Little known VA secret?

[GumbyCT]

Ok this is a question -- do you know why this happens?

Background:
This is a true story.
A letter arrives in the mail letting you know you are scheduled for an out-patient procedure you have been waiting 8 months for. I won't pick apart the grammar but it tells you that your appt. is on the 15th and someone will notify you (by phone) on the 14th what time you are to arrive!!! Really?

So the VA wants to keep this a secret until the day before? I wonder why? Why can't we plan this event? What if we need to schedule a ride? Someone to drive us? Do you tell them you are waiting for the Cable Co.? or the Phone Co.?

This morning I was tired of waiting and afraid I would miss 'the call' - so I called them at 9:45AM hoping I could get this scheduled and get on with my day. The lady tells me we don't know what time yet? You are kidding me right? No. Maybe it would be better that I just re-schedule.; I can't do that, have to transfer you. The next lady says ok when would you like to come in - I ask do you have anything next Thur. or Fri.? Since I just received this letter last week, I figure they haven't yet scheduled next week? She says no the next appt. wouldn't be until July, ha ok then let me see what time I get for tomorrow then. OK.

I call the Patient Advocate to rant about how inconsiderate it is for them to not know what time this procedure would be done tomorrow. She informs me, many of the big hospitals do this for out-patient procedures? Really? I guess I'll have to take your word for it.

After thinking about it - I remember my dad was consistently scheduled for a reoccurring procedure and would be given the dates & times a month or more in advance. A different procedure and a different hospital but this tells me it can be done.

So while I am waiting for 'the call' - I am wondering - is it a good idea to have a medical procedure done by people who can't seem to schedule the 'secret time' for arrival even 24 hrs. in advance?

Later that same day at 14:45 - Another lady calls with my secret time (this must be a very prestigious job) and tells me it is 08:15AM - so I ask if there is anything open later in the day? She just chuckles and says oh no, she's pretty well booked up. Maybe it's me but I'm thinking OK you just called your 08:15 appt - have you already done the rest of the day? But then I get the impression "they all" just don't want anything to be convenient for you - it is against some unwritten Govt. Rule. Not letting her know this works out pretty well cuz I was scheduled for fasting blood draw today but didn't go cuz I was hoping to do it all in one trip. Mulling it over in my mind, I think this just might work, ha.

So now for the question - is there anyone out there who knows or can explain why it is that medical professionals can't seem to schedule out-patient procedure any earlier than described above? What is the little known secret? VA or Not - Really?

I don't care Community Hospital, Trauma Center, or the Doctors Office it would seem to me that advanced planning would result in fewer last minute cancellations.

I just want to know why? What is the little known VA secret?

Thanks for any insight you have,
GumbyCT

[Slinky]

It "might" have to do w/how many sleeping rooms and techs they have. Generally the techs work a 12 hour shift, usually 8 PM to 8 AM. Our sleep lab (not VA) schedules about an hour for "prepping" the patient and paper work. Most sleep labs scheduled 2 patients per tech for the night.

I have heard of sleep labs that schedule 4 patients per tech. (I doubt I'd want to go to one!). It wouldn't surprise me if VA scheduled more than 2 patients per tech.

Frankly, I fail to see why they can't schedule the time at the same time they set up the appointment like most sleep labs do but when the government is involved ..... ???

[Goofproof]

The V.A. is working with limited (BUSH) resources. The scheduling is the result of trying to make the best use of those resources. I know it's inconvenent, we have to work with the limitations for the good of all.

I have to go 80 miles, four times a year and have to arrange to have someone take me, to check my eyes. If I had to have better service, I could pay for local treatment out of pocket, but I'm sure the local Doctor wouldn't be as well trained and nice.

I realize the V.A. has many problems, but I am amazed at the people who work there every day, and the quality of the patients treated there, who are willing to give you a kind word. Jim

[Snoredog]

just show up by 12:15PM, if they say you missed your appointment tell them no you didn't, you have a 4hr window just like the phone and cable company.

[RonS]

The V.A. is working with limited (BUSH) resources. The scheduling is the result of trying to make the best use of those resources.

Oh give me a break, will ya?

It's about a very large agency with no accountability except to politicians who couldn't care less about the VA except as something to rail about during an election cycle.

This is just one minor example of why government controlled single payer systems just won't work, yet I'm sure that (based on your attribution of all the problems to the present administration) you are the one in favor of such a scheme.

If you want to fill the CPAP board with US partisan politics, I'll be happy to do so.

Personally, I suggest a truce.

[Slinky]

Well, I happen to be one who thinks our health care system is a bit of a mess - but - every time the government gets involved things are made worse. They vote in some legistration to do me a favor and I end up getting scr*wed!

[CentralScrutinizer]

We just need to get Hillary in the Whitehouse, that way we can all be party of a wonderful system like they have at the VA...

(actually, I've heard some good things about the VA, it's not all just bad)

The V.A. is working with limited (BUSH) resources. The scheduling is the result of trying to make the best use of those resources.

Oh give me a break, will ya?

It's about a very large agency with no accountability except to politicians who couldn't care less about the VA except as something to rail about during an election cycle.

This is just one minor example of why government controlled single payer systems just won't work, yet I'm sure that (based on your attribution of all the problems to the present administration) you are the one in favor of such a scheme.

If you want to fill the CPAP board with US partisan politics, I'll be happy to do so.

Personally, I suggest a truce.

[deerslayer]

hey Gumby, i take it that your appt. was for a sleep study ? like Goofproof, i have to drive around 80 miles to this facility to do so. first time in i arrived at the designated time only to have to wait an hour before the young tech came to unlock & light the lights. no big deal, i can play the game..afterall uncle's footin the tab.. i made it a point to get the card of that RT dept.s head. have that info on my encore stats also.... don't understand your situation unless it was a scheduling problem,but still sounds like the old.. SNAFU.. deal.......as far as the polititions improving our govt. health care......all together now" in the big rock candy mountain-bla bla--we'll all get free bubble up bla bla bla

[RonS]

We just need to get Hillary in the Whitehouse, that way we can all be party of a wonderful system like they have at the VA...

(actually, I've heard some good things about the VA, it's not all just bad)

Me too.

I'm not sure her plan is like the one she worked on 15 or 16 years ago; I think it's now more like Massachusetts' plan which requires everyone to buy private health insurance and the government subsidizes low income folks.

[Goofproof]

It doesn't matter which party is in power, they all have the same master. "The Rich taking care of themselves." so they can stay and become richer. And the "Sheep" keep on voting for them, like they get a part in making the decisions.

In the real world, would you expect to have a better choice of people in the pool to elect. No One is in charge of pouring the bleach into the water, or skiming out the trash. Jim

[GumbyCT]

The procedure went well today. To clear up a few things by out-patient procedure I did not mean PSG - it was in fact a Cystocopy to find out why I have microscopic blood in urine samples for the last 30 yrs. In fact, nothing remarkable was found except she said I have a nice.... ahhhem a large prostate. Yea so.

The reason I did not mention the type of procedure was - I wanted the focus on the process leading up to the appt. not what the appt was for. I thought that might cause some confusion or distraction.

The worst part was the bloodwork order was not in the computer so I had to fast until AFTER the procedure so I could get that straightened out. But see that too detracts from my main point.

I asked the staff as I met them this morning, all who were extremely professional, informative, and helpful, why the BIG secret - "am I going into Cambodia?"

Most had no idea why I wasn't given the time much sooner and when I asked if they had a lot of "no shows" - the answer was yes, how did you know we call them no shows.

Well most folks don't like to be treated that way. Being in the real world for so long - I am accustomed to things like "Continuous Improvement" or "Process Improvment" teams that would call something like this "low hanging fruit" = something easy to fix (harvest).

Where our Govt or military has a very "captive audience" and no clue what customer satisfaction means. None.

[NightHawkeye]

Well, I happen to be one who thinks our health care system is a bit of a mess - but - every time the government gets involved things are made worse. They vote in some legistration to do me a favor and I end up getting scr*wed!

Yeah, the sad thing is that sometimes things have to get worse before they get better. What I have trouble figuring out is just how much worse they can get. Like with DreamStalker's story today, the entire healthcare system looks incredibly dysfunctional.

A few years ago, I took my mother-in-law into the emergency room with a broken wrist. It took five hours for them just to admit her into the ER. The hospital had "new" computer software which either didn't work right or they couldn't use and they let that keep folks from being admitted. When they finally admitted my mother-in-law, we found out that most beds were empty and the ER staff had had an extremely light workload that night, even though every seat in the waiting room was taken and lots of folks were standing around with their hands in their pockets because they had no place to sit.

None of the staff seemed bothered by any of this, except maybe just a little bit peeved about the software, but that was only the admissions clerks who were trying to use it. Just business as usual ...

Regards,
Bill

[kennethryan]

I call the Patient Advocate to rant about how inconsiderate it is for them to not know what time this procedure would be done tomorrow. She informs me, many of the big hospitals do this for out-patient procedures? Really? I guess I'll have to take your word for it.

Over the last few years every member of my family has been in for some procedure or other, mostly outpatient. Just a few weeks ago I had carpal tunnel release surgery.

We used two different outpatient clinics plus in the hospital proper plus one in a doctor's office (very big practice).

Of those, ALL of the procedures except for the one in the doc's office had the same thing you describe - no hint of what time until the day before. In the case of my CTR surgery they gave me a time two days before but then changed it late the next day - by leaving a message on my home answering machine (wife and I both work) so I didn't get it until about 9pm the night before ($DIETY forbid they call the "contact me here" cell phone number I gave them). I ignored the time change since it put me too early to get my kids to school, and no way I could make other arrangements on such short notice.

I have no idea why they can't use a schedule book either. I'm just offering some consolation that it isn't only a VA problem.

My guess is the local clubs aren't giving out tee times any sooner.

[Guest]

I could pay for local treatment out of pocket, but I'm sure the local Doctor wouldn't be as well trained and nice.

Your Joking here arnt you?

The V.A. is working with limited (BUSH) resources. The scheduling is the result of trying to make the best use of those resources. I know it's inconvenent, we have to work with the limitations for the good of all.

I have to go 80 miles, four times a year and have to arrange to have someone take me, to check my eyes. If I had to have better service, I could pay for local treatment out of pocket, but I'm sure the local Doctor wouldn't be as well trained and nice.

I realize the V.A. has many problems, but I am amazed at the people who work there every day, and the quality of the patients treated there, who are willing to give you a kind word. Jim

[Goofproof]

I could pay for local treatment out of pocket, but I'm sure the local Doctor wouldn't be as well trained and nice.

Your Joking here arnt you?

The V.A. is working with limited (BUSH) resources. The scheduling is the result of trying to make the best use of those resources. I know it's inconvenent, we have to work with the limitations for the good of all.

I have to go 80 miles, four times a year and have to arrange to have someone take me, to check my eyes. If I had to have better service, I could pay for local treatment out of pocket, but I'm sure the local Doctor wouldn't be as well trained and nice.

I realize the V.A. has many problems, but I am amazed at the people who work there every day, and the quality of the patients treated there, who are willing to give you a kind word. Jim

No I'm not, I've delt with the V.A. for over ten years and only ran into one person that wasn't pleasant, and the next time I got her, for the same thing even she was ok, we all have bad days even at work.

I'm not saying the V.A. is the best way to health care, I'm saying that they preform a needed service for our military & ex-military. More or less a option, for good people that sometimes fall through lifes cracks, sometimes caused by the service to their country, for good or bad.

It would be nice, if we all could get good effecent medical care, but in the real world, few of us find any doctor with that knowledge or time or careing.

Most of us end up settling with "Mine Run", medical care, that's why we are better off learning about our bodies, in the end we are the ones that live here, we need to be able to keep our own house in order. Jim