Audie L Murphy VA Hospital STVHCS

The VA gets a bad rap. The South Texas VA Healthcare System has treated me well as a patient and employee.

There are always going to be mistakes made in the practice of medicine. That’s why that call it ‘practice’ instead of ‘perfection’. This is a teaching hospital and for the most part very good. That said, from time to time you may that things aren’t going your way here. The emergency room isn’t call as much… it is called Triage for a reason. Even if you are the first patient to arrive another patient with more severe trauma may arrive. I have been on both sides of this. Once I waited for 5 hours with a broken hand, you can’t ice it because that numbs it and doc’s can’t find problems. And another time I was seen in 15 minutes because they though I was having a stroke! These guys are doing their best for us for the most part. Next time pick some random guy or gal in scrubs and thank them for no reason… hell, pick 2 or 3. If you’re not happy there’s a Patient Advocate office next to the front door. That’s the place to bitch about problems, not here.

I’ve been here 3 times in 3 years the last time being last month just for a routine check-​up in the internal medicine clinic with PA Barto. Everything from getting my blood drawn to the self check-​in went smoothly. Not many patients in the IMC waiting area and it was seen only 10min after my appointment. PA Barto was very professional and seemed like he truly cared and took his time. Luckily I just need to lose about 20lbs but over all I’m in great health and don’t need to come back till next year or if it get sick or hurt.

I had been dreading going to the VA Hospital for years ! My wife finally talked me into going and I gave in. In the Army, most of us wouldn’t get a cavity filled, just from the stories we’d heard, so I was VERY worried. It took 1 ½ months to get an appointment, but the guy I spoke with (Shawn) was, Over-​the-​Top, helpful (I assumed he was a Vet). He said they had a LOT of patients. Anyway, I drove an hour to get there and took a book with me.
I was VERY surprised when I got there. Floor tiles all looked new, no patients in the halls, laying on gurneys moaning, waiting for a Dr. lol… there are lots of signs showing depts, labs, etc
Everything is on the 1^st floor. Every time I asked for directions I got it…(no attitude). Every time I went to a dept. and told them why I was there, it took secs to verify who I was. The whole process couldn’t have been any smoother. The place wasn’t crammed with people either !
My Dr. would have talked to me all day, if I wanted to. GREAT experience !
She asked me if there’s anything else I want help with. She asked if I wanted a flu shot, a tetanus booster, quit smoking help (I’ve smoked for 40 yrs). We talked about that and she fixed me right up with medication to be used with 5 boxes of NicoDerm patches !
I could go on and on with this review.
My next appt. is in 8 wks for a Prostate and a colonoscopy… something I put off, for obvious reasons… but my confidence with the Dr. is higher than any civilian place I’ve ever been to.
The other vets there; even though it’s been 40 yrs since I left the Army, we all treat each other like brothers… GREAT experience !
The only down side I can think of is, they could use a map, of the place and maybe a few of those signs that say, «You are here» and more drinking fountains. The bathrooms (I used two) were spotless and looked new.
That’s it… I may write another review in 8 wks.

Never cared for VA Hospitals… so far it has been a pretty good experience. But I am dealing with the UTHSCSA. Just using the facility for the room. My lab and test take longer then they should… but with all the inpatients taken priority… you get extended waiting times…;^(…could be worse!

Anyone who has problems with their care at the VA should be aware of their right to sue them under the Federal Tort Claims Act (two year statute of limitation). I found some basic info here.
Lawsuits for malpractice help insure that administrators correct the problems, not ignore them…

I am impressed by this VA hospital. The staff was refreshing friendly. I am happy that this will be my primary hospital.
I had a 9am appointment and was called to my appointment at exactly 9am. My physical therapist was very professional and knowledgable.
Enjoy some Starbucks while you wait.

Sitting here in the emergency room with my husband. Husband has a broken or dislocated finger. Can not get any pain reliever or ice pack until he sees a dr. The wait time is 8 hours!!! Husband is a 68 year old Vietnam Vet with advance dementia. It is busy, but not packed. Another couple has been waiting 9 hours!!! This is socialized medicine at it’s worst. Oh and if you leave to go get real food, and they call your name while you are gone, you have to re register and start your wait time all over.

I went to Audie Murphy today. I was treated very well and professionally. The specialist explained everything and answered my questions very well. Every time I go, I am treated professionally with courtesy and dignity.

I was in this VA hospital last week for an acute illness. I spent 2 hours in an empty waiting room at 1AM. Didn’t get called until 3AM. The nurse didn’t even use gloves to insert or extract the IV needle. When asked to put on gloves the nurse stated, «I do it old school.» In other words, «F**k you I’m doing it how I want.» Big red flag and probably ILLEGAL. If you can afford it, DO NOT go to this hospital. You have a high risk of medical errors because the staff are overworked, understaffed, and probably underpaid… which leads to a «don’t care» attitude towards patients. I definitely felt that.

SO completely disappointed in this place. I truly wanted to believe that with all the improvements within the healthcare field that this place would be outstanding; however, even with all the great leaps and bounds in this industry, there is one thing that still needs VAST improvement on: COMPASSION.
I won’t get into the details on here because it’s extremely personal and is pissing me off as I right this review now but I will say that I will do anything and everything I can to 1. make sure my dad does NOT have to endure the pain & humiliation he received here EVER AGAIN and 2. avoid taking him here EVER AGAIN. I will be taking my complaints and concerns up the chain even though I am crystal clear that I am one lone person against a whole entity but believe you me, I WILL be heard.