Drove 3 hours, picked up dad, took him to the VA in Chattanooga. Up until today, my only experience with the VA was Birmingham ER. Was never ever impressed with it.

Today was a shocking experience. Big building. Newer. State of the art. Met at the door by a very large man who rolled dad inside and escorted my step mother to registration while I parked.

Appointment was 2p. Called back at 1:58p. Vitals and information taken immediately. 10 minute wait for physician. Very nice young lady. Super helpful. Another 10 minute wait. Escorted to get bloodwork. While that was happening I had to get added to his contacts so I can help schedule and stay on top of things. This is when DEI showed it's head. First black woman I encountered. Attitude. He's sitting 3' from me. She says wait for blood work then we can add you. So I walked down to the hearing center to schedule an appointment to coincide with our next appointment. I won't say she had attitude, but seemed she was put off she had to take her headphones off. Didn't listen, had too repeat when our appointment needed to be. Lady, I'm not driving 6 hours for a special appointment for hearing. I need it to be on this day, at this time, so we don't have to make multiple trips. She makes the correction, but again, isn't pleased with it. Go back to sit with dad to wait on bloodwork. They aren't there. They've gone to the back to get bloodwork. He comes back out 20 minutes later. They said they had difficulty, but got blood. I knew that would happen.

I go back to the desk to get added to the contact list. Attitude. Have a seat. Wait a few minutes and a very nice lady comes out and says I got off work 10 minutes ago. You gotta come back. I got ticked, she saw it on my face. I pointed at the DEI hire and said " Had she done what I asked 30 minutes ago, we'd have been done 20 minutes ago" Excuses made, but she opened that door and got my information added.

The skill positions at VA were fantastic. The DEI, anybody can fill these spots, were not. With all that said, Damn, I hope every VA hospital is ran as efficiently as that one was. Our veterans deserve that kind of facility and care.

The one in Montgomery sux in every aspect, worst heath care in America! Glad you had a somewhat good experience

Alex City VA hospital seems to have pretty good care system.

Can't even see a real MD any more. They are all NP's now. There is a world of difference in an MD and an NP. I saw a cardiology NP awhile back and asked her a simple question and she could not even answer it. I looked it up when I got home and it was fairly simple to answer. I'm about to give up on them. I'm retired with Medicare but I also have Physicians Mutual and it covers everything. I never pay to go to a Dr outside the VA, but the VA charges like $35 just to see an NP. That is because Medicare does not pay the VA anything.

The VA medical center in Montgomery has been (might still be) ranked among the 10 worst VA centers in the whole country.
With the obvious exception of Montgomery, it's been my experience that VA doctors, nurses and other medical staff are excellent.
The problems occur with administration and often it's clearly the DEI hires.

Been very pleased with service in Tuscaloosa thus far. No complaints

Is anything in Montgomery not the worst in the country. My child and I tried to eat and get a hotel off of Taylor road during a soccer tournament last summer and could not get waited on at either place. It was like our skin color made us invisible, finally just drove home to pelham and ate in clanton.

Before my dad passed he spent some time at the VA hospital in Tampa. He and my mom always said that the docs, nurses, etc were 2nd to none, but the admin staff was a disaster.

I've been to numerous VA Health Care Facilities - Professional Staff is good - Support Staff terrible. Support staff always acts like I am imposing on there personal time when they are there to Support Veterans - pisses me off !! Sad situation - Veteran's deserve Better treatment.

My last visit a few days ago was horrible
First bad experience in 3 years
I came very close to walking out

99 percent of the support staff is un educated. Saw that with family members also

It really depends on the location, many of them look like Underground LA from the movie Demolition Man

Open invitation for all of you...PM me if you every have problems in Birmingham- I manage one of the clinics and don't like to hear about negative experiences. There are good folks working at the facilities...and bad ones as well. We are really trying to hold people accountable for unacceptable and unprofessional customer service.

Thanks for stepping up and caring about the Vets!

I use the Childersburg CBOC and Birmingham Med Ctr. I really don't have a complaint about either of them. Montgomery is closer for me but that only took one visit to cure me from ever going there again.

I’ve got to get my VA medical set up. Everybody’s been telling me for years to get it done. At my age now, I may need it soon.

Is Trump gonna give Jobs back with backpay to all those that left the VA because they refused the vax ?

Are they gonna prosecute all the VA workers that ruthlessly pushed the vax onto Vets ?

My buddy at Rucker hated the visit he made there and the "F" word isn't just part of his vocab, he uses it like we use the words "This, that, and it" so you can imagine how that went over.

The VA didn't make anyone take the shot.

When did you get out?