Columbus VA Ambulatory Care Center Review

I have always received excellent care from my primary care doctors, behavioral health, neurology..you name it. Always on time, kind and friendly.

The pharmacy is absolutely useless it takes 5 seconds to get seen but you still wait over and hour for them to fill your prescription

I have been going to the Chalmers Wylie clinic on and off since 2010. I have always been treated well by the clinic, and the scheduling staff. I agree that it is sometimes frustrating when I call, but all in all, I have received good care. Love my primary OEF/OIF/OND doctor.

They do an incredible job. Lots of BS is in the news and it may just be certain VA hospitals, but I have never had an issue and if I need to get in right away for something, they have always got me in. I do think that the process to go to emergency care at a public hospital and the billing should be simplified or a card given so the hospital billing dept doesn't have issues, but overall love the people and service.

I truly believe the service here depends on who you interact with and who your Dr is. My husband has been going here since 2005 he has the same problems today but now worse than when he began. We are still finding out many Services that he can receive After all these years. I don't know why they don't tell these folks up front what is offered to them. He has had to switch doctors several times Just because we felt nothing was getting done. fortunately the one he has now we are finally seeing small results.

My dad had a pacemaker replacement on .8/21 and they were amazing!!! Not only did I feel super safe. But the facilities were great and they were way better then any hospital in the area. Kathleen rn in the outpatient surgery area was amazing as well as the medtronics ppl. Ive never been to this facility before but they are insanely good!!!!! I'm glad they're taking care of my dad and any Vet should be proud of this facility.

Staff and volunteers are very professional. They will get you where you need to be for appointments, help you schedule new ones, and will get you answers to most if not all of your questions. The Facility can do dental,vision,audio,pharmaceutical,tests,labs,X-ray, care teams....wow!

By far the BEST VA clinic I have been to. I compare this site to others in the cities of: Los Angeles, San Diego, Houston, and West Palm Beach. I like to illustrate that Dannette Rall (Voc. Rehab case manager) is an admirable individual; professionally and personally. She takes "working hard" to the next level. FIVR STARS.

They are very helpful and is now the only place I go for medical care..

The staff are great and actually care for their clients. Compared to other VAs, this one is one of the best.

I had surgery on my hand 10/10/18 .Honestly I can't complain about anything. Wonderful staff and doctors . Awesome Bunch

My dad was misdiagnosed from type 2 diabetes and 2 yrs later and losing 50-60 lbs he had type 1 and 4 1/2 yrs later he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and they don't seem too cold corned as his daughter I want more info they can't even tell us what stage he's in, our veterans should come first if it wasn't for them we would take have a free America, or yall there wouldn't have a job, take more interest, very upset

Small facility, but has everything you need. Came in at 8am on saturday and got everything handled quickly.

I agree its close to impossible to get anyone on the phone .. It's better to go in.. but they have assisted me with some things medically as well as an operation that I needed. .

I have had nothing but positive experiences with the V A. I would advise ALL veterans who have never been there to go ! The doctors and staff are great and because you served you are entitled to the care they provide .

Common practice is to run 20-30 minutes late. That's no way to treat anyone.

Staff aren t helpful at all. The operators are rude and transfer you to the wrong people. Staff talk over veterans as if they re all ignorant and have no clue what they re talking about. Worst VA location hands down.

Been to a couple of VA clinics and hospitals and this one treats me like I'm just another body, the staff is jaded and it feels like the staff just goes through the motions

Visited this facility today. Ashley in audiology was first class, very caring person and extremely knowledgeable. Visited optical store as well- very disappointing. Very cheap eyeglass frames even though I was willing to upgrade at additional cost. Obvious this is an outside contractor that buys cheap frame in bulk and pawns them off on the veterans. Technicians also not very helpful.

The VA is totally a joke. Chalmers changed my doctor whom on the first visit changed all my med. Now I think he has looked at my history and know my story. NO that was not the case . By Sunday due to the med changes my heart rate jumped to 180 bpm and I thought I was having a heart attack. Had my work call an ambulance and took me to the er. Theree doctor thought it best to keep me over night and the next day the cardiologist put me through a stess test. Since I didn't get prior authorization the denied my clam. If it wasn't for the doctor I wouldn't have been there anyway. So how do you get authorization for a heart attack really. The whole organization is a joke and I feel they are saying what he did is ok. It just not right. They say you have to let them know your at the hospital before a certain time. not true you have to get authorization first or they won't pay. Way to take care of the vets.

The Claims sections should just get new employee's they are so lazy, they cant answer the phone. Worthless!!!!

Pharmacy open from 7am till 6pm. Even tho docs. are not in till 8am and oviously doc.appt not till then as well But yes beat the hussle and bussle and visit pharmacy at 7am.

Great staff in all departments. Dr Bakhru is the BEST doctor I have ever had; very caring with quick followup and interest in her patients. I find it very easy to get a quick appointment in all departments and equally easy to schedule the next monthly appointment.

Been trying for 3 months to track down a pair of glasses they are supposed to be making! Every time I call their computer went down! Called them out on it and they still have no idea where they are. Finally got someone to look into it, was promised rush was put on them. Week later no glasses called them today, should have them in a week. Hahaha! Probably never get them

I've been getting health care at Chalmers for almost 6 years now and I've always had good service from caring, respectful people. The physicians I've seen are excellent and have treated me with kindness and respect. I don't feel in any way that I'm getting second rate service - because I'm not. I think the Chalmers is a gem. It could stand to be bigger as Columbus's veteran population continues to grow and the parking is just adequate currently. They do have expansion plans for parking, though.

I always get great treatment. I prefer to get things done here. Any Veteran that can shouls.

The service in every department I've personally dealt with here is GARBAGE. Lots of people aiming to look like they're doing something, but it is all BS. Unless you are LUCKY- nothing beneficial is going to happen for you at this facility. Typical of VA- intended to give vets what they need, but instead takes their time, sanity, and sometimes money.

I hope they at least treat the older veterans with some respect and compassion.. instead of wasting the precious little time they have left. Maybe I'm just not old or dismembered enough.

My advice if you have ANY other options at all- avoid this place like the plague. Don't be taken in by fluke reviews (and I have a pretty good feeling that some are fake) or how things look at first...

A great deal of bias exists with the administration of their housing program. The people here have no intention of assisting women veterans at all and I was directly told this by one of the administrators. An audit needs to be preformed with regard to discrimination practices at this agency and it needs to be re-staffed accordingly. There is no oversight of this program beyond the local administrators, who exhibit the same dicriminatory behaviors commonly seen in the Greater Columbus area. A simple accounting of the race and gender of the people seeking help from this agency, compared to the race and gender of those who actually receive assistance would easily demonstrate this bias.

I have been using this facility for my comprehensive health care for.10 year's. I have always receive great care in a timely manner with no additude.

My experience at this clinic has always been wonderful. Doctors are responsive, empathetic and professional.

There are doctors here who try to do their very best for patients but the support staffs suck. When you try to file a complaint, the Advocate is never in their office so you can be sure that your complaints are never heard. Its a damn shame that the system is so broken and no one gives a damn enough to get it fixed.

I've been going here for a couple years and love it the people are great and the nurses at purple team and pain clinic are awesome.
Thank you for your service to veterans.

The staff and medical personnel generally do their best to assist veterans with the resources made available to them.

Care is terrible at best and criminal at worst. Docs refuse to treat patients, waits of several months. One or two doctors are great the rest couldn't get hired at an urgent care if they tried.

I've been going to this facility for a few years now and I can't remember any negative visits. I've always been seen on time for my scheduled visits. Also, the urgent care is very timely as well.

All of the doctors, nurses and staff I've seen are great, including my surgeries. The social workers and advocates are great as well. My current job is a result of a referral.

We, veterans, in this area are lucky to have such a great facility to service our health and social needs.

My husband has received exceptional care at the Chalmers P Wiley Columbus VA clinic. He has had wonderful care starting in Urgent Care plus very skilled primary care Dr. Sundarem, cardiology Dr. Shapiro, ENT Dr. Soliman & Audiology Ms. Turtello.
The nurses have been very knowledgeable and very caring. All the staff have treated my husband with the upmost respect and courtesy.
We are very grateful and appreciative of all the care that has been provided by the VA Columbus out-patient clinic!

Each visit I make I am treated with respect and courtesy, I don't get that at regular hospitals or Dr's Offices. I am among greatness every time I walk through those doors.

I called in at 4:20 PM to schedule an appointment. The facility is open till 430. I was receiving no answer. The phone just kept ringing. I then called back at 4:27 PM. They had closed the I office and the automated close message was playing. You already close at 4:30 why not stay open till 430. This is poor service. Stay open until you're supposed to close and continue to provide support until the end of the day.

First appointment after enrolling for VA Benefits and it was great experience! Staff did everything they could to make sure I was receiving the right care. Fast and friendly!

I just started going there and so far the service has been great.

Serving those who served...
God Bless America..

Some of the best care in the country hands down. Always looking out for the best health for you.

**UPDATE**
I applied the Steri-Stips after the stitches were removed. I left the them on for about two and a half weeks. After I removed them the wound had healed nicely. See the photos.

**UPDATE**
I had the stitches removed after nine days. I posted before, during and after photos. The wound appears to not have healed correctly. I think I might have been able to achieve better results with Steri-Strips. You be the judge. I'm using Steri-Strips after the stitches were removed, to try to fully close the wound.

**ORIGINAL REVIEW**
I live in South Florida, so I was out of town when I had a minor run-in with an surgically-sharp chisel while wood working. I needed a few stitches, so I went to the Urgent Care Clinic of the Chalmers P Wylie VA Ambulatory Care Center. This place is hands down TOP SHELF. Just as good, if not better than my own VA Facility in Fort Lauderdale FL. Physician Mckeon, Scott J did an out-freakin'-standing job stitching up my leg. I arrived at 1600 on a Monday, and was out of there by 1700. Battle tested, Marine approved. Thank you Doctor Mckeon!!!

The benefits office is awful. I brought my partner who was two days post operation from her spinal surgery to turn in paperwork for a increase and to pick up her medications. The nurse at the desk told us we need a post surgical log with a note stating the date she would be recovered. This isn't anything a hospital would document in that report. I am a medical records specialist. She proceeded to take personal phone call in front of us and rudely cut us off when we began to ask questions to see what else would fufill the requirements. I am embarrassed at how the disabled veterans who fought for our freedoms is treated here.

Recently I went to the VA Ambulatory Center in Columbus, OH, in order to inquire about and explain the situation that should be soon forward to VA Secretary, Undersecretary, and VA Inspector General. At first, I talked with a very nice guy whom is in charge of scheduling C&P appointments and proceeded to explain to him the nature of the situation, and everything was very sensible and intelligible for him; but then he indicated that he only did the scheduling and were not into the adjudicating process and its steps so he could not relay any message to the RO on my behalf. So, in order to relay a message to the Cleveland RO he took me to talk to someone at the same medical facility who happens to be Veterans Administration Benefits representative. All along, talking to this VAB guy was one of the most obnoxious and obtuse experiences I have ever had in my life: he was basically trying to convince me that the whole thing was part of the remanded early effective date for the IU and that the SMC (which nothing but an intrinsincal part of the IU) was the key word for the whole thing. He was therefore indicating that the RO would re-adjudicate a well deliberated, determined, and decided appeal by the BVA which have already gone through all the claim and appeal process, motions, and steps and have ultimately then been decided at the BVA level should then go back to be decided yet again by the clowns at the RO only because the name REMAND alongside the key word SMC were present even although the remanded portion have no relation or correlation whatsoever of any nature, shape, or form within this scenario concerning the appealed cases concomitant to the subsequent failure to of the RO (no surprise there) follow the BVA rule and order and thus update the ratings. I thought I had seen everything but this guy really took the meaning of distortion to a whole new level.

So, if you need legal assistance and advice with your dealings with the VA and are not familiar with the federal statutes and laws; you really need to consider hiring a federal lawyer: at the end of the day, it will likely be money well spent.

They should hire individuals whose level of competence and proficiency regarding Veterans Law meets a minimum standard and baseline otherwise one ends up with situations that are a real aberrations in nature.

From regularly scheduled appointments to unexpected tests, the staff has been friendly, empathetic, and accommodating. My father always receives good service from the doctors and staff here.

Had 3 appts and so far so good. Long waits for appts but nice docs

I've been reading some of the negative reviews and believe that those individuals are like the yelp reviewers saying untrue things merely because they can. I've never had a negative experience at this hospital, in fact I live less than 30min from the Dayton VA hospital and I drive to Columbus for treatment because it's so much better. No hospital is perfect and everyone will have the occasional problem but if you think the Columbus VA is a one facility the problem is with the you.

Great staff throughout this place. I take my father-in-law for all his appointments here.

The care here is the best. I hear about issues at other places but having been a patient here since 2013 in several different Departments I can say that I have never had mediocre or bad care.

Not every clinic / department is a failure only the clinic that's charged with setting appointments for the specialists you most need or reading your test results. It's as if they are just marking time 'til retirement or a more lucrative opportunity becomes available.
My favorite clinic is Endocrinology. They don't beat around the bush you know where you are with them. I trust them in everything they do for me, bar none.
The other clinics? Not so much!
And the Social Workers available through the VA today may be fine for the young guys just coming back and they would benefit more from an experienced social worker or at the very least one of their peers whose been there done that to counsel them. But the youth today fresh out of the college of Social Work are too hung up on theory. They need to spend more time with supervision in the field before coming to a facility like the VA. They are just not ready!

Outstanding care. I've been going here since 2013 for all of my medical and dental care, as well as Voc rehab for s/c disability. One of the best facilities I've seen in almost 30 years of using VA health care.

Bad Customer Service . The voice system is redundant and the myhealth website tracker for medication is not picking up medication from this facility. So someone or something is wrong. Why have the track delivery for medication if it not even being used. Other then that when your seeing the providers they are respectful and is not much of a wait.

Im a retired US Solider went to the VA to get my glasses repaired went to the eye clinic and told the my glasses broken they told me i will need new frames and they needed to be ordered this was in May 2017 went back in June to check on the frames the woman in the eye clinic said they were never ordered but she will put a rush order on them and will call me when they arrive no calls so i went back in July and went to the eye clinic to check on my frames the woman told me they were not ordered i was so angry i just walked out and went home

Thank you Randy Fleming for your Volunteer work at the Columbus VA. We need more people like you.

Gastroenterology department is top notch. Real concern over your health.

Service and patient care has been great. The only complaint I have is with patient advocates. It s been over a year since I had out patient surgery, at another hospital, bc they (VA) couldn t at the time. The VA paid for everything except one bill, which has gone to collections and I keep getting the run around. Saying oh you need to contact these people for help or oh no since this change you need to contact these people . That is my biggest hang up or I would give them a 5.

Great programs to help veterans, medical staff and patient advocates all advocate for the hospital than patients. Refuse to give any medications to transferring veterans from other VA hospitals and make you start from scratch as if you ve never been to a VA hospital before.
Mental health is a joke here.
I ll go back to Loma Linda VA hospital as soon as I can.

Tore something in my knee had an xray and an MRI the very next day. Outstanding to get an MRI that fast.

Been going here for years and never a problem getting what I needed done. My regular doctor is awesome and has always been there through my rough times. I get to see very rarely the WW2 Vets which is always a plus.

It's a hurry up and wait. Just like the military. But ehhhh what'd ya expect.

I have benefitted from services provided by primary care, audiology, dermatology, pharmacy, and vision care departments. Without exception I have received consistently outstanding medical care. I strongly recommend the Chalmers P Wylie Ambulatory Care Center to any veteran needing.medical care. This facility is nothing short of first class in my opinion.

Last time I went there, the Doctor called off, got me taken care of though. Next appointment is today, I had to switch with someone to make this appointment and also work a late shift. I live an hour and a half away, they call me at 7:35 am to cancel my 10:40 appointment. I also have a bad cold and was ready to go.

I love this v a, they did more for my son in one hour than vinton county n chillicothe put together, i dont know what happened to spmeone else but bad things can go wrong at any given hospital, but as far as the va care, he had surhery n they were wonderful, tbe followup was great, and the social service people went above and beyond any va ive been to, so keep up good work

Every time I call or go there I get the run around. Never a simple process and appointment times are always over a month out. Im talking about Serious mental health issues and herniated disk issues and they are like "come back in a month" SERIOUSLY? Not to metion they are always rude and act like im an inconvenience to them. Check yourself people and realize you serve the ones that made real sacrifice.

Poor patient service. It seems like everyone working there either just doesn t want to be there, unaware that you are waiting, has staff meetings while Veterans wait, and NO Patient, Veteran service. Unaware of the poor attitude that they are presenting the to the veteran and seem to express their frustrations to the veterans.

I have always received top notch care at this Facility!!! This facility was recommended by someone who receives care here, so I tried it and am very satisfied with the treatment I have received. Kind, Courteous, and Respectful! I Recommend this facility to all VET's, You will not be disappointing.

Extremely satisfied with the care i receive here! You hear a lot about how terrible the VA is but i have had nothing but superior experiences here!

Everybody parks however they want. Double parking. Parking in handicap zones and security does nothing to prevent this.

You have to go to your primary care to get a consult to go to any dept. even though you are service connected for that dept.

Primary care thinks they know how every other dept. and the VA system runs. However they know nothing.
They put every ailment into 1 consult and the VA wants it separate consults for each ailment.

Wonderful. Ran by many who are themselves Vets. The compassion shows.

I was an infantryman in the Army for 8 years with two deployments. I have a permanent rating of 70% and, and I'm considered "unemployable" and paid at the higher 100% rate. They do this to avoid having to pay for insurance for my children and other expensive benefits. Last July the VA had me add to something called the Fiduciary Program which essentially had me declared incompetent, with out any judicial due process. I've had my property seized and my compensation taken away. Been made homeless at points by the VA that is here to "serve" me.

My husband is a Vietnam vet. We have been coming to this facility for a long while he sees lots of different Drs and I have to say we haven't meet anyone here rude or nasty they all are very caring n compassionate.

I had a good experience got in and out in a average good time

Great Doctors, Great Service, not much wait time at scheduled Appointments. This also applies to ALL Clinic Staff members. Immediate replies to Messages sent via their Website or Phone. Immediate response for Urgent Care directions (even on weekends and/or off hours). They have an Escalation route in place, if needed and Monitor all phases of their operation. They also have a Veteran- Patient website to use with all Services and Communication, so everyone is on the same page of information. The Veteran that uses this Clinic, is my Life Partner (but I handle all of his Health care and arrangements). So, I work closely with this Clinic as well and I can't say enough good things about THIS Health organization. I haven't any experiences, with any other VA Clinic locations but this one is Top Notch! Keep up the good work and THANK YOU.

I live 1.5 hours away. Arrived to their urgent care around 11AM because I had strep throat ( later diagnosed) and was told that they could not see me because they could not get me in before 4:30PM when they close!

Not to mention that I made the drive because the VA doctor at the closer outpatient clinic was on vacation, and this was their "caring" alternative care plan.

Now I cough up the money for private insurance so I don't have to deal with this.

This facility is great, I've had a very good experience with all the great Souls that I've made contact with in my Six years of visits. I like to give and get a smile from all and even generate rapor and crack a laugh with souls that are under pressure at all times and still serve you with genuine human Love. You feel it specially is you are an
empath.

I just want to say thank you to everyone who works at the VA. All of my doctors are amazing, the nurses are great as is most of the staff (had some issues with the call center folks more than once but I'm over it). I know my doctors could probably make twice as much in the private sector as they do serving the veterans, but they still choose to be there for me and the other soldiers. It wasn't always this way. But they are getting better and better I would like to see that continue. Thank you

Terrible Primary Care. They let Veterans suffer in pain and will not help at all with pain issues.

Waste of time, I'm sitting here at the urgent care clinic listening to the staff make excuses why they can't do there job.

This VA has the worst primary care that I have ever seen.
I must say that the Dental Dept is a 5 star.