There has got to be something said about the peopl...

There has got to be something said about the people that work at the Seattle V.A. Hospital. The Medical staff and volunteers are incredibly passionate--especially given incredible government constraints and budgets, constant construction, and probably one of the most unique and complicated set of patients, (read difficult).

Having had access to great, hi-tech, medical facilities, with other providers, I can honestly say that I trust this staff's vested interest in its patients, more than other systems.

Don't get me wrong, just as other patients there, I have had incredible difficulties with V.A. processes, wait times, inadequate resources, etc. (I am not certain how even Dora the Explorer could maintain a sense of "North/South/East/West" in this Hospital, but a "You are Here" floor map would certainly be more useful than "Go East!"

But given the fact that people /Volunteer/ and help me through this maze, gave me a cup of coffee, and a muffin to make this hike ... proves the sense of passion here, (and we love our hikes, here in Seattle ...)

As with all Veteran cases, always, get a second opinion. The V.A. "System" has a habit of taking at face value very old diagnoses from service. Just a few years ago, I "happened" to found out through another provider that the doctor's while I was in the service were wrong. After confirming it themselves, the V.A. Hospital quickly turned around and were able to help.

After correctly identifying the issue through another provider, the V.A. turned around quickly, very quickly, and responded with the help I needed.