What VA SCI Center do you go to?

[quadvet]

I go to Seattle. Did rehab there in 90-91 and all follow-up since, never been anywhere else. Feel free to ask how I manage it, an ongoing process. They really are a great group of individuals. As with any institution this size, bureaucracy and diplomacy play large parts- it's easy to fall between the cracks. Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets oiled; sometimes it gets "labeled".

Please share what you can, thanks! :thumb:

[skippy13]

I also live in Oregon. I would be going to the Seattle SCI center too, but I'm in a crack :D. Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets greased too.

[doingtimeonmyass]

Tampa VA Medical Center

[Sue Pendleton]

None, I'm Space A with my physiatrist at Walter Reed as a retiree dependent.

[RAFS]

Same as Doingtimeonmyass. James A. Haley VA SCI Center, Tampa Florida

[quadvet]

I also live in Oregon. I would be going to the Seattle SCI center too, but I'm in a crack :D. Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets greased too. Sometimes it gets tossed and replaced with an easier wheel to fix too... what's the "crack" you are stuck in?

[wazabiker]

Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, Ga. SCI portion of the hospital is undergoing intensive remodeling. Going there Nov. 3 for tests and a fitting for a new manual chair.

[MikeC]

I also go to the Haley VA hospital in Tampa. They seem to be very good for routine stuff (rehab, physicals, colonoscopy, etc) but the one time I had problems I didn't get any help. Used my civilian doctor instead.

[Veteran Advisor]

I do VA SCI Center site visits in California, Oregon, and Washington state where we discuss quality of care with VA staff and patients. I'd be interested in how you guys view your care and whether you're satisfied.


Please do not include specific names of VA personnel in this public forum if you're having problems. We can privately discuss personal concerns where you're issue is with a specific individual.

[Nirvana]

I did a rehab at Palo Alto VA center in 2007. Overall, I was very satisfied with the care. The PT component was somewhat weak in that there was not enough one on one interaction. Also the PT's were not that experienced. The equipment was not that good. Medical care was very good.

[Them Bones]

West Roxbury, Mass. Within Boston city limits.

Nothing but fond memories...

Not sarcasm. They're pretty good. Obviously the food sucked.

Whenever possible I try to take care of stuff at the Worcester outpatient clinic, since Worcester is where I work and go to college.

[Veteran Advisor]

West Roxbury, Mass. Within Boston city limits.

Nothing but fond memories...

Not sarcasm. They're pretty good. Obviously the food sucked.

Whenever possible I try to take care of stuff at the Worcester outpatient clinic, since Worcester is where I work and go to college.

I assume you know Joe B., the PVA service officer out there?

[Sue Pendleton]

West Roxbury, Mass. Within Boston city limits.

Nothing but fond memories...

Not sarcasm. They're pretty good. Obviously the food sucked.

Whenever possible I try to take care of stuff at the Worcester outpatient clinic, since Worcester is where I work and go to college.

Just lost a friend of mine last week whose care was at Boston VA..quite a drive from Maine. She taught me to get going again. The backpack she got me has now seen about 20 countries. She was a VN area vet. :(

Wurster? :D Loved my 4 weeks at Ft Devens way back. Better dance clubs were at Leominster.

[forestranger52]

I spent 4 months at the V.A. SCI Clinic at Wade Park in Cleveland. Aug. through Nov. 2003. Bad experience. Terrible aids and food. Received very little help because my PT hardly ever showed up. No one taught me how to do anything.
The gave me a used, broken, power chair, claimed it was new, and never fixed it to fit me even though they said they would. Chair would not climb handicapped ramps because of faulty anti-tippers. Still won't.

Could not take public transportation/ ACCESS because my power chair failed test-only one they ever saw fail.

Fought V.A. for a over a year to provide me with a power chair that would work for me. Prosthetics in Pittsburgh never returned or answered a phone call for a year.

Currently have been waiting for over a year, I have been approved, just to order a light weight manual chair.

Demoed a Quickie from the Erie V.A. Let me have it for only a couple of weeks but they would not let me take it anywhere. Had to use it only in my house. Almost worthless.

Been trapped in my home for the last 6 weeks because the shop the V.A. sent my chair to be repaired at screwed it up even worse. Have canceled over 10 medical appointments, since August, because I can not get out of my door. I still have no appointment to have my chair repaired. I haven't been outside for over 47 days. Plus for 5 weeks in Sept./Oct. I was trapped also. Actually trapped in my home for about 3 months now. Got out for 30 hours in Oct. when they replaced my batteries. Thats it.

Sorry to bitch but this is ridiculous.

[rcechser]

Loved my 4 weeks at Ft Devens way back.
Sue, I have a friend that is on the Devens Fire Dept he is a Lieutenant he has been there forever getting ready to retire soon. I have all kinds of sweatshirts, t shirts etc...

[skippy13]

I spent 4 months at the V.A. SCI Clinic at Wade Park in Cleveland. Aug. through Nov. 2003. Bad experience. Terrible aids and food. Received very little help because my PT hardly ever showed up. No one taught me how to do anything.
The gave me a used, broken, power chair, claimed it was new, and never fixed it to fit me even though they said they would. Chair would not climb handicapped ramps because of faulty anti-tippers. Still won't.

Could not take public transportation/ ACCESS because my power chair failed test-only one they ever saw fail.

Fought V.A. for a over a year to provide me with a power chair that would work for me. Prosthetics in Pittsburgh never returned or answered a phone call for a year.

Currently have been waiting for over a year, I have been approved, just to order a light weight manual chair.

Demoed a Quickie from the Erie V.A. Let me have it for only a couple of weeks but they would not let me take it anywhere. Had to use it only in my house. Almost worthless.

Been trapped in my home for the last 6 weeks because the shop the V.A. sent my chair to be repaired at screwed it up even worse. Have canceled over 10 medical appointments, since August, because I can not get out of my door. I still have no appointment to have my chair repaired. I haven't been outside for over 47 days. Plus for 5 weeks in Sept./Oct. I was trapped also. Actually trapped in my home for about 3 months now. Got out for 30 hours in Oct. when they replaced my batteries. Thats it.

Sorry to bitch but this is ridiculous.

I kind of know where you are coming from. I finally got an appointment for next monday for a power chair eval. It has taken nearly a year just to get this far. I gave up and bought my own manual chair just to get a model that I can use. I live on some very steep hills and have to load it into the car only to drive to a bus stop on relatively level ground. The chair I bought only weighs 18 lbs fully loaded, so I can get it into the car at least. I realize you cant afford to buy your own chair or you would have done so by now. It is permitted in the rules to give a vet a used chair, but the chair must be in good working order. Sorry you are trapped. I know how that feels. What will you do in an emergency should one arise?

[Them Bones]

I assume you know Joe B., the PVA service officer out there?

Joe B. is THE MAN! He is absolutely on the ball. I am so impressed by how he goes to bat for all of us. He's done fantastic things to help me deal with the VA.

We are extremely fortunate to have him.

Sue, you have my condolences about your friend.

[forestranger52]

Skippy, I really do not now what would happen in an emergency. I would need to call and then wait for the volunteers at the ambulance or fire department. I am 10 miles away, up a dirt road that most people miss when they try to find me.

It's going to be a roll of the dice. I try not to think about it.

[Veteran Advisor]

Been trapped in my home for the last 6 weeks because the shop the V.A. sent my chair to be repaired at screwed it up even worse. Have canceled over 10 medical appointments, since August, because I can not get out of my door. I still have no appointment to have my chair repaired. I haven't been outside for over 47 days. Plus for 5 weeks in Sept./Oct. I was trapped also. Actually trapped in my home for about 3 months now. Got out for 30 hours in Oct. when they replaced my batteries.

Forestrangers52,

You described a situation that should never happen to anyone, much less a paralyzed vet. Do you have a backup wheelchair? All vets are to be issued a primary and backup wheelchair to prevent the very circumstances that happened to you. Some clinics try to absolutely restrict all vets to one power and one manual wheelchair, but you can take steps to get two power chairs.

VHA Directive 1173.6 states:

"5. SPARE WHEELCHAIRS

a. Veterans eligible for outpatient services who require the constant and continued use of a wheelchair are to be furnished a second manual wheelchair of equal quality when the prescribing physician and/or Prosthetic representative have established that the absence of a manual wheelchair during repair periods would create a severe hardship. If a spare wheelchair is considered appropriate, responsibility for procurement will be with the prescribing facility.

b. Spare motorized wheelchairs may be furnished when an unusual circumstance occurs. In such cases, all pertinent facts and complete medical justification will be assembled and forwarded to the local Wheelchair Clinic or Major Medical Equipment Committee for determination."

[skippy13]

Skippy, I really do not now what would happen in an emergency. I would need to call and then wait for the volunteers at the ambulance or fire department. I am 10 miles away, up a dirt road that most people miss when they try to find me.

It's going to be a roll of the dice. I try not to think about it.

Absolutely not acceptable. Go to the VA website and look up 1173.6. Print it out and take it with you to your next appointment. If you know the rules, then they cant skimp on your treatment or entitlement to good usable equipment. I can e-mail you a copy of VHA handbook 1173.06 if you like.

Amy

[Veteran Advisor]

Absolutely not acceptable. Go to the VA website and look up 1173.6. Print it out and take it with you to your next appointment. If you know the rules, then they cant skimp on your treatment or entitlement to good usable equipment. I can e-mail you a copy of VHA handbook 1173.06 if you like.

Amy

In addition to following Skippy13's advice, arm yourself with the Clinical Appeals process. There is a thread on this process posted in the forum that will help you not just know your rights but also how to assert them in the VA system.

Gunner

[forestranger52]

Thanks folks. I am hoping a replacement charger will at least get me out. Prosthetics in Erie V.A. wanted to come to my house and see what the problem is. I told them to come right out. Of course you know, no one ever showed.
Once I finally get in someones face, look out.