Sometimes youll find a doctor to hold your hand through the process, but frankly thats not something we can all get, there just arent enough doctors, nurses, and staff to give everyone that much attention, and especially not for free or a $15.00 copay. If you want that attention it can be bought for a very high price, but ratings need to be made relative to service AND cost. This is all you need for practically no cost except a little extra time and drive on your part.
Everyone from the security guard at the door to the Doctors were very pleasant, informative and most importantly personable. I can't speak for anyone else but a decent attitude and respect has never got me bad service at our local VA clinics, from American Lakes to here.
- Track your own health, remind your PCP regularly of your concerns (Via message center if needed), and follow up if you arent getting responses, 3 work days is a good rule of thumb.
- If you arent getting help within the entire VA system, seek a third opinion from outside the system and start treatment, report back to the VA to continue treatment with them, most of the doctors arent spiteful and will accept the opinion and continue treatment after review (They dont really have the time to fight it).
- Get some sort of secondary regular provider within the VA, a psychologist works, this will make getting second opinions possible if you cant get a referall from your PCP (Ive personally never had this problem).
The PAC and RN provide only pill pushing and refuse any outside referrals to the Seattle VA regional hospital.I had to ask my congressman for help to get a referral to the main VA hospital.This place needs all new PAC and RNs.Id totally avoid this sham of a clinic.
Appointments are easy enough to make, the staff are responsive and attentive, in general sometimes things are forgotten but with frequent reminders they get done and thats not a huge deal, if you disagree with a diagnosis you can seek a second opinion at the Puget Sound VA Medical Center, if that isnt suffient you can get a third opinion from a private practive, Ive had no issue with any of these doctors holding any grudges because you seek outside opinion, and theyll often support the diagnosis once its recieved even if it contradicts their initial opinion (I think to some degree the VA ties their hands and forces them to be conservative in diagnosis of conditions where individuals are relatively functional in spite of it).
- Use HealtheVet Message Center for Appointments and small problems.
All that said and done, those expensive doctors are not better than these doctors and nurses, they just charge more so they can spend more time and attention on individual cases. Be your own advocate, track your health, report your problems and related factors efficiently, remind your doctor of relevant info, keep up to date, seek second opinions, and dont give up on your health and persist, if you do all this the VA will provide everything you need (With a little help from some private practicians giving the occasional third opinion).
Long Version:
None of the clinics answer the phone it seams. If you call VA Main Scheduling it works much smoother, just an observation.
Like any medical experience its a bit difficult to navigate what you have to do. I suppose for some that warrants lower ratings. For me its a matter of if I recieve the care I need with persistence, which I do, so I cant complain.
No one has answered the phone here in over a year, including when returning their call.
They don't answer phone or respond to messages. I transferred from Oregon where it was possible to get an appointment. Not so here.
TL;DR Hints for Success:
- Dont accept no treatment for a problem as an answer. If you have a condition and no solution persist (But dont expect YOUR solution or diagnosis, just expect some sort of diagnosis and solution).
In any case, a lot of the issue is just patience and addressing your needs. You need to be open to being wrong about what you may think you have, but you dont need to accept any untreates ailments be it physical or mental, so until you feel healthy persist, and they will find a solution (Although it may not be what you thought it was). Such is the case with all medicine and mental health.
Va Puget Sound Health Care System North Seattle Community Based Outpatient Clinic is a US Hospital based in Seattle, Washington. Va Puget Sound Health Care System North Seattle Community Based Outpatient Clinic is located at 12360 Lake City Way NE #200, Seattle, WA 98125, USA.
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