What to expect from a VA hospital?

All the answers youhave gotten here so far are very good. One thing I will add. You can go to teh "Medical Records" section wher you are treated and request a copy of your records and they will give what you are askiing for to you. I would suggest that after you see your doctors to at least every few months to rewiew your hospital out patient records and your inpatient records too. The reason being is that very often what you told or talked to the doctor was NOT put down Correctly or AT ALL in your patient records file. I saw this because if you ever go to get a Service conneted didsability teh adjudicators use what is in your RECORDS to determan if you have talked to a doctor about these things.problems. In my own records I have found that many of the doctors did NOT put down the correct information and in many instacies wrote down NOTHING AT ALL pertaining to what I had gone to them about. You need to REVIEW your records closely concering anything the VA does with you. I hate to say this but in many areas the V.A. hospitals are in a very sad state of affairs. Many people who work at the VA do care and try and do a good job. Sad to say though but many of them do not give a damned and do not do very good job. Make sure what is being put down in your records. Look out for yourself by reviewing what is written in your records. It is a good Idea to request a copy of your VA records every two or three months. Be warned!!! CYA and check what is being said and put in your records closely.

I just started working at a VA, and I have my first appointment next week.

I am a new vet and wasn't told crap about the place until I started working here. (I'm 20%).

The way I understand it is you have to have a primary care provider. It is like having an HMO. This person will see you for most of your care and then if you need to go to a specialty clinic you have to get a consult for the first visit.

I think that you just tell the doctor what ever it is you need and they will either help you there or make you go somewhere else in the hospital. Be prepared to wait...

I see the VA for the first time as a patient myself. It is kind of weird. I know what you are going through. I do have the advantage that I can ask around.

You should try to go to a veterans organization such as DAV, VFW, or American Legion and meet some of them to help you. It is really crazy but the VA won't tell you until you ask. These organizaitons will help you know the system better.

Note: even though I am a little P. on here I want to make my VA better for the patients I see. I plan on doing the best I can to make my fellow vets more comfortable and really try to help.

I'm a former Corpsman. I really do care.

Never heard "vesting Clinic" before,

and I am a VSO X20+ years... ?

Any injury/wound/illness you received while

in the Service is covered for Life...FREE.

If this is your first time to a VA Hospital

you will go to the Veterans Service Area

to get enrolled...

You fill out a form which you put down ALL

of those things mentioned above...

"No matter how Slight"...

"NEVER GIVE THEM ORIGINALS...NEVER"

Take your DD 214 and a Copy...

Give the Copy to them...or they will

make one...

If you have any Medical Records from

the Service, give them a copy of them...

They will Take your picture and then send you

a Dept of VA ID Card...

You will talk to an intake person...

They will then set you up with some appointments...

(If you have PTSD or any thing you need to

be seen for Right away they can arrange it...that day..)

If you need anymore info contact me via email...

you're no longer under the VA gadget yet. you're nonetheless energetic accountability and if there is an emergency you could circulate to a medical institution purely like in case you have been on go away. you will choose to get related to a VA health center as quickly as achieveable. They do have some advantages for veterans. the point of care will count number on the incapacity point.

If it's been wiithin 5yrs after your deployment, you go to the VA to get establised for care. You bring in all your medical & discharge paperwork (COPIES!! NEVER give them originals of anything) so you can start getting care for issues that came up/worsened/were aggrivated by deployment.

Bring your patience, & go here to fill out & print out forms to save you time:

www.vabenefits.vba.va.gov/

http://www1.va.gov/OPA/vadocs/current_benefits.asp

The purpose of establishing care at a VA is:

-To get cost free medical care/treatment for injuries or conditions that you got during your time in the military

-To see if you are also eligible for monthly compensation for your service connected injury

-Receievd information/updates regarding the places you were deployed to if it's found out there are certain diseases/conditions that people who were deployed suffered from & are entitled to care from (example Agent Orange for Vietnam Era Veterans, or Gulf War Syndrome for Persian Gulf Veterans)

Check out the VA's website & also the benefits book I referenced below. Good luck

A lot of waiting and you will not be treated well. (Doctors have so many to see but so few doctors so you will be treated like you are bothering them) A lot of forms to fill out and they will do everything in their power to keep from treating you. Sometimes you will have to write your Congressperson to get benefits. Many of the doctors are foreign and can speak little english. Good luck. Don't give up no matter how terrible they treat you.

A lot of waiting.