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Originally Posted by HIgolfers
Agreed. Like when you were in the military you don’t get any say in your doctor.
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For the last 20 years I have worked as a VA Primary Care R.N. in R.I. and Vets do have an opportunity to change primary care providers as I sit on a committee that monthly reviews provider change requests and most all are granted.
I would suggest that the OP or any other Vet for that matter who will be relocating or staying in another location for an extended period of time contact their VA Interfacility Transfer Coordinator or some VAs call these individuals Traveling Vet Coordinators. These individuals will facilitate transferring of your care if the relocation is permanent, or coordinate any care needs for a temporary relocation such as for those Vets who may be on certain medications that dose adjustments are dependent on lab values for example Vets on Dilantin and Warfarin.
Lastly, I encourage every Vet when traveling within the US before you leave home find out what is the nearest VA Hospital to where you will be traveling to and have their phone number on hand. This is important because if you should end up getting acutely ill while traveling you will likely seek medical attention or rescue will bring you more often than not to the closest private sector hospital. Even though you may be receiving all your care at for example a PA VA, authorization for private sector care payment will be made through the Community Care Dept. at the closest VA Hospital in the state where you became ill. Also don't forget if you will be needing medication refills while you are out of state before you leave contact your VA to make a temporary address change because if you order a refill while away that refill will be mailed to your home address if a temporary address is not noted in your medical record. Any even if you have made a temporary address change make sure you do not call in your refills and renewals at the last minute because many patients have been complaining about delays in receiving their meds in the mail and it is an issue with the postal service and not the VA.
I will be the 1st to admit that the VA healthcare system is not the easiest to navigate, but what does help especially for traveling Vets is that any VA can with a few clicks access your medical records from any VA you receive care which can provide life saving info especially if you are acutely ill and can't provide this info yourself to a treating physician in an emergency situation.
My husband who is a Vet will too be likely be receiving most his VA care at the TV CBOC when we relocate when I retire in around 1.5 years. Me on the other hand who is not a Vet will be relying on you good people for physician recommendations, as well as from a retired VA PCP I worked with for many years who now snow birds in TV.