A retired Marine Corps bomb technician, John (Joey) Jones, lost both of his legs after stepping on an IED in 2010 in Afghanistan. His injuries and recovery require regular medical follow-up. Yet the treatment he’s been receiving lately highlight the very well publicized issues that are plaguing the current VA system. After his latest run in with the bureaucracy, he tweeted about his treatment.
Thread:
After a 5hr wait I was turned away form @AtlantaVAMC at 2:30am this morning without treatment or explaination. Here’s what happened..
— Johnny (Joey) Jones (@Johnny_Joey) May 9, 2018
“After a 5hr wait I was turned away form @AtlantaVAMC at 2:30am this morning without treatment or explanation. Here’s what happened…” Jones begins.
What follows is a description of just one visit. Jones has been moving from private treatment into the VA system, but after 18 Months, he still hasn’t been assigned a primary care physician.
I had been seeing a civilian doctor for about a year here near my home and work in Newnan, GA. He sees me monthly and proscribed a very moderate amount of pain medication. (I’m incredibly healthy and active).
— Johnny (Joey) Jones (@Johnny_Joey) May 9, 2018
Making the switch from a private insurer to the VA means navigating the bureaucracy.
They informed me that my only recourse was to go to the VA Emergency Room in Decatur, GA (1hr 30mins north of my home) and show my current script and they proscribe the same meds until my appointment.
— Johnny (Joey) Jones (@Johnny_Joey) May 9, 2018
Most patients know you don’t the emergency room to get a new script, but when that’s what the VA tells you to do…
Finally yesterday I called the 404-321-6111 again and confirmed that I was embarking upon the correct course of action to seek care. They affirmed and I showed up at the Decatur VA ER at 9:30pm@last night after my son’s baseball game which had me on that side of Atlanta.
— Johnny (Joey) Jones (@Johnny_Joey) May 9, 2018
Following their instructions, he went. And he waited.
At 12:24am I was called back for vitals. I again showed my script, this time with full explanation, and was assured that I was doing the right thing. At 1:55am I noticed everyone but me, including those who came in after me, had been called back. I walked to the nurse station..
— Johnny (Joey) Jones (@Johnny_Joey) May 9, 2018
At this point, it would be obvious that his needs didn’t qualify as an emergency in the traditional sense. Yet no one would give him the correct information.
He was rude, desmissive and said “I’m leaving I’ve been here all day, you’ll have to wait” to which I replied “I’ve had no legs for 8 years I feel so bad for you” he then changed his demeanor and looked at my script. He smirked and said “I can’t fill this here”… I lost it.
— Johnny (Joey) Jones (@Johnny_Joey) May 9, 2018
So he continued to wait.
He brushed passed me without responding. I thought he was going to get my chart to take care of me, the nurse asked me to sit down. A few minutes later the nurse came back and told me the New doctor on duty (Dr. Baxter) would see me shortly (almost 3am at this point)
— Johnny (Joey) Jones (@Johnny_Joey) May 9, 2018
There’s a new doctor coming on, though–so the problem will finally get resolved, right?
Dear @DeptVetAffairs what am I supposed to do? How do I get the treatment I need/deserve if following YOUR directions gets me a 5hr wait, smart ass comments and turned away???
— Johnny (Joey) Jones (@Johnny_Joey) May 9, 2018
“Jones said he was told he could refill a prescription he needed at the VA’s emergency room before an upcoming appointment,” Fox writes.
“I’ve since learned you don’t go to an emergency room for that. … It has been a disinformation campaign and that’s been the biggest problem,” Jones added.
Here’s the interview Jones did with Fox after the incident.
Source: The Tribunist
