Medical Malpractice

For Veteran, if you can choose, will you pick VA hospitical or your choice of local hospital?

I think the VA hospital is really bad for veteran, i my self is veteran, so long wait time for appointment, is like 3-4 weeks and if you miss or reschedule appointment wait like a month. Not too mention the quality of doctor and staff isn't good mainly cause they hired too many has little experience in the field, and since the doctor don't earn any extra money by patient like outside does, it simply not the same, everyime i need to do some dental work, is always different person.

Public Comments

1. So it's not the best, but you still get the care you need.
2. I hope English isn't your first language. Most VA hospitals and Clinics provide excellent health care. Maybe you have had a bad experience but facts are that we are spending more on VA health care every year and it has improved immensely in the past 10 years.
3. I've thought about this too, and I think I would still choose the VA. I live in NYC, and 3-4 weeks is usually a minimum for a doctor's appointment. So the VA is often quicker than a regular doctor. Plus, there's a walk-in clinic for emergencies in my VA. As for the quality of docs, usually they have resident/interns do surgeries and the like. The good new is that their every move is closely supervised by a very experienced doctor. At least this was my experience when I had an operation on my back that I was awake for. I think that the docs who "volunteer" for VA work might get paid fairly well (minus the resident/interns), or they probably wouldn't sign up for the deal. All-in-all, I think it's a good system.
4. I think VA hospitals are a little different from hospital to hospital. I go the the Reno, NV hospital and have been very well treated and am completely happy. They saved my life by detecting an Abdominal Anyerism and operating on it. I prefer my VA doctor to my civilian doctor. (He's the one who caught my AAA) One thing to remember is that VA hospitals are usually connected to a local university and so are teaching hospitals. I don't mind that at all.
5. I am a combat veteran, and 100 % disabled. If I could afford it, I would choose other than VA hospital, but I have no choice
6. Its true that the VA hospitals quite often times have their problems but that could be said of any hospital, military or not. I have been to both and quite honestly prefer civilian hospitals from my experiences, but that is just my oppinion.
7. VA hospitals are the worst.option.
8. I prefer the VA hospital. I have full benefits at my job(insurance) but would rather be treated at the VA and let them file on my insurance. The problem is that too many people use the VA and no one is giving back. Instead of my money going to a multi-million dollar hospital, I like to think its going back to help a vet who can't afford healthcare
9. You sound like the doctors at the VA. Most of them at the Carl Vinson VA are from India. As far as this VA is concern, it stinks! It's only run on bankers hours. The emergency room is closed on the weekends and is closed during the week day after 1630. My brother works at the Carl Vinson as a computer tec. I wouldn't try to explain all the things he has told me as to why the VA as a whole is sorry. All I'll say is, base on what he has told me, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must know what's going on and is doing nothing about it. As an Army brat and Navy Vet. You get better treatment at the Eisenhower Hospital at Fort Gorden, GA than any of them that I have ever been to. Way things are going at the Warner Robins Air Force Base, GA, they are pushing people to go to civilian doctors. They are trying to turn the housing over there to independent contractors instead of the military taking care its own. Crying shame really.
10. My parents (both Veterans) choose civilian hospitals, due to the complete inept nature of the VA MTF near them. I am currently married to an active duty serviceman and WISH we had the option to use civilian docs. I can't tell you how many times our MTF has prescribed meds to me that contain ingrediants I am deathly allergic to. I've stopped filling prescriptions at military hospitals as a result! I would rather pay the co-pay at a pharmacy and know they are cross checking the prescriptions! VA hospitals are awful, but I guess you get what you pay for. : (