Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston Review

Parking is atrocious and pretty much the only option is valet parking. The line for valet parking was so long that it took me about an hour to get to the front. I called my doctor to let them know that I was on site, just waiting to get parked, before my scheduled appointment My appointment was at 9:30, I got in the office at 10:16. They told me that I would either have to wait until 4pm or reschedule for a later date. They took several walk ins to the back while I'm still waiting. Their excuse is that I already had an appointment.

My husband is a disabled vet we get excellent service

Trying to get assistance via the phone is a nightmare. Great Medical Care on-site but admin and most of the clerical workers are worthless. The ones that make an effort are spectacular.

It's nice that the services were always free for my father but stuff like parking and traffic was always a nightmare. Anything involving scheduling conflicts was just plain terrible, when he was dying in a regular hospital they got upset that I had to move a date around. He passed before they could even get his dental coverage, too.

I'm at the downtown VA quite a bit and it seems lately parking is getting less & less convenient. I usually try & park in the patient lot so I can walk in. The last several times I've tried to park I go in & drive around & the lot is full!! With a security person in the booth there at the entrance why don't they know the lot is full and direct vets to park elsewhere or to get in line for valet parking??? What is that "security" person doing there? I drive over an hour to get there & I try to time everything just so I don't waste a lot of time. Driving in circles looking for parking when there isn't any is a waste. Then having to get in the line for valet parking uses up a lot of time!!

Emergency Entrance is Open and Available for medical Services 24/7 for any and all medical services.

The medical doctors n nurses n physician assistants n medical staff are available from 800 am to 430 pm Monday thru Friday.
Emergency triage is open n available 24/7.
So Come on In as you Needs.

Be prepared to wait to see the doctor. It will take a while

Used valet parking Dec. 27. $300.00 was stolen from our vehicle. Had been there all day and it was late. Security could do nothing. Said call the police. Are there security cameras? Seems like only 2 people would have been in the vehicle. Should have been checked out.

Do you guy's know that you have a racist working for your company? Her name is Octavia Johnson and she works here as a clinical psychologist.

As far as VA facilities go it is about the same as all of the rest. Parking can be a nightmare, even with Valet parking. Oftentimes you must wait to get to the Valet stand. Par for the course.

Thank you!!!! You guys rock. From the telecare nurses to my doc and her team taking me at the last minute late in the afternoon to the pharmacies to the emergency room this eve to radiology. It was a great experience and everyone made my emergent situation the best it could be. Thank you and thank you Father for these who served me so well today. What a great team!

Clerical staff seems not very caring yet the doctors and nurses couldn t possibly be any more concerned and helpful. The overall experience is above expectations and makes me, as a patient, feel comfortable and confident in the medical staff.

The soonest appointment was 7 weeks out. I called the week before to confirm the time of appointment and was informed that the appointment had been canceled weeks ago due to the doctor taking time off. No one called or rescheduled me. It took 2 weeks to reach the right person for scheduling and when she finally did contact me, it was to inform me that the appointment I had previously made was cancelled. They notified me of the cancellation 2 weeks after the cancelled appointment time! It took another 4 weeks to get in.

All in all, the VA is good, but often bad. If you can get a doctor you like and who truly cares, the wait and other issues may be worth it.

Received diagnosis for anemia and diabetes 2 months back never prescribed meds for the Anemia.. just had a blood transfusion a week ago for low hemoglobin levels ..dangerously low 6.1.. It could have all been avoided if only they would have prescribed meds.. The other thing I had to call to ask about my results and I haven't see nbn my Primary since I enrolled in the Houston VA.. that was 9mths ago

ER on weekends was not a good experience!!! The front desk people were fine, but the RN and the Doctor that was on the weekend of 12/15 was not very helpful, and would not listen to me about my issues!!!! The last time I was here (with the same problem) the same thing happened!!!! I was treated much better at the V.A. ER in Dallas!! Thay were much better and they listened to me and my needs!! This ER here needs to do much better job with us Veterans!! When I first came here, back in May 2018 thay sent me Home and did not treat my problem then, and I got worse!! I am a Veteran, I deserve much better!!! The staff during the week is much better!!!

Had a collapsed lung then a colostomy bag so far on the way to colon cancer treatment,
Everyone has absolutely wonderful.

WILL LIE IN YOUR CHARTS AND NOT TELL YOU WHAT YOUR VISIT REVEALED.
THE VA POLICE ACT LIKE THE GESTAPO
EXTREMELY ABUSIVE VERBALLY
AND HARRASSMENT.I GUESS COULDN'T MAKE IT AS A REAL COPS.ALL ON A
POWER TRIP.
JESUS SOMEONE NEEDS TO FIX
THIS HOSPITAL.IT USED TO BE AVERAGE GOOD BUT KNOW A HELL HOLE.
I WOULDN'T RISK ANY MORE SURGERY
EVER AFTER MESSING UP NECK SURGERY
IM NOW A QUADRAPLEGIC
SOOOO VERY. SAD.

Government run is all I have to say!!!! Also have recently found out some of their medical staff is not training in America or has certification with state medical boards!!!!!!!!!!!!!

it has its moments (due to a few individual employees) but overall I have had excellent care and service here. if possible, I'd rate it at 4.9

I have been coming here for all my medical needs since I got out of the Navy. I always get great care.

Outstanding VA Hospital i have been all over the US and it is by far the best well done and thank you

Absolute slowest moving organization in the healthcare industry. You really will die waiting on anything from care to paperwork transmittal.

Went in for a spine mri at 1330. I showed up at 1300 to sign in, they proceeded to tell me that my appoint was at 1530 and not 1330 like my slip said. So aftwr waiting until 1630, i asked the staff what the issue was and i was told they were just backed up. Yet the other 6 or 7 vets waiting as well hadnt been seen. By 1730 i was fed up and only 1 of there 6 or 7 people there had been seen i left. They have 3 mri machines currently...yet one worked in a 4 hour span.....

I am the wife of a service-connected disabled USMC Veteran. I m also a former (due to care of my spouse) medical health care professional. I am well experienced in both sides of patient care. I can say many of the various staff members are polite, friendly & knowledgeable, however, it s those staff members who lack professionalism & lack of respect which tear down the efforts & presence of what this hospital was meant to represent in all facets.

In more depth, I can attest how I ve yet to witness my husband being treated as a whole patient . As he suffers both physical & PTSD issues, this medical center, as a whole, fails him miserably; if admitted for mental health while coincidentally enduring a very painfully, crippling gout (knee) attack, he is left without any medication regimen much less pain control (this is taking place this minute) for this physical issue.

It seems counterproductive given how pain can exasserbate or even trigger further mental and physical complications. As we speak, he is admitted on the 6th floor & I am concerned for his safety. I have received his calls begging, in tears, for me to do something to help him. It is my assertion more harm is being done to his well being at this rate. When I am present, if I attempt to convey information about his circumstance, I am quickly snapped at ( the Veteran can speak for himself ) & ignored. Sadly, this makes staff member follow-up calls directed at me impossible to take seriously, no matter their seemingly genuine interest. By the time the calls start, I m completely disgusted by how his current case began.

Additionally, while his in-patient status is preceded by very stressful turmoil for both of us, each time it has caused further stress and strain. My nights are sleepless while he is there on the 6th floor. During his last stay, he was unreasonably (I continually read every chart note, lab result, etc.) handled and left on the actual hard, cold floor after complaining of chest pain. A staff member even noted their disbelief of his complaint (a big red flag as to standard of care). Three days later he was having emergent open heart surgery. Thankfully, the cardiovascular team took most excellent care of him. Had it been left up to the 6A staff belief system, I have absolutely no doubt I d currently be a widow.

We are most grateful for those staff members and representatives who take pride in their work, are present & accountable (yes, they do exist, I ve had the honor of meeting a few). If not for those individuals, this hospital would be a miserable failure.

As to those staff members who are unprofessional, unfriendly, incompetent & unwilling... I encourage them to read about the career and goals of the hospitals namesake- Dr. Michael E. DeBakey and then ask themselves if he would stand for their name on his payroll. I think not.

No matter the hospital, the department, the Doctor, the terminology, the technician, the administrative clerk, the test or the health condition, I encourage each patient & their chosen caregiver(s) to advocate for themselves/patient as much as they can. Read, READ, ReAd all that can be read about any, ANY, AnY question that comes to mind and then ask, ASK, AsK anybody, everybody until a comfort level is reached. Every patient & their circumstances are unique and very important. Health care can be very taxing for everyone involved, however, there is no excuse for a patient feeling unheard, uncared for, ignored or left with unanswered, answerable questions and proper, Standard of Care. Period.

I am so thankful and so glad that this VA hospital is taking care of my father with flying colors standing ovation Services is excellent the doctors are very friendly and nurses they are very passionate about their patients and family great job

Excellent location to volunteer and serve my fellow veterans. Great folks here serving our veterans.

You guys will complain about everything damn .....of course its overloaded look how many Vets we have out here damn ... I bet most of you guys just did 4 years and never seen overseas and complained the whole time you was in ....now you wanna complain bout the services

The Service and Care I received at this ER was outstanding. Although extremely busy, the entire staff from reception to the entire the medical staff is to be commended for their dedication and commitment to Veterans Care. The Dr. with the initials (NM) was top notch. He was everything a patient could ask for under such stressful times. His efforts and true commitment to solve my medical dilemma really made a difference on how I felt when I left the VA. In sum, they quality of care I received was outstanding and much appreciated.

When my Dad became hospice due to cancer, they took excellent care of him, had a hospital bed and everything else he needed by the time he was released to come home. Hospice home care was efficient, caring and effective, and very kind.

Tried to make an appointment online, was told I couldn't by a nurse and that I had to come in as an unsheduled visit. Sat for 4 hours to talk to a nurse for 5 mins and order a urinalysis....4 hours. DMVs are quicker than this VA Clinic

I'm running out of patience with poorly trained staff who make the good parts of the VA look bad. I've been trying for 9 years for the VA to look at or refer me for a specialty clinic issue. I finally get an appointment only to have it cancelled. Wow. Then today, the Houston VA calls me today and then asks "can I help you"...they called me! And they don't know why because they don't write contact notes in CPRS like they are supposed to. Geez. No wonder they drove me to retirement...I retired from the VA because I was losing my mind and couldn't fix a damn thing.

Good care in some areas, however terrible management of appointments. Some urgent care needs such dental work can be spaced out over 3 to 6 months.

The Houston V.A. call center is very very unprofessional!!! Bad attitudes and no mannerism. Whats the purpose of a call center if it's unless. Tried checking on my mebs after hours and was on hold for at least an half hour not to talk to anyone. Called the suicide hotline and was on hold for several minutes before someone answered and then hung up!!

Always takes at least half an hour to talk to anyone over the phone. Ridiculous

This place is Horrible!! This place is unprofessional, not too mention the level of disrespect our Veterans!

Can't describe the feeling that I have going to get treatment for my ailments that I incurred in Somalia. I'm a Chronic patient due to lower back degenerated disk and Patella Femur Syndrome in my R.Knee plus Sciatica while battling PTSD.

Every single staff member has been kind and quite competent. I could not have asked for better care.

This is where the doctors go who couldn't get jobs at real hospitals. 5th rate care, and they will everything in their power to not diagnose anything if humanly possible. They would rather a patient die than cost them money. That's proven fact a quick google search will verify. Women's health is the WORST. Dr. Ellarossi is a quack and big on age discrimination for young adult patients.

I have received medical care from Many different VA Facilities throughout the U.S., I hated everytime I had to go to this facility!!! My Primary care Doctor was horrible and a non caring beaurocrat!!! and the Parking issues using the valet service was horrible.

I do not come here to comment very often.
however, it seems sometimes I have to vent,,,
Michael E. DeBakey along with the Conroe
Outpatient Clinic, has been a God Send for me!!!
I am 85 going on 86 Korean, lost , still Fighting, PTSD, TBI, etc, but I refuse to give in.
The same as I did in Korea.

i have had good times and bad times .

My mother went in for cancer treatment and even though she passed on they treated her like the most important they had. Excellent care am really happy with the care she received.

Nothing is ever an emergency at the VA. I am seeing people having stokes and some are going pale, but there is no sense of urgency with the VA staff. Smh. Something must be done.

As far as VA centers (government healthcare for that matter) go, this VA hospital has provided the best treatment and care than any other I've seen.

They would receive five stars if it wasn't for the fact that they are a bit under staffed and tend to not give the same amount of attention to non-service connected ailments.

The staff was wonderful, would recommend this hospital to friends

six months ago offered fusion surgery same doctor today says it DOES NOT MATTER WHAT HE SAID THEN now it doesn't need it #becarefulbeforeyouletthemcut

Service is improving, there is always room for personal improvement specially with staff that has direct contact with patients when doing routine check up and services

I ve only gone to the outpatient center in Tomball. This was my first visit to the main campus for a dermatologist appointment. I ve heard the horror stories but was pleasantly surprised. The receptionist was very friendly and gave accurate and detailed information. I was in and out in 30 minutes.

I was a medic in the Air Force and worked in hospitals and clinics. I have never seen more incompetent people under one roof...malpractice, negligence and inhumanity.

The least efficient people as well as facility. You can call one extension for hours and not get answered. If it gets answered it will be routed to a department that doesn't deal with your specific case or need. My particular experience was trying to get an authorization to go to an outside follow up with an orthopedic surgeon who treated me while at Memorial Hermann. 2 days of none stop phone calls and countless redirects still nothing.

Tied up in bureaucracy, thinking it's funny to make people wait, rude.. worst place on earth

My brother is in the hospital and the nursing care is horrible, he called for three hours on Sunday and two hours to day. He was having breathing difficulty due to having terminal cancer. He told me this morning he thought he was going to die because he could not breath

Wonderful caring Doctors and Nurses. Also the Green Team Staff is the best of the best.

I have called at least 10 times. Dialed every extension and stil haven't received help. I asked 2 different people about making an appointment for my back and got put on hold then forwarded to an answering machine. Their phone system is a mess and operators don't care unless you say you're about kill yourself. I'll make the drive to another VA center because this place couldn't help me make a simple appointment after 30 minutes!

I'm giving a 3 star because of the the great Doctors and nurses. The people that work the front desks are rude, lazy, and all around disrespectful. They are are bitter hateful people.

Horrible wait time, again working on 7 or more hours. Shameful how our vets are treated

Always there for long periods of time. Staff is usually rude. Took me almost an hour to try and make an appointment and got transferred to 9 different people. The worst part is I didn't even get an appointment with the person I needed the appointment with. I once sat waiting on a clerk to check me out for 20 minutes while she sat and talked on the phone with her boyfriend and joked about what she was going to do to get home. When I finally spoke up she told her boyfriend that she had to go and then rudely told me that their system is down so I need to wait. The parking is horrible, usually takes me about 45 minutes to an hour to find a spot. These are the few of many incidents that I have experienced here. I dread every appointment that I have to go to. The only reason i give it two stars is because they have helped me with one medical issue that was unable to have been fixed by any other medical facility, other than that, they have been my worse nightmare.

VA Police can I have your email please I do not want to cause more irritation then fixing issues I know I was hurt Naval Station Mayport Navy Lodge Rachel blue Lodge red shield blue Lodge connective tissues connective tissues like Bridging the Gap of negativity with the use of dominoes how can I get you guys to stop questioning psychological competence I need to send you everything that I have on what's happened to me and how treatment is being used as cover fire while I'm being abused to act out synaptic firing proton neutron and electron red blood cells red blood cells blood protein REM sleep synaptic firing intelligence. Thought imagination intelligence intellect strength power principal Honor intelligence service courage commitment compassion a wanted and has been trying to see me keep declining call police under abuse of medication I've been harassed to be with the wrong person cover fire it happened United States Navy it happened at Lamar University it happened Florida it happened in Georgia and downtown shelters Houston I need police email address so I can just bluntly who what when where how and why I don't want to be made a sacrifice in the name of science sacrifices are made the Hippocratic Oath states that they will take a life if need be I'm not a threat to myself or to someone else that's primarily the problem right to bear arms then Lamar University money issues Ben Taub 1960 100% certain I was set up to be attacked knowledge wisdom understanding Glory peace Beauty victory Valor honesty Trust wisdom Justice behind hope daat principles thinking of Merrick manual paralegal issues Jacksonville the cerebellum cranium the cerebellum does hold sway. How do I bring my issues before the judge like the clerk of court to go before the judge for competence want to go to college know how i was hurt that's the only way to bring out to be questioned about how I got hurt misdiagnosis because anybody to decline A House Divided cannot stand my body homeostasis my sister told me that she could stop the people from hurting me but she was wanting my blessing and I can't give it away because of her pestering me she told me passive-aggressively that got hurt to be taken care of and that she was the one that set me up once I learned who my family is has the Bible depicts me becoming a man and leaving my house civil law that's a part of me leaving my house to establish my own house by getting my education being in control of my own facilities Point Blank. Remember I got my army airborne paratrooper wings parachute Boy Scouts I was also in 4H Child Protective Services I wasn't raised to fight people I was only raised to tell but fighting for my life while got hurt I'm bleeding out my rectum now and I haven't copulated I'll be in in a sexual relationship since 2010 what 201 abstainece to the manipulation urinalysis vs. Mouth swab Marcelo u r i e g a s was sent to VOA they were the tax collector from Lamar University the same thing going on with my rectum recently also happened when I was in Jacksonville so in the bathroom Oregon my pants down or when my pants are down there's manipulation getting back to core strength muscle control homeostasis red blood cells b-cell T cell nucleus cell nucleus cell wall membrane red blood cells ribosomes and chromosomes specifically chromosomes I walk to talk to you guys and you exported me off the premises the only way to find ways to go to court not be manipulated into insanity if I want to be a civil servant have to stay out of trouble I got hurt being told to tell someone I was maliciously prosecuted under a misdiagnosis to be hurt to be taken care of the other part of the medication I'm the behavior manipulation is that they're trying to force me to sleep with men disabled veteran I asked you guys DAV allow me to do community service you said no Salvation Army I had to call the police there due to sexual harassment how can I go to the shelters due to the nature of the manipulation I know I was misdiagnosed help civil clerk of courts clean up College please

Dr. Cromwell and her team saved my life. I have nothing but the utmost respect for her and the treatment I received while undergoing my open heart surgery. Thank you Jahovah God for giving us such excellent Doctors and Nurses. The whole staff was excellent right down to food service and house keeping. Dr. Michael Irving is the best Michael Irving ever, because he saves lives.

As for me...this place is a life saver. Sometimes the Dr's are a little unorthodox and do not understand a soldiers situation, but you face that most Dr's office anyway.

Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center - Houston, Texas @ in the second floor Chaplains:
Roman Catholic Mass is offered Monday through Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Sunday Mass is held at 10:00 a.m.

Had an appointment with audiology for 7/16/2020. Arrived on time only to find it had been cancelled with no notice. I had been on myhealthvet on the 15th to make sure of time and day. 0700 on the 16th good to go i thought. They cancelled either late yesterday or overnight. If i could give no stars that is what they would get. This facility has lots of employees no longer doing much for Veterans using the Virus as an excuse not to serve.

Came here for the Covid vaccine...got here at 1015 for the so called drive through that is supposed to be open now for all vets, even that are not enrolled. It is now 125...I just got my shot, that's right 3 hours later. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else....otherwise be prepared to have to fill out tons of forms (you need to enroll-even if your not eligible)- of course after filling out all the paperwork, they ran out, waited another 50 minutes...hopefully you don't enter the wrong building first and get the run around, and good luck finding the drive through line, had to go inside. Your better off scheduling an appointment somewhere else, ive heard of people going to regular places and it only taking 25 minutes....I wish I wouldn't have come here

Parking is atrocious. Don't even bother making early morning appointments unless you get there 6-7 AM. Also, don't count on actually being seen when your appointment is. Frequently they're 20-30 minutes behind.

I will not darken the doorstep to Michael E Dubakey VA Hospital. It has been 3 years since I went there. I was treated with the utmost disrespect by the staff there. They chose who they want to and ones they don t go to the wayside. I think every Veteran that walks through the doors deserves respect and shown dignity. I served my country because I wanted to, because I felt a calling to, I now get my healthcare through an Medicare advantage plan and yes, I have to pay for services. I am doing so much better health wise since I did this. I hope the Person in charge cleaned house and terminated the ones who deserved to be let go. I will not live in fear of the VA Hospital.

ER is horrible, out of date and doesnt meet the needs of census, dirty, understaffed, poorly trained staff, poor checks and balances, charting is evidently unheard-of, multiple incidents of confusing patients every time I go (about once every 2 months), unfriendly staff who treat you like a burden vs. a patient. I have never been to such a bad ER even while in service overseas. You are definitely just a number. And could these people install cellphone repeaters or WiFi for the people who need to arrange child care and work issues while in the ER? Definitely a mickey mouse operation. If my service connected issues weren't so expensive outside the VA, I'd go to any ER over this one.

Besides a possible long wait time for some, the mutual respect and appreciation that you receive from others is always nice. And hearing other vets stories is always a bonus. Shows you that there are some that really care.

The Halls of Heroes in Houston,TX is a place to share your pride as a U.S. veteran with others that brings about different emotions that aren t regular or normal in most anyones s life. And so Many emotions have been experienced or evoked over the many years of visits to this Medical Center. Many more, I am speculating about all those masses, since from the conversion of the old Houston Navy Hospital to the Veterans Administration Hospital , on April 15, 1949.

As the descriptively signed George H.W. Bush letter points out in detail, about the hospitals namesake and is displayed on the wall proudly, beyond the first group of elevators, passed the main lobby: Dr. DeBakey has served his fellowman his entire life, but his military service to our country and his invaluable contributions to veteran health care frequently go unrecognized.

Serving with the Surgeon General s Office during World War II, Col. DeBakey developed the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (M.A.S.H.) Unit for treating battlefield casualties, significantly reducing the fatality rate for the wounded. At the end of the war, he recommended the creation of specialized medical centers in different areas of the United States to treat wounded military personnel returning from war. From that recommendation evolved the Veterans Affairs Medical Center System.

Patient parking is impossible. Waited over an hour and finally gave up and went to valet. Another 30 minutes??? Better not be in a hurry. Dallas was much better. El Paso takes the gold.

Doesn't matter what pain level you tell them it's still gonna be another few hours before you see a doc not treat just talk

Horrible service. My current doctor is doctor Howard at texans clinic. This guy must hate veterans or something. I have a kidney infection and they deferred me to the 12+ hours wait emergency room. This is so sad and terrifying.

In my opinion one of the best VA Hospitals, no complaints here.