Ulysses Grimm

Review of VA Maryland Health Care System

The Dept of Veterans' Affairs as a whole is NOT in...

The Dept of Veterans' Affairs as a whole is NOT in the business of keeping veterans alive; it would cost too much money to provide America's veterans with a standard of care exceeding that of a third world country. That being said, no VA health facility I've been to epitomizes this view better than the VA Baltimore Health Center.
First, it's located smack dab in the hood of hoods. So, consider yourself lucky if you don't get robbed or carjacked trying to get here. Should you manage to make it to the underground parking, be advised that they'll only let you in with an appointment slip or VA identification card. So, if you don't have that, you'll have to find parking, and risk your life walking over. Once inside, you'll encounter VA employees who are wasting their lives away waiting to collect a pension, and have absolutely no desire to provide a standard of customer service to America's veterans.

My personal experience? I had a scheduled appointment for an MRI, and despite arriving early, I still wasn't seen until 30 minutes after my appointment time. The icing on the cake was midway through my appointment when some random doctor came in, asserted his 'authority' and had me kicked off the machine in favor of his own patient. It was a scene right out of the TV show 'House'. They expected me to wait, but of course, I left, because I'm not one of the elderly, impoverished veterans who don't really have any other choice. Unfortunately, on my 45 minute drive home, I couldn't help but think about those older vets from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, etc., or a vet who may have been there for a more serious condition. With this in mind, I contacted the Patient Advocate, as I was instructed to do, and after spending three days trying to chase the woman down, she responded by saying "It happens". There should be no wonder why the VA is in the news every year for their substandard care and various scandals. I also filed a compliant through the online system on the VA's homepage, but I never heard from anyone.
I could go on and on with my experiences here, but I won't bore you with the details. You know those places you hear about where someone goes in for a flu shot and somehow walks out with MRSA or an amputated leg? This is that kind of place. If you can at all help it, go ANYWHERE else. Even if you must employ ObamaCare.

In short, the VA Baltimore is a good place to go to get yourself killed.