Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Howdy all - just wondering if there's any Vets, or anyone else, who could tell me about VA health care services in Community Based Outpatient Clinics for areas like Silver City or other remote areas (remote, compared to larger city VA facilities like Albuquerque and El Paso).
Have been to the Silver City CBOC website, but wondering what 'doctor evaluations" entails, how emergency care is handled and more. Have called the SC CBOC, but only to handed-off to a recording. They probably don't return calls to out-of-state. I guess I should call 'em again and handle my request a little differently this time, but would also love to hear it first hand from a Vet, if possible.
Well, I phoned the Albuquerque VA and they answered all the questions I could think of, but if anyone has input, advice or experiences to relate of any kind, sure would be grateful.
Well, I phoned the Albuquerque VA and they answered all the questions I could think of, but if anyone has input, advice or experiences to relate of any kind, sure would be grateful.
Thx very much!
I lived in Farmington for 5 years and used the clinic there. Care is pretty basic, even something as simple as a cut needing a couple stitches, you will be sent to the local (non VA) ER.
The other care is more maintenance than anything else, if you have something new pop up they will send you to the VAMC. Don't plan on getting an appointment sooner than 3 months, maybe more.
The MD quality is not much better, in the time I went there they had 8 different Doc's or PA or NP and 1 MD supervising them. If they do get a really good MD... they Don't stay long.
I live in Albuquerque now, the main reason I moved was to be near more and better care. One more thing to add about CBOC is they have no diagnostic equipment and no budget for contracting with local facilities who do have things like MRI CT, or even something like PT
I hope this is of some help. If you have more questions email me direct cause I Don't check this forum very often.
I use one or two of the new mexico VA clinics some of the time and have
had minor surgery at the VA hospital in Albuquerque. I guess it would
be safe to tell you if you are in a remote town (clinic) to not expect very
fast service. The few times I have used the Albuquerque hospital it has
taken over 3 months to get an appointment. The clinics are good for
minor things like sore throats and such. In a emergency or in real pain
I head for the closest doctor or hospital but in the town that I am in that's
not much of a solution either. I should also mention that as the gas price
goes up I keep meeting residents who are moving to be in a larger town
like Las Cruces, Albuquerque or Santa Fe to be much closer to far better
medical. I don't know about Silver City as it might have good non VA
medical facilities.
JPD, my husband was just down in Alamogordo and surrounding areas. He's 100% S/C, and needed refill on one of his meds. He went to the VA Clinic in Alamo, and they didn't help him (he was warned about this particular med before he left, so he should have known better). I told him he wasn't going to be able to walk in off the street and get this med, no matter what, the Clinic there wouldn't do it - and I wouldn't do it if I was in their position.
He went down to the VA Hospital in El Paso, and was able to get his meds. He was really impressed with the service and care he got in EP.
It also didn't put him off moving to Alamo in any way, so I hope that helps you.
It certainly does help! The most recent replies had me wondering about care in El Paso, and if I shouldn't be considering relocation to Las Cruces, instead of Silver City (so as to be closer to El Paso care if needed.
Wondering now about care in Las Cruces....if MRI and similar is available there, through the VA?
I just hate to give up the climate in Silver City though - don't like the heat of Las Cruces in the warm season. Don't know if I'd get used to it or not.
Well, Hubby get all of his care through the VA, and if they can't handle it, or don't have the facilities, then he is referred to a "regular" hospital.
Just recently, he was having problems with the first joint of his middle finger, and asked for a cortisone shot. He was at the VA, and when they took an x-ray of the finger joint, they found that part of his joint was missing - vanished... the Ortho. Dept. referred him to a finger/hand specialist outside of the VA system. The VA pays for this.
JPD, have you checked out Alamogordo? They have the CBOC, and I believe they refer what they don't/can't handle to EP, as it's closer the ALB. I could be wrong on this, though.
I haven't really checked out Alamagordo thoroughly Cindy, I've been concentrating on Silver City because of the climate. I seem to remember Alamo being pretty hot in summer too.
How far is EP from Alamagordo?
Chances are I'll need MRI scans in the future, for a bulging disc (low back) condition, and wouldn't want to be too far away from MRI and related care. Doesn't sound like that kind of care is available in Silver City, according to Charlie's (Fischer) reply, if I understood him right.
Right now, we're in Iowa, but are planning on moving to Alamo in late August/early Sept.
Keith just got back from the trip to NM, and loved it. For a guy that's had both knees replaced since last fall, he did 8 miles in White Sands, and felt great. That's much better than he does here!
BTW, he was drafted for service in SE Asia, and helped load herbicides into the fixed wing aircraft, so got very heavy doses of dioxins. He has bad arthritis, which I believe to be s/c, but get the gov't to admit it is another story. Don't let me get on that soapbox!
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I contacted the Albuquerque VA
