Last October I was referred to the pain clinic but the referral was dropped as I don’t use the VA for primary health care. When I found this out by pulling my records in January I got an appointment in May to interview for a PCP. I met with a very helpful doc who agreed to resend the referral and become my PCP. In June the Nurse practitioner in the pain clinic said I was still not assigned a PCP and she would try to get it straightened. out. Three weeks ago a pain clinic pharmacist sent a request for a medication dosage to be increased. That message went nowhere as I do not have A PCP. Tried again last week and still not getting a response. Saturday I run out of this medicine and can not see the Doc until 25 AUG. I cannot get a hold of a patient advocate as they are rarely available in the office and have not returned any of my calls since this started.



I would really appreciate suggestions of what to do next

The medication is Gabapentin if that makes a difference

The patient advocate will respond if you call the director of the facility- which one is it? I might have the director's phone number.
They may have a Chief of Staff as well- but sometimes the COS is also the director too.

Has your 10% SC increased? Have you filed a claim for higher rating if it has?

That is a big problem. VA people telling you something and no follow through. Its like they all operate in a vacuum expecting someone else to do what is needed.Don't even depend on the patient advocate you have to double check on everyone.

Non-veterans or vets who don't use the VA would think we are suspicious minded, but it is just the reality of the VA. I can't understand why the VA would not immediately assign this vet a PCP since they are the key to all other services at the VAMC.

"Last October I was referred to the pain clinic but the referral was dropped as I don’t use the VA for primary health care."

Who did the referral to the pain management clinic?
All the referrals that I have gotten (orthosis dept., pain management clinic, vision center, orthopaedics, etc.) have ALL been through my Primary Care Physician.
I cannot see anyone else doing any "referring", as the PCP is the only one set up to do so (that is, after all, the reason for having a PCP, right?).
When you sign up for VA healthcare, and receive your VA healthcare ID card, you are assigned a "clinic" and a Primary Care Physician and an initial health exam is scheduled for you, with this PCP.
Or, at least, that's the way it worked for me.

PCP= primary care person(nurse practitioner) is what they utalize more where I go. I can see how someone loses when their pcp transfers to another area, and one calls and drops in for months with no avail...each one drops the ball...finally after 7-8 mths they got the picture. Finally got pcp(another nurse pract). Glad I use private Dr for all my controlled meds.

The Patient Advocate is worthless and they just tow the VA line. And the fact that they have no medical training makes it frustrating even dealing with them.. I had a similiar problem to this and the people that can solve this are the Eligibilty desk staff, and if they are not helpful, talk to their supervisor. Your PCP issue will be solved in 15 mins.

I went right over my patient advocate's head. He was a lazy jerk who thought every problem was the patient's fault and the VA was just like Big Brother. How many AZZZ do these advocates have to kiss to get those kind of jobs?

In Dallas show up for Triage or emergency care they will send you to another window and take in info. After they do that they will make an appointment to see a PCP. Good Luck getting one under 90 or that speaks english. They will also issue a Veterans Card which you will get in the mail in a few weeks. Until than all you have to do is show some id and give them your last four and name.

Don't let anyone delay you anymore.

Pete,
I really like my Primary Care Physician....Dr. Harrahahan Ramamurthy.

He speaks Hindu. I speak Yiddish. He nods when I speak, I smile when he talks.
I give him my notes from my wife (instructions as to my care, specialists I need to see, etc.).
He types them into the VA computer.
He thumps on my belly, listens on stethoscope.
He smiles when I speak, I nod when he speaks.
Everything is wonderful.
Life is good.

I was finally able to get a hold of a Patient advocate today and hopefully will be on the right path from this point. As was suggested I will be checking up frequently. Some information to clear up the situation in regards to questions and comments.
I was originally enrolled In 2000 and after leaving the hospital feeling there was no point in talking to them one time to many I stoped going and was dropped from the role in 2004. When I called seeking help in July I specifically stated I wanted to keep all health care not realted to my SC injury with my private doctor. The result of this is that no PCP was assigned.
After playing the game for awhile I had an appointment where I expressed my frustration with the lack of progress and was referred for a psyche eval. It was this eval that recommended the pain clinic.

I have not applied for an increase in benefits becuase everything they have found wrong with me is being dismissed as a birth defect or "that is so minor it cant be causing you pain"

".....dropped from the role in 2004."

Dropped from what "roll"?

Of Veterans assigned a PCP and clinic.

This past Monday I had to drop by the local prosthetics shop to have some work done on my leg. To make a long story short, the whole bottom assembly had to be replaced. My prosthetist has loaned out the parts until VA can get me in on an appointment in the clinic. No problem, I think....

I called VA prosthetics department to set up an appointment like I've done for the past twenty years. No go. Gotta get a referral from the PCP. I don't have nor ever have had a PCP.

So now I get to navigate a whole new set of roadblocks? Something tells me this is going to be another nightmare waiting game. It could literally take six to nine months to get a new leg?

Well, it only took them almost 7 years to get my claim approved.....