Laurence Scroggins

Review of Phoenix VA Healthcare System

Came in for the first time since moving from Pismo...

Came in for the first time since moving from Pismo Beach CA and will never be going back again. I was hesitant due to the infamous history this particular VA health center has, but needed to be seen over my mental health issues and other problems that I have noticed since leaving the military. My doctor, a heart specialist with a reputation for disrespecting patients, belittled me and essentially verbally attacked me once he saw that i had a medical history for PTSD. He told me that if his Navy special forces patients can deal with it he has no remorse for others who can't. He didn't know this at the time, but i worked with a special operations unit maintaining various aircraft that supported their missions. Ive known a lot of those men and women, and a lot of them are struggling with what i struggle with now as well. He also made it very clear that he could make a lot more money outside the VA or in deployed locations, but he doesn't because he likes helping people... He liked helping his ego but that was about it. He was a prior Navy doctor i believe and i don't remember his name nor do i care to ever know it. That man and his "beliefs" do not belong in the care of veterans. I didn't come in for a free ticket and i sure as hell didn't need to hear his 15 minute speech about mind over matter and getting over it; it being a problem that I've been struggling with for 6 years and one that has caused a divorce, a separation from my kids, and many many lost friends. I thought Trump was gonna fix this place and was very happy when he got elected, but based on recent reviews its still very much the same place it was. I am transferring to the VA health center in Surprise AZ and will be traveling to Payson when need be. I was told they are great in Payson, but Ive yet to go. I hope someone up higher in the food chain reads this and addresses my concerns with the last doctor I was seen by. Some veterans would not have taken his approach as well as i did. My name is here so it shouldn't be hard to look it up in the records. I'll try to better myself without the constant prescription of pills the VA tries to feed us, and hopefully find a doctor that cares about his patient's concerns and not his narrow minded beliefs. (P.S. The visit i am referring to was almost a year ago if not more, and i sat on my thoughts for a long time thinking that maybe that doctor was right. He wasn't right and I hope this "review" can foster positive change at this location)