Doctors at the VA

jd50ae

Are they military doctors?
Are they end of the line postings?
Are they last stop for civilian doctors?

http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/05/13/johnny-joey-jones-double-amputee-veteran-turned-away-va-without-treatment

jlmarta

Mr. Jones’ case is pretty extreme but is (to me, at least) indicative of SOP with the VA. Over time, as each of my VA doctors totally disappointed me with their treatment, I’ve weaned myself away from them altogether with the exception of them providing most of my Meds for me. And I still have to go through the twice-annual “examination” charade by my assigned PCP in order to continue to get my prescriptions refilled when they run out. 

In my opinion, the bulk of the doctors I’ve seen and/or been examined/treated by are second-rate doctors who couldn’t make it in a competitive environment. That’s why they work for the VA. And it’s a damned shame - our veterans deserve a helluva lot better than they’re getting. 

I’m one of the lucky ones - I was able to get out of the system. Many, many others aren’t so fortunate. 

First_Warrior

The last three{all retired} doc's I had at the VA for primary care have been military vets. Good ones all. The other clinics are not so good. The VA is a teaching hospital system so you have interns mixed with full fledged doctors. I have been missed diagnosed once and I have fallen through the cracks a couple of times. I have found that i have to double check everything. The VA has a website where I can reorder my meds and check all my lab tests and send messages to any clinic that is treating me and that website has helped a lot. All in all my single payer system, the VA, works just fine.

Martel

It varies.  I speak secondhand as a minister who visits a lot of hospitals.  The things you hear on the street about VA hospitals, docs, and the system depends a lot on the patient, the individual doctor, and which hospital you're at.

In central Indiana, for example, I've heard a lot of bad stuff about the VA in Marion.  Everyone tries to get to Roudebush in Indy, but you "pay" for that by waiting.  Even so, as busy as they are I've heard lots of praise about the care they give.  

In Memphis, there were mixed reviews of the VA, it's docs, and their treatment of patients.

Here, in between a couple of hospitals, every vet has their preference (though most seem to prefer Lebanon, PA to Baltimore though I suspect that's a local prejudice against going to Baltimore more than it is against the VA there.)

I've met docs at the VA who are trying to pay off some loans and hope to move on eventually.  I've known ones who might not make it other places.  I've met ones who are great at doctoring and care about their patients.  They are all in it for different reasons. 

So, it's hard to say.

Amos_Umwhat

There is often wide variation between the different locations.  I've been to Memphis.  I'm assigned, now, to Marion IL, a much better place.  I'm not sure why, except to agree with what's been said above.