said the Richmond hospital is better than the DC one.
So apparently location matters.
Shame the nations capital gets a mediocre treatment though.

You'll find that the VA's which have some sort of academic attachment tend to be less dangerous than the others, but they still can have their own pitfalls. However, just because academic hospitals send their interns, residents, and attendings there doesnt mean that you'll get the best care. Healthcare now is a multi-disciplinary team effort and even docs with the best training can't be an RN/phlebotomist/radiology tech/lab tech all at once for all of their patients. IMO, it's the lack of commitment from every single team that makes VA healthcare difficult, but that's a problem in any hospital(though to a lesser extent than the VAMCs).

To the OP, if the patient's PCP is at the VAMC then your best bet on continuity of care would be logging into CPRS and adding the PCP as an additional signature on your patient's H&P or progress note. However it sounds like you're at a non-VAMC so it looks like your patient will simply have to call on his/her own or try for a walk-in visit at the local VAMC primary care clinic.