Military Doctors and Care - substandard?

[Brandi]

This will probably turn into a debate, so I may end up moving it. For now, I just wanted your general opinions on the type of care military families receive. Do you believe it's Good? Great? Poor? Terrible?


I really try to be thankful that we have care at all, but so many things make me question the care we get through the military. I know everyone says it's possible to get good docs and bad docs through both sides (civi and military) and I do agree. However, overall and in general, I really believe the care military families receive totally blows compared to civilian care. I've been on both sides and the care I've received through MTF's has been just terrible compared to the care I received when I had civilian insurance and could go to civilian docs/hospitals. It's just a whole different level of care... from the doctors and their knowledge to the facilities (the look, the feel, the equip they use, etc) to just normal procedures that are done.

An example is my post partum care that I had with Jaxon. Military Hospital.... was forced to room in with two other moms/families/newborns for my whole recovery. We had to share one big room, one bathroom, two TV's and NO ONE got any sleep the entire time we were there, including our babies. It was pure hell with NO privacy at all.

When I had Shelby at the hospital here, I had my own room and own bathroom, which I understand is pretty normal for civilian places. It was just a whole different level of care. They made sure I was comfortable and doing well and I felt so much better and at ease.

Another example is procedures for giving IV's. At military docs/hospitals, I've noticed they just jam the IV needle in and that's that. At every civilian facility, they've given me a small local to numb the area so the insertion of the IV is pretty painless. I guess military hospitals just don't have the extra budget for it, but it makes a world of difference when getting an IV. I'm fairly used to getting them so I can tolerate the pain, but it's so nice having that small extra comfort.

I dunno... it's just a different level of care, all the way around. Like I said, even just the look and feel of the places are different. Most of the time, MTF's are really cold feeling with no paint, no real decor, no warm and cozy feeling. I've never been to a civlian place as cold and yucky as most MTF's I've been in.

I'm really considering switching over to standard so I don't have to be seen by military doctors or at MTF's anymore. I'd rather pay the copays and deductibles to have the different level of care.

[Britt]

I think Navy doctors are ****ty and I can't wait to get back to a civilian doctor.

I also have the benefit of knowing a lot of them personally because of my husband's job.

I know which ones I can trust and which ones I wouldn't let touch me if they were the last doctor on Iwakuni. (That goes for corpsmen too! There are some real doozies! )

eta... As for the local before IVs at a civilian hospital, I've been to ALOT of hospitals (I'm a sickly one) and I've only gotten a local a handful of times, so I don't think that's a fair example against the military hospital. Of course, I've also had a military hospital miss my vein and fill my arm up with salene.

[Kaymara]

It really does vary...

But lemme tell ya..Lake Forest...they jammed the IV in with no local when I was in labor So it just depends....

I can tell you in Everett I had AWFUL care at my MTF. I was sick for a year. She would just say "oh yeah your nose is red inside but its all in your head" blamed it on my husband being deployed etc. Turned out I needed surgery on my nose..Idiot! In Bremerton I had WONDERFUL care at my MTF. He figured out my infertility, got me on the right meds etc

In Everett I had good and I had bad care at the local hospital there. It was civilian. In DC I had AWFUL AWFUL care at the military hospital there.

Here I have had good care at my Dr on base, crappy care at the military hospital, and good care at the civlian hospital I go to. Rod had great care at the hospital when his appendix burst.

It HONESTLY really varys I think. It really does. I have had god awful care in a military setting and in a civilian setting

[Kaymara]

Ohhhhh And I wouldnt compare Too too much to Lake Forest. Their birhting suites are actually VERY VERY new. Some of the civlian hospitals in this area still do require sharing rooms or bathrooms. We got VERY lucky with Lake forest. but look at the area. It is one of the richest here

[MontanaSweetie]

I would say its Fair to Bad.

I say this because I have been misdiagnosed several times for major things. For example, in 2002 they told me I was have anxiety attacks, when in reality I was having gallbladder attacks which required surgery to remove my gallbladder. I told the doctors that I was in an insane amount of pain, and yet they just prescribed me some anti-depressants!!! :mad

During my current course of treatment I have had to go to a civilian doctor for care. He has been wonderful!! I get all the tests done that are needed, he spends atleast 30-45 minutes with me in the room...it just feels like he wants to help me!

I don't get that kind of treatment from the military doctors.

I'm actually looking forward to going back under civilian insurance when my husband gets out of the military. I feel like I will get a more well rounded course of doctors and treatments that are available.

[Brandi]

Originally Posted by Kaymara Ohhhhh And I wouldnt compare Too too much to Lake Forest. Their birhting suites are actually VERY VERY new. Some of the civlian hospitals in this area still do require sharing rooms or bathrooms. We got VERY lucky with Lake forest. but look at the area. It is one of the richest here

I wasn't comparing it totally to lake forest.. just partly. My aunt in Jacksonville has been doing nursing for about 18 years now and said she's never seen care as bad the the care I got. My nana in TN is also a nurse for over 25 years and has worked in both civi and military hospitals. She said the standards have been lower BY FAR in military settings. So, I was just judging by what they have said also.

[Kaymara]

All in all you probably do tend to get worse care in a military setting. it is just the way it works. Usually the places are older, they have more old fashioned ways of doing things etc etc. I have never had a baby at a military hospital so I cant really compare that. But I have made complaints on military hospitals. And civilian hospitals. I do know the Dr's at the VA hospital were civilian. And I will need to be on my death bed before I go there again. That dang place scared me

[Lindsey]

Hummmm good question Brandi....

Personally it took me a LONG time to find a doc that I was really comfortable with (my last OB) and I had her for 2 1/2 years...I was so sad when she PCSed which is a downfall with Military Docs...Once you find a good one w/in 4 years you or they are gone! It gets frustrating....But she was a good doc and did recomend someone she knew I would like and would handle all my medical issues that I have....As for an ordinary PCM I don't even know who I'm assigned to....I haven't been to them in so long....

For Jamison it took us a while too....It was so nice when Derrick was deployed last year and we went to my hometown where I could take him anywhere and still be under Prime bc there were no MTF's around...I took him to the Pediatrician I had growing up and he got phenominal care....Once we got back here he was bounced from one doc to another and it took forever for him to be diagnosed as asthmatic....that was frustrating...BUT it was nice when a PICU doc stepped up and took him on and has been WONDERFUL with him and with us....he listens and really addresses our concerns...and he'll be here until we're done in SD...

So I think there are good docs it just takes us longer to find them....and it's frustrating....So I think you can get good care either place you just have more of a choice in the civi world!

[Amber V]

I have had a few great dr's at MTF's and a lot of louzy ones. I have onlu used civi dr's for my two youngest childrens births and for eye care. I have received excellent care for those. Overall it could use more TLC for the MTF's on how they look and treat people.

Also at MTF's people will look at your SO's rank sometimes and treat you better or worse because of that.

[Britt]

I also hate that my doctors do not know me personally.

I had the same doctor from the time I was born until I was 18. Then I had the same one from 20 to 24. Then it got ****ty when I started going to Balboa in 2004.