The VA has been bugging me to come in. They even scheduled a previous appointment without telling me. Apparently, I am required to go every year. (That's news to me given that I've been out a good bit longer than that and have only ever done the initial visit.) Telling them that I already have a doctor doesn't seem to phase them. So...into the car tomorrow for an hour-and-a-half each way I go.

I am told that it will be an hour-long appointment. What should I expect? I'm used to military doctor appointments being "What's your blood pressure? Need some Motrin? Take some anyway. 'Bye now!"

I'm just curious what I'm getting into. Thanks!

More of the same, just insert some rude and lazy government workers and old vets that will cut infront of you in line for everything and not give a shit. At least that’s how the va is where I’m at

They will draw blood get a urine sample, doc will ask how you're doing. That's about it. May do chest x-ray if you have history of smoking

Do you have someone else manage your finances?

Do you have any firearms in the home?

You're probably not wrong.

If you are enrolled in the VA system they require
a annual physical to stay in the system. Nothing
more

Preinduction physical.

I have gotten more emails and letter from the VA in the last year than in all the years since leaving active duty.

Wouldn’t set foot on a VA facility if you paid me.

Group W bench.

Hope your out by Thanksgiving...

Herknav, can’t tell your location from your post but some VA hospitals are great and some suck wicked bad. You should check out rankings.

https://www.stripes.com/va-rel...s-hospitals-1.550251

If nothing else you can get four doses of viagra per month

quote:

Need some Motrin?

I laughed loudly at the sad and hilarious reality of this joke.

No other three words can better describe the whole of military medical care than that.

I guess I am fortunate; The VA system in Minnesota has been fantastic for me.

Colonoscopy. You're overdue. Trust me.

Both the VA centers here in central Arkansas have been great to me and the quality has been improving also. The problem is a lack of nursing support. When I flat lined in the ER they got me going again and even implanted a heart monitor. I have no complaints. It’s like the military, some commanders suck and some are great.

I get meds from them and go in every other year or so. I take the lab results from my doc and the VA just asks a few questions and takes my bp.

quote:

Originally posted by 46and2:

quote:

Need some Motrin?

I laughed loudly at the sad and hilarious reality of this joke.

No other three words can better describe the whole of military medical care than that.

Vitamin M.

I use to be a PACT nurse in one of our local
VA climics. IF you find a good doc and nurse, you will be well taken cared of. BUT, as with any government agencies, there will be those who are LAZY mofos. I left the clinic and went back to inpatient because I got tired of working my ass off, and I see some get away with a lot of bullshit.

To answer your question, your initial visit is scheduled for 1Hr. This is called “vesting appt”. Your PACT team LPN should have already placed baseline lab orders, which you should do 1 week prior to your appt. That way, your new doc will be able to do a thorough History & Physical exam. Any questions or concerns you might have regarding your health, this is the time to ask. Your LPN will ask you bunch of questions (already programmed in the computer). These are standard clinical reminders. Word of caution when you are asked mental health questions. Be very careful not to say anything that MAY land you on Legal Hold (danger to self, danger to others). Some vets try to vent to their docs or nurses and say the wrong words. They then get placed on L2K (Legal Hold), and spend 72 Hrs in patient, mental health.

If you are not happy with your PACT team, you can always ask for a new team.

The subversive reality- the VA was all fat and happy when they could justify existence with millions of WWII and Korean era vets using them for care. Sadly many Vietnam era vets got the cold shoulder from the VA and the various vets organizations and did not utilize the system as much as past vets. Now sadly even many Vietnam era vets are dying off and the VA realizes if they can not justify existence by enrolling and keeping younger vets in the system, funding and resources will be cut. Why I got tons of letters phone calls and e mails after my service in Iraq and Afghanistan- they are out to save their own skin.

"Last week he was sent down to Da Nang to see the Navy head shrinker, and the crazy f***** starts jerking off in the waiting room. Instant Section Eight. He was just waiting for his papers to clear."

V.