Ok, I'm really trying here folks. I'm trying not to loose my cool. I had the pleasure and/or unfortunate opportunity to set in a with some speakers today. One was an author/VA patient, her nurse practitioner, and a head shrinker from U of L. The shrink is suppose to be well known and respected in his field. I don't know him so I can't be the judge of that. Do your own research and form your own opinion. Martin Traxler (the hospital director) was also there and said a few words.So I might as well start at the top. First let me say that it only took 3 weeks and 4 days to get the comment card box emptied. They not only emptied it but they replaced it with a new one. Not only that but they installed an additional one in the little building that we are in, so now we have two and yes they are stocked with cards. I hope he received all of those cards and they didn't hit the trash with the old box. At any rate, Thank You Mr. Traxler.
Here's where the fun comes in. God why do they make it so easy??? During Mr. Traxler's words, I was extremely disappointed to hear him say that he heard a stat the other day that 22 Veterans commit suicide everyday and then later on someone else told him that it was only 20 a day. Now, I have two problems with that, First and foremost, how does one become the Director of a major VA hospital with seven satellite clinics and don't realize that 22 of your potential patients commit suicide EVERYDAY!?!?!?!?!?!? WTF!!!!! OVER?????? I mean Holy Freakin Cow Man, I had to take a break on that one and I forgot my second point so I'll move on.
Folks, I have walked though the front doors of this hospital before 0700 and the first thing one could see is a trash can over flowing. Not a little, I mean people (obvious geniuses) just throwing their trash next to the can. I really didn't like that but thought no big deal it's right before seven, maybe shift change, maybe it's up to the valet guys, etc... The problem was I was in and out all day, my last appt. wasn't until1330 so I left after 1400 and the trash had still not been emptied. This is the main entrance to the hospital, the very first thing people see. I know this isn't the Army but shit, I'm a Veteran, This is a VA Med Center, If it looks bad, I look bad. The list goes on and on. I could tell you the shrink today talk about how well Louisville's psych ward was and that one good thing the city has done was invest in a CIT (crisis intervention team) to handle people (Vets) with mental problems. Mr. Traxler then ask him to talk afterwards about getting the VA Police trained. Someone kinda interrupted and said this is in my wheelhouse, their already trained. Why he didn't know that is beyond me??? But wait, There's More!!! He then asked the shrink and the author to walk the psych ward upstairs and talk to some engineers and give some feedback. The good doctor replied that psych wards should be designed to VA protocol so just follow your own guidelines and it should be ok!!!!
On and on and on. The book is titled Locked In by Caroly Furdek. I haven't read it yet so I can't give a review but she does have a good story. I'd say it's worth the read. However, that's not why I'm typing. Every doctor, counselor, disability person that I've spoken to says you gotta go by the DSM4, gotta go by the DSM5, DSM this, DSM that. Well, they didn't do that with this woman. Her diagnoses or treatment isn't in the DSM. It's in the European version.
The PTSD Doc here at the unit I'm in is a good Doc. She's smart, I learn a lot from her and I like her a lot. I think her hands are tied on what she can say or do. That comes straight from VA Management. That said I gotta stop for now. It's hard to process shit like this, it really is.
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