this post was submitted on 26 Oct 2025
3 points (80.0% liked)

Colorado

1377 readers
1 users here now

All things Colorado

Let’s go Nuggets! 2023 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

Go Avs Go! 2022 STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS

Rules

  1. No bigotry - including racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, or xenophobia. Code of Conduct.
  2. Be respectful. Everyone should feel welcome here.
  3. No NSFW
  4. No Ads / Spamming.
  5. All hail Blucifer

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
Alchemy@lemmy.world
_MoveSwiftly@lemmy.world
SpezCanLigmaBalls@lemmy.world
ickplant@lemmy.world
3
Questions: VA Healthcare on the Front Range? (self.colorado)
submitted 1 week ago by CAWright to c/colorado@lemmy.world
4 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Anyone in here a veteran who uses the the VA for healthcare in the Denver/Front Range area?

I was previously in Colorado Springs but didn't use VA until just before I left. I only had one or two appointments after I lost my job and private healthcare.

I'm currently in Little Rock, AR and use VA here for all my healthcare. I'm considering a move from Arkansas back to Colorado but to the Denver area this time. The VA here has been great with only minor delays in well used areas of care. I've used primary care mostly but they'll send me off to speciality clinics for exams and other care occassionally. Every interaction here has been better than any civilian or military care I've had before.

How is the VA on the Front Range?

  • Is it overcrowded with tons of delays for any care or is is reasonable to get timely care if you aren't a grumpy old curmudgeon who lives to complain?
  • Will the providers spend time with you and work with you to get your needs met or is care more like a drive through where you only get a few minutes with a provider at each appointment?
  • How are things like imaging, gastrointestinal? eye clinic? mail order pharmacy? physical therapy?
  • How often do you have to rely on community care?

Any other general advice or thoughts?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 667@lemmy.radio 3 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Not Front Range, but I’ve been around. The most helpful advice is two fold: always be kind, and call every couple of days to ask for any last-minute cancellations you can slip into.

I moved an appointment up from 90d to a little over 30d by calling every day for last-minute cancellations. By the start of the second week of calling they knew my name and number and called me for the opening.

It’s a system like any other, one which deals with people in the middle who get yelled at far too often. Be kind and be persistent, and you’ll get results.

[–] CAWright 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

I completely agree with everything you've said. I often wonder if the people complaining about VA healthcare are just grumpy old codgers who don't pay attention, aren't kind, and need someone else to clean up their messes.

I'm sure the great care I've gotten here at CAVHS is somewhat due to being active in my own care and being courteous to those providing it.

I do know that different areas have different populations and demographics. We probably have more old people here than in Colorado but we are also a much more lightly populated state. I'm just curious how that translates to waits and attitudes out there.

On the 90d to 30d by calling, I just did that with a sleep study here. I was scheduled for June of next year and a quick call a few days later got it moved up to November.

[–] 667@lemmy.radio 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

There’s all sorts. Not all of them are old curmudgeons, either. A buddy of mine proclaimed that he let the poor person on the end of a VA line have it and I scolded him for it.

I’ve always tried to be calm and courteous, and I feel I’ve always received respect in return. I always try to be an advocate in my own care, so I spend some time studying my issues and try to use the same language with the doctors and nurses; they seem to appreciate that because medical terminology is so precise, it helps them to understand what I mean without them having to figure it out and provide care.

You seem like a good one. Keep it up.

[–] CAWright 2 points 1 week ago

It sounds like we are pretty similar in our attitudes.

load more comments (1 replies)