Vietnam/Korea Era Vets - VA Hospital Questions

[JustAnotherGen]

All - My father has stage 4 lung cancer and may need to go into the Canandaigua VA hospital at end of life (Agent Orange Syndrome as well - government has offered him retroactive FULL disability to 1996).

What questions do we need to ask? My mom, my brother and I will be touring the facility this Friday and I'm wondering if you can share some questions you would ask. Of your peers who have gone into the VA hospitals - are there any pitfalls we should be aware of?


Might seem like a loopy zippy skippy dippy question but you all probably have a network of people who have experienced this that have gone this way at one time or another.

Dad is 70 and has been retired for about 10 years as a result of his illnesses. Mom is still working (she'll be 64 in November) so that she has health insurance . . . but my dad has not been in the prescription/treatment donut hole because somehow mom is able to cover the difference. Technically between Medicare and her insurance he could go to a private hospital - but he feels (and I tend to agree) that since he worked many years and paid taxes for it . . . AFTER serving for 18 years - he should take advantage of it. That and he wants to be with "his brothers". :-)

Any thoughts, direction, insight would be greatly appreciated by my family.

Thanks - Adrienne

[FreakinDJ]

1. It will be like being home for him

My Dad like being around all the guys again regardless of the situation

wish you luck

Don't know which questions to ask other then to say they have their own rules and ways of doing things and are pretty set in their ways. You might want to check and make sure they have funding to provide any and all procedures as I know a couple years ago they were denying treatment due to lack of funds

[JustAnotherGen]

2. Oh that's a tremendous help!

I think my mom needs to write down how his doctor intends to proceed prior to hospital entry - and find out what would come at the end. Thank you thank you thank you!

[catchnrelease]

3. Wherever he goes

please be proactive and ask lots of questions. Not only what the doctors' plan is, but why...as many details as you can think of--and don't let them try to brush you off. If you're not sure you understand something completely, ask for an explanation. You and your family have the right to have answers about what is going to happen to your dad. Write down the questions before you go in, so you don't forget one while under the stress of being in there, and even take notes if it helps you remember what they tell you.

My husband has been in our local VA hospital a couple of times for short stays (longest was a week) and overall we were pleased with how he was treated. But we both are pretty pushy about asking questions regarding what was going to happen to him while he was in there. I felt like the staff was really professional, attentive, and caring. He had a few run-ins with some of the nurses that wanted to give him the meds he normally takes on a daily basis on their schedule vs the one he's got at home. (They prefer to give all the patients their meds on the same schedule, which is more efficient for them. Husband wants to keep to his schedule, which takes into consideration when he can/can't eat after taking his meds. But this is really just a pet peeve of his)

I have a friend who's dad was in a VA hospital quite a few years ago, dying of cancer, and near the end she had to badger the nurses, literally screaming for them to bring him something for his terrible pain.

Unfortunately, if you are going to be dealing with end of life issues, dad and the family need to discuss with the doctors how that will be handled when the time comes, so there is no confusion about what is to be done at that time.

My best to you and your family.

[Old Troop]

4. I chose the Jamaica Plain (Boston) VA to be treated for stage 4 lymphoma

and am still cancer-free 5 years later. The questions you need to ask are the same ones you would ask any other health care organization in the same circumstances:
1. What is the nature of the cancer and what is the prognosis without treatment?
2. What treatments are generally used to combat this cancer?
3. What is the usual prognosis after treatment?
4. What are the negative side effects of the treatment?
5. What clinical tests are currently being run regarding this cancer and can I participate if I choose?
6. What are the alternatives if the chosen treatment appears ineffective?

I hope this helps. The VA was very good for my treatment.