Army Veteran Izzy Abbass recently shared his contrasting experiences between VA and community emergency room (ER) visits following a severe flare-up of multiple sclerosis (MS).
It began during a gala for a local nonprofit. During the event, Abbass started to feel unwell. His condition rapidly worsened, forcing him to leave early. By morning, he could neither get out of bed nor walk. His wife called an ambulance, which transported him to the emergency room at the local community hospital.
Having received care there before, Abbass didn’t expect any problems. However, this visit was different. He spent several hours waiting, received one antibiotic and was sent home without a diagnosis. Over that evening and the next day, his condition remained poor. Then his wife Nataliya took him to the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center.
‘VA did a great job’
The difference was night and day, according to Abbass. While the community hospital staff had treated his symptoms, VA staff conducted a thorough investigation and got to the root of the problem.
“VA did 15 to 20 total tests compared to just four at the community ER,” he said. VA staff quickly diagnosed pneumonia, a common condition in MS patients and treated him promptly. “VA did a great job. They communicated clearly about my treatment and what to expect.” He was sent home with a course of antibiotics. When his cough persisted after six or seven days, VA immediately adjusted his treatment.
Abbass emphasized that his experience with the community hospital was unusual, noting that his past visits had generally been positive. However, in this critical situation, it was VA’s detailed and Veteran-focused care that made the difference.
‘The best care I’ve ever had’
Abbass urges other Veterans to seek care from VA. “It’s the best care I’ve ever had,” he said. “What I love most about VA is they speak Veteran. If you’re a Veteran, you get it. You understand.” He appreciates that many VA employees are prior service members who can relate to the unique experiences and needs of Veterans.
Since being diagnosed with MS, Abbass has been deeply involved in his community, serving as the national director and co-chair of the National MS Committee for his state chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America. He frequently lends a hand at his local VA and connects fellow Veterans to valuable resources.
With VA’s support, Abbass continues to thrive and remains a vital part of the Veteran community. He encourages other Veterans to take advantage of the comprehensive Veteran-centered care that has made such a difference in his life.
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I to have problems after I visit local E.R. Just get hounded by collection agencies I would ask them why accept our insurance know that it will be while before they receive pay but they still send you the threading letters and keep sending them, know they know themselves they will eventually be paid
My husband has always been treated with first class , a one care , he will go nowhere else , thank you LOUISVILLE VA
I wish the Syracuse VA had that much care for veterans. The last time I checked into their emergency room, with chest pains, I sat out in the waiting area for an hour. There was only one other person waiting there. My wife, a registered nurse for over 45 years and working at a local hospital, was there with me, and she was absolutely astounded at the lack of care for veterans’ healthcare, and that I had to wait so long with a complaint of chest pains. Lucky for me it turned out to be just an organ stringer had broke. I’ve had a number of them break, and they are extremely painful. You do get better care when you’re admitted to a room (sort of), but their emergency room is not to be desired.
I wish I could say the same. I went to my local VA Emergency room at Togus VA Center with severe stomach pain. It was on the weekend and they had no one to read the xrays. They had to sen them to California to be read and the reults sent back to them. After about 3 hours they said I had a uinary tract infection, gave me some antibiotics and sent me home. The pain cnntinued and the next day I went to my closest hospital ER where I was diagnosed with a hernia. I was transported to a larger hospital about 90 miles a way and underwent emergency surgery.
My wife was actually pretty vocal about taking to the VA – on Thursday she said “I’m sick of this – I’m taking you to the VA”. She has come to depend on the VA giving me great care for my MS. I can’t say enough good things about the care they provide.
This veteran’s story echoes my own experiences, which will be 40 years since I began treatment with the VA.
Not all VA emergency rooms are the same. I could not even get mine to look at my records. I was semiconscious and they kept asking me what medications I was taking and I kept saying “the ones the VA prescribed “, but this didn’t work. I was sent home with no diagnosis and a month later I was back with the same symptoms and sent home again. I later had the same symptoms and was able to put 1 plus1 together and figured out I was having a reaction to the antibiotics that the VA was prescribing (and they almost killed me prescribing them).
I find my large hospital’s emergency room is way better than the local VAs room. My big problem with them is getting the VA to pay the bills from the emergency room that they are supposed to pay. I get bills 6 months after service that the VA didn’t pay and I have to make multiple phone calls to get the provider paid. It’s a wonder anyone wants to work with disabled veterans at all based on the VAs payment problems.