Long story, short.
I had a note-to-self in my Outlook calendar to remind one of my officers to get his “LOD” renewed– he sustained a relatively minor but painful and slightly debilitating injury while on orders recently, the kind of thing that can be healed by good diagnosis and quality physical therapy, which is exactly what the initial attending physician told him. The LOD is basically the piece of paper he received when he got off orders that authorizes him to seek treatment for an injury sustained while on active duty, in or out of the military medical system. It has to be renewed every thirty days until the problem is solved.
So, in response to my reminder through his chain of command, I got the following note (he’s in a police academy in a major city in the American west):
I just spent a good hour and a half dealing with the VA hospital here in order to take care of what you told me to do. I first called the appointment desk. They referred me to the LOD clerk. After three attempts I finally spoke with her and she asked me to bring in paperwork. I told her I was already in the system, had already been treated and that this shouldn’t be an issue. She transferred me back to records who then transferred me back to her. Sgt ________ finally squared me away and said I could call appointments back. I called appointments and upon review of my record they stated that I had no health care coverage. I informed them of my situation and they transferred me to Family Practice. I spoke to family practice and they said that they could get me an appointment with them, but not with podiatry in spite of the fact that I’ve already been treated by podiatry (in Miami, at the VA). They want the family prac to look at it first to see if I need to go back to podiatry. So, I got an appointment as ordered, but the 15th is a no-go. On 20 Feb (the next day that I have off) at 10:40 I have an appointment to see LTC ________ at the ________ hospital at ________ AFB.
Disgraceful, wasteful, inefficient; the list goes on.
Nationalized healthcare, anyone?
For my LOD benefits last year, I used the VA hospital in Ann Arbor. Once I figured out the way the system works, it was great. The issue is that active duty and reservists are not in the Veterans Administration system. Between the HM2(FMF) at the NOSC and the admin folks at the VA hospital, they got me hooked up. I was very happy with the service and treatment I received.
I will send you an email sepcor.
Hit the nail on the head! If the average civvie wants to know the joys of nationalized healthcare, they need to hunt down a vet or someone currently serving and ask about our wonderful Tri(to get)care system. The VA system is a little better.
Dental clinic ain’t a party either. I’ve been in five years, they removed about eight teeth, and I still can’t get partials or bridgework done.
Best part is my vision. No depth perception, reduced peripheral vision, one eye nearsighted one far sighted. My vision is so bad I got letters banning me from operating hoists and towing trailers. Inspite of that, I’m still qualified to shoot weapons, even though I can barely make out the front sight post on my M-16.
I don’t qual for surgery, I can’t get another pair of glasses issued until next month, (Only one pair issued per year) and if I got contacts the chems I work with (maintainer) could potentially melt them to my corneas.
Every airman will tell you; The best appointment, is an off base appointment.
Just to redirect,
I would like to ensure everyone understands that this is a system/beaurocracy issue not a lack of dedication on the part of those who wear a uniform and work in our Armed Forces Health care system.
The military medical staff deploy as much or more than most other forces, and then are expected to return and then cover double or more the normal number of patients since other colleagues are deployed. This manning system with IA’s and so forth was designed for short conflicts. Five years plus into the current wars the cracks are starting to show. Those star players who have kept the medical house of cards standing are getting out or getting burned out.
I absolutely agree that the ‘hand off’ between Military, VA and civilian care needs improvement, especially with respect to the Reserves, who are tasked with more dangerous and extended missions than ever. But the failures of the system are not due to the failures of those providing care the MTF’s.
BR Neal no speak with forked tongue. The military and veterans’ medical systems are packed with good people who want to do good work. The issue lies with process, not professionalism.
Having had to make use of the VA many times over the past four years, I don’t doubt the dedication of the medical staff.
At issue is not morale, but simply ‘the lack.’ Looking on USAjobs and other jobsites, the VA has been trying to recruit medical and para-medical professionals to meet the patient load and optempo.
Combine this with the rapid decline in medical professionals willing to endure the financial load for insurance, taxes, and the time-load of moving paperwork.
The VA (and the USA) does not have enough doctors; and will never have enough doctors.
A secondary issue is the handoff between DOD and VA. The military services are extremely hands-off on transferring records directly to the VA. The Army, which I know, has not given a reason for it, and technologically it makes zero sense not to do it. But, for the Army, preventing the seamless transfer of medical records to the VA is a pleasing thing and so it continues.
My two cents…
“Hit the nail on the head! If the average civvie wants to know the joys of nationalized healthcare, they need to hunt down a vet or someone currently serving and ask about our wonderful Tri(to get)care system…” – Curtis
Or if you really want to get the nasty news, hunt down a military retiree who’s less than Social Security age and poor… Then you’ll find out how wonderful Tri2survive, I mean, Tricare, is…
Tricare Dental
Find a TRICARE Provider PHARMACY OPTIONS. The TDP’s contract year runs from February 1