Tale of Two VA Hospitals - Salt Lake City

A year ago I was writing about the disastrous services provided by the Salt Lake VA when I was flown there from Montana. And it was awful. When I tried to tell Administration the Director wasn't hearing it, and told me to go to Patient Advocacy who was more than inept in handling my news.

Fast forward a year, I am back, this time for a bladder surgery three weeks ago today. Well, I don't know if it is the different department I was in or if I have a gold star by my name from raising hell last year but my experience was totally different.

First off my problem of continuing bladder infections was chased down by a second year resident, a young lady who was outstanding! Dr. Mobley just wouldn't let my problem be and involved others more senior in Urology and wrestled down the problem.

My surgery went excellent, a 5 hour project that is the first phase of three to fix my problem. While in the hospital my care was superb. The nurses we great, I got a visit from a social worker who stopped by to see how things were going and tell me to call her if I had a problem. I even got a visit from a Pharmacist who came by to make sure all my med's were in order. All quite different from a year ago when they admitted me to Acute Care department.

In all fairness they did an outstanding job. I hope that that is the care all Vet's are provided. I don't know that it is now or if mine was flagged after raising hell with the Director and Chief of Staff. But for me, it was a great experience, my recovery is going well, the drugs this time were minimal and all is good.

And my follow up Doctor, Dr. Hardy, a young lady in her third year as an Intern is just excellent. So I learned that it isn't the age of the Doctor that was the problem last year, it was just the Doogie Howser's I was lucky to get.