Friendly atmosphere

Posted on November 3, 2007 | Comments Off on Friendly atmosphere

On my second visit to Austin’s VA Health Clinic I was impressed by everything: the friendly people, the clean facilities, the new equipment. Got a flu shot from a tech with a no-pain technique. The doc I was assigned to wanted to run me through the normal blood work, but I pointed out I was scheduled for the full deal, including EKG and X-Rays, Dec. 11 in Temple for the Agent Orange Registry. Did he want to duplicate it? Fine with me. He didn’t. I especially liked the ambience that everyone’s on the same page. I saw why my late father-in-law, a Navy retiree, preferred VA hospitals to private ones. PTSD questions in the med exam surprised me. I think they’re more for new veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq than Vietnam after so many years. Nevertheless. Nightmares? Check. Fear of loud noises? Nope. Avoid situations reminding of combat? Nope. Feelings of detachment from others? That one surprised me. I thought it over and said I would have to answer yes. Wondering now what the Temple exam will uncover in December.

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0 responses to “Friendly atmosphere”

  1. Eva's avatar Eva | November 3, 2007 at 1:28 pm |

    I think that the VA is honestly trying to improve. I am scheduled for some procedures this week on Friday. The last time I was there, we talked to some other veterans and they also said that they have seen a great improvement. I guess the “computer age” also helps. As for PTSD, I guess it is just a matter of experiences in Nam. Joe

  2. Eva's avatar Eva | November 3, 2007 at 1:28 pm |

    I think that the VA is honestly trying to improve. I am scheduled for some procedures this week on Friday. The last time I was there, we talked to some other veterans and they also said that they have seen a great improvement. I guess the “computer age” also helps. As for PTSD, I guess it is just a matter of experiences in Nam. Joe

  3. jdallen's avatar jdallen | November 3, 2007 at 4:53 pm |

    Okay, I give up. What is the Agent Orange Registry? How do you sign up for it?

  4. jdallen's avatar jdallen | November 3, 2007 at 4:53 pm |

    Okay, I give up. What is the Agent Orange Registry? How do you sign up for it?

  5. Eva's avatar Eva | November 3, 2007 at 5:17 pm |

    If you served in Vietnam it is presumed by the VA that you were exposed to Agent Orange ( a chemical defoilant) and therefore can be suseptible to certain forms of cancer. Therefore, you need to register so you can be treated and get disability benefits. Go to the Va web sites to learn more about it.

  6. Eva's avatar Eva | November 3, 2007 at 5:17 pm |

    If you served in Vietnam it is presumed by the VA that you were exposed to Agent Orange ( a chemical defoilant) and therefore can be suseptible to certain forms of cancer. Therefore, you need to register so you can be treated and get disability benefits. Go to the Va web sites to learn more about it.

  7. Dick Stanley's avatar Dick Stanley | November 3, 2007 at 5:27 pm |

    Good advice, JD. Go to VA.gov and get the forms to sign up for health benefits, even if you have private insurance. On those forms you can check yes on exposure to AO, and that will automatically set in motion the VA’s assigning you to an AO Registry exam. If you come up healthy, that’s fine. If not, and whatever your problem is is, in the VA’s estimation, related to AO, then they’ll take it from there.

  8. Dick Stanley's avatar Dick Stanley | November 3, 2007 at 5:27 pm |

    Good advice, JD. Go to VA.gov and get the forms to sign up for health benefits, even if you have private insurance. On those forms you can check yes on exposure to AO, and that will automatically set in motion the VA’s assigning you to an AO Registry exam. If you come up healthy, that’s fine. If not, and whatever your problem is is, in the VA’s estimation, related to AO, then they’ll take it from there.