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Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Grandpa Shooter on May 05, 2021, 09:43:10 AM

Title: Still no call from VA in AZ
Post by: Grandpa Shooter on May 05, 2021, 09:43:10 AM
I put in for an eye appt in Az back on April 15th and still have not heard back from anyone there.  Because of that we cancelled our trip.  I made an appt here with the clinic and got one for May 12th.  I'm on the fence how much effort I want to put into filing a complaint against the Arizona VA and the traveling veterans appointment system.  Part of me wants to raise hell and the more civilized part says why bother, it won't make any difference anyway since they want us old farts to die off and not bother them.  I guess I'm getting to old for this crap.
Title: Re: Still no call from VA in AZ
Post by: MillCreek on May 05, 2021, 09:51:07 AM
^^^Speaking as the person who receives, investigates, resolves and reports back on serious patient care complaints, I always like to say that if I don't know about a problem, I can't fix it.  I am a fan of bringing these issues to the attention of the ombudsman/patient relations/administration so they are aware and can do something about it.
Title: Re: Still no call from VA in AZ
Post by: Hawkmoon on May 05, 2021, 10:37:44 AM
^^^Speaking as the person who receives, investigates, resolves and reports back on serious patient care complaints, I always like to say that if I don't know about a problem, I can't fix it.  I am a fan of bringing these issues to the attention of the ombudsman/patient relations/administration so they are aware and can do something about it.

The VA system has what they call "patient advocates." Having dealt with the "patient advocate" at my local VA hospital, I am prepared to opine that the role of the "patient advocate" is not to in any way advocate for the patient but, rather, to delay, obfuscate, confuse, and otherwise impede any investigation or discussion of an issue until the patient gives up and surrenders.

In my case, after my "patient advocate" twice claimed not to have received a complaint letter that I had personally handed to her, and then blithely informed me that she had no information because the nature of my complaint was such that it had been "escalated to a higher level," I chose not to surrender. I contacted my Congresscritter and both U.S. Senators. That generated a meeting with my primary care doctor, the head of the specialty clinic involved, and the director of the hospital. The issue was addressed -- no thanks to the "patient advocate."