[ctreick]

Can someone recommend a thorough, up-to-date doctor at the Mulberry VA Clinic?

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by ctreick

Can someone recommend a thorough, up-to-date doctor at the Mulberry VA Clinic?

You are assigned a physician, no worries on how to choose.

[HIgolfers]

Originally Posted by asianthree

You are assigned a physician, no worries on how to choose.

Agreed. Like when you were in the military you don’t get any say in your doctor.

[John_W]

Maybe the OP was a General, rank does have it's privileges. I'll give you a little history of my experience over the past 9-1/2 years of going to Mulberry. It opened in 2010, so when I started they were still getting somewhat organized. If you have an on-site orientation, you'll get a lot of info at that time.

I'm on my third doctor at Mulberry since 2011. The first was excellent, she even saw me on the Friday the day after Thanksgiving. Unfortunately after two years she went back to the Ukraine for family reasons. I had severally swollen legs, you couldn't even tell where my knees were, I had gained 15 pounds of water weight. I saw her on that Friday and she said to drive straight up to the Gainesville ER and I'll call and let them know you're coming. I had an outbreak of psoriatic arthritis caused by unknown factors at the time, but I was admitted into the hospital for 3 days.

The next doctor was for five years, he was from Indian. I couldn't understand a word he said, I basically just went to him for my medications and refills because by then I was 65 and I had United Health Medicare Advantage and had care from TV as well. He never said much, so I never worried about understanding him. Luckily I had the Villages doctor as a backup.

In 2016 I had a terrible cough and just so happen had an appointment with my VA doctor that day. He prescribed a Z-Pack and said you'll be like new in five days. In five days I was even sicker, I called my Villages doctor at Pinellas and she said, go to Lake Imaging for a chest X-ray. The next day I saw her and she said you have pneumonia, and she prescribed the right medications and I was well in about 4 weeks.

In 2018 I had a cat-scan, I would get one every year by the VA since I was a past smoker. Since I had pneumonia that time in 2016 my Villages doctor had me see a pulmonary doctor every year as well. The civilian pulmonary doctor also had me get cat-scan, but every six months. I saw both doctors the same week, my VA doctor said there is something on your cat-scan and the Gainesville Hospital wants you to get another cat-scan in 4 months. My pulmonary doctor said, there is something on your cat-scan and I want you to see a doctor at Mid-Florida Cancer Specialist. I saw the doctor and he said you have non-hodgkins lymphoma and I need you have 3 bumps in your arm pit removed. I went to the in-patient at TV hospital and they did the procedure with just a local anesthetic and I was out in 2 hours. Had I only had the VA and didn't do anything for four months, who knows if they would of caught in time.

The Indian doctor transferred to Arizona and the last two years I've had current physician, Dr. Wyland who came here from Pensacola. He's very good, he's actually called me at home twice to see how I was doing as a follow-up. He's very precise and clear and what he will say. I did have minor problem, I've been taking metoprolol for 12 years for my blood pressure and he switched me to lisinopril, he said it's better for kidneys. I went and played golf and I felt very tired and out of breath, when I got home I took my blood pressure and my resting heart rate was 95, it's normally 62. I called and they said, go back on the metoprolol. Then I talked to him and he said, metoprolol does have a built in governor that does regulate your heart rate that lisinopril does not have. Other than that, he's been very good.

Last I heard was they have 16 doctors and about 16,000 patients so you can see each doctor is kept busy. My last visit was a virtual visit over the internet, I see the doctor about every 9 months or so. I can an send a message anytime to his nurse via myhealthyvet, in fact I sent one yesterday for refills and she replied today. I would try and get Dr. Wyland if you can.

[asianthree]

Primary is in another state, (5 years) along with 2 specialists, we message 3 times a month, with a follow up calls. One is on maternity leave, but speak every month.

3 Doctors at Mulberry, that I see once a month. Gainesville both physicians, have been the same for 3 years, see once a month, and phone call week prior to visit.

Except for urology in Gainesville, every staff Member has been well versed, and is always a productive appointment.

All are grads from the US and articulate. After 40 plus years in medicine, language is not an issue.

[ctreick]

Thank you, that was very helpful!

[BayLady57]

Originally Posted by HIgolfers

Agreed. Like when you were in the military you don’t get any say in your doctor.

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.