Another Joyful Visit to the Salt Lake VA

Today was my three month follow up MRI from my cancer surgery last September. I had an 11:15AM appointment and arrived as told fifteen minutes earlier at 11. Checked in and went to the waiting room where I sat for thirty-five minutes. They called me to the exam room where I would chill for one more hour, sitting in there staring at the ceiling. I had stopped by the Mental Health unit earlier so it is good to be on your PTSD med's when visiting this place, it made the time go by.

At somewhere after 12:35 in walks my 3rd Dr in three visits, now I'm coming as part of a VA study for the cancer operation I had, maybe its just me but it would seem it would help the study somewhat if like, the same Dr saw me. But then thats the least of my worries.

At the suggestion of the MRI group, a great fellow who does the scheduling, he sat me up for the MRI last night so I could go to my Urology appointment the next day, not what Urology had set up. He called me back in Montana and pointed out the I had an MRI on Jan 11 and a Urology appointment on Jan 20th. So much for prior planning.

My operation was in September and my one month follow up MRI was in October and this one, the three month was last night with results today. The young lady Dr comes in, as I said my third in three MRI's, and starts asking me how I am feeling, pains, anything abnormal - I say good to go and she says great. I said, "But I'm here for my MRI results". She says, "Oh yes about that, I can't read an MRI so I'll have to call you with the results".

I say you know nothing about it. "Well, I looked at it and if it was a CT=Scan I could tell but I cannot read MRI's". Now this is my third MRI and my third Dr and my third answer of 'I cant read an MRI'.

So for those of you who think our government can run a national healthcare - think again. The treatment isn't completely horrible and in Montana it is quite good. But the larger the facility the worst the service and you get these young Dr's who are getting their medical school paid doing internship at the VA, and I think that is a good thing - but - the bigger the hospital, you better look out for yourself.

And oh yea, the said I'd here from them in maybe three days. Comforting to a cancer patient.