VA Clinic

the medical records being available only within a region WAS true until recently. The system is now nationwide and within the year you will be able to access your medical labs, pharmacy and records yourself on the internet through MyHealtheVet. If you are not already signed up go to www.myhealth.va.gov/ and sign up. Before you will be able to access your records on line you will have to go to the "Release of Information" office at any VA Medical Center and be verified.
The other piece of news on VA medical records is that they are now fully integrated with the military medical system records. This is one area where they have done a superior job.
Glenn

my relative came to visit me in el paso tx from cleveland. had to see doctor for meds. went to va here in el paso. he had no problems getting in. 5 min process and sick call.....all done in less then one hour.

the ability to receive proper medical care while traveling is a prime issue for RV'ers of course, and a subject that I had concerns about until I had the need to find out about it last fall.

In October of 2006 my wife and I were on an extended trip across the U.S. with stops in the New England states for the annual fall foliage show. We ate dinner at a Cracker Barrel in Coventry Rhode Island, and later in the night and the next morning, I was as sick as I have ever been. But, we continued our trip at a crawl until we made it to the U.S. Military Accademy in New York. I was extremely weak and new that I needed medical attention, so I went to the dispensary. Within 10 minutes I was in a treatment room with IV fluids being pushed into my arm.

Later in the trip, we were passing though Princeton New Jersey when I was cut off by a jack onkey and had to slam on my brakes. My wife was standing up ( I know, I know) at the time and instantly became a human bowling ball, striking her head on the center cup holder. I stopped then and there and called 911. The ambulance took my wife to Princeton Hospital, where she presented them with her CHAMPVA card and received absolutely stellar care. The rub came when the hospital found out that by law they are required to accept CHAMPVA's payment as full and final payment. But,the treatment was excellent, and without delays.

We feel confident about urgent medical care while traveling, and are always prepared with our meds from our primary care facility before we go.

Andy Altes free2rv.com

I just had occassion to test the system. I flew to Maui on May 18th, and although I wasn't feeling well, I thought I would be okay. By Sunday night, my fever was at 102.7, and I was really feeling lousy. The next morning, I telephoned the health care nurse at the clinic where I am registered, and told her where I was. She directed me to the VA Clinic in Kapalui, Maui where I received excellent treatment for pneumonia, and a transcript of that treatment into my medical records so my primary care physician in Sacramento CA had assess. Once again, I feel lucky and blessed to have this benefit.

Emergencies is no problem. In fact, in red ink on my FILE OF LIFE (which is taped to our refrigerator) it states "Please take me to a VA facility if possible."

Where the problems come is in the more routine visits which, in normal circumstances, would not be called Urgent Care problems. The only way to access the system is through Urgent Care because you have no local team if you are traveling. Some VAs are very tough to break into while others are beyond red carpet. While at Lake Havasu City, AZ this winter I stopped at the VA clinic just to say hi and ask if I could come there if I had to. They were almost angry at me because I didn't find something wrong that they could treat, gave me their contact numbers and emails. Nicest people on three planets.

So it all depends on the facility, the people and the circumstances. Generally it is not easy to get in but eventually, with persistence, it can be done.

Talk about circular logic, I think I made a couple of sharp turns in this answer.

Glenn

Have any of you gone to a hospital other than VA (because it was not available) and turned in a claim?
If you did were you succesful.