Comments on Payne Hertz: VA's Health Records Software Allows Blacklisting o...

If I'm in chronic &/or intense physical pain and I...

2009-02-12T09:32:00.000-05:00

If I'm in chronic &/or intense physical pain and I go see the doctor seeking treatment, how is this not, given the efficacy of pain-killers in treating pain, a "drug-seeking behavior"? It's a relief-of-symptoms-seeking behavior, a "treatment-seeking behavior", if you will, which in many cases calls for the dispensing of drugs. You know, stimulants are the first-line treatment for AD[H]D for a reason, and the fact that they can for some also be "fun" and "worth-seeking" should not delegitemize the efforts of those afflicted patients who also "seek" to enlist their aid in the struggle to manage symptoms and function effectively. The behavior of actively seeking drugs is not in itself a negative thing, though with connotation laden terms like "drug-seeking" it is often greeted as such in the medical community. And this is quite unfortunate.

A psychologist once told me that I was 'fucked up'...

2008-07-28T22:05:00.000-04:00

A psychologist once told me that I was 'fucked up' after I confided in her that I was going to report a very popular hospital to the local health department for the filthy conditions. When I asked her what security measures are taken to insure privacy of my records, she replied 'honey, there is no such thing as privacy in the medical industry'. What a 'psycho-logist'!!

Is 'fucked up' an actual medical diagnostic term??? She's on MY list.

Contact the Office of Civil Rights and inquire abo...

2008-07-27T23:48:00.000-04:00

Contact the Office of Civil Rights and inquire about the HIPAA law regarding privacy of medical records and who should have access to them. They also have a website. It is in everyones best interest to read through your rights so that you do not have to depend on others to inform you. Good luck to all.

Peace

I am being blacklisted now in my local medical com...

2008-07-26T07:18:00.000-04:00

I am being blacklisted now in my local medical community due telling a doctor that I was going to report her practice to the medical board because of complete incompetence. Her assistant did not even know how to take my blood pressure. Word is spreading and both my CT and US results have been fraudulently reported stating that the lymph nodes in my neck are not diseased. I know I have cancer and I looked at the scans myself and it is obvious. Also, my Ca-125 level is increasing dramatically and my neck is swelling as well. I believe in justice but mostly I believe in Karma. Trust in God or whatever higher force and stay on the right path. Ask God for direction and protection and find the voice inside where he speaks to you.

In 2002 I worked for a mortgage company that fumigated for mold for a month while we were in the building. They lied to us and told us that it was safe. When we continued our complaints, we were told that we did not have to work there. My immune system has always been compromised and I was very sick. My health continued to decline and I finally had to go out on disability. I believe that the chemical used was Ethylene Oxide, which is one of the main chemical components of Mustard Gas. I now have symptoms related to Gulf War Syndrome.

In regards to the 'flag' system: I am saddened by the 'use them up and spit them out' attitude about our heroes. Many of you have been forced to kill and witness atrocities that no one should ever have to experience. Life on earth is about freedom over our own minds and bodies. Do not allow anger to take over your hearts. Try your absolute best to limit your dependence on this corrupt part of the health care system by forgiving yourself and loving yourself and your loved ones.

People everywhere are finding their voices and will prevail against cruelty and malicious evil.

Love and light

My husband believes he has been blacklisted by the...

2008-05-09T09:36:00.000-04:00

My husband believes he has been blacklisted by the VA also. He didn't even know about this software until he looked it up online. He has had problems with his primary care provider, she gives him a hard time. He was evaluated as having Gulf war syndrom a few years ago and was always sick. Recently, he had a operation paid by the va for Arterial fibulation, afterwards he developed a pulmary emobolism and was in the Va hosp. for a week or so. While he was there he took note of how the patients were being mistreated and ignored, he tried to take pictures with his cell phone and they called security. anyway, I think this action has put him on thier blacklist -- he has had shortness of breath and a fever for 3 weeks, he went to the emergencyroom at the VA-- sat there for 4 hours, someone finally came out and told him all his tests were negative (blood tests, x-ray) and if he still has a fever to go and see his family doctor. So, yes I truly believe his record is flagged. He vovs never to return to the VA for care.

"I'm going to print this off and keep it. I think ...

2008-03-25T09:42:00.000-04:00

"I'm going to print this off and keep it. I think my husband has been blacklisted at the VA.

He's been diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, which is a progressive degenerative disease of the spinal vertebra. He had an appointment at the pain clinic last week because his pain meds are not working any more.

He had a failed nerve block last year at the VA, and has had trouble with his legs working properly ever since. The doctor who did the block sent him for an MRI, which didn't show any cause for the problems.

Now this same doctor has scheduled him to have a psych eval for somatization syndrome, which is basically saying it's all in his head. He is in therapy for PTSD, so they're using that as an excuse.

We are furious, and worried that they will do it the eval from his records if he cancels it. He has already been diagnosed with a condition that causes chronic pain, and we think he's been blacklisted as a "problem patient."

My question is, how do you fight this?"

I wish I knew the answer, Momcat. I know that any refusal to fully comply with the demands of the pain management doctor to get a psych eval or anything else he orders may be interpreted as non-compliance, and may result in your husband being denied treatment. So unfortunately you do have to play the game, even though having a psych eval on his records can in and of itself be used to deny treatment based on the alleged "somatization." It sounds like the doctor is just trying to cover his rear by trying to document that any pain your husband has suffered since he did the procedure is the result of somatization, and not medical error or simply a failed procedure on his part. If you find you are being stonewalled in getting proper care and are being treated as a "difficult patient," then it can sometimes be in your interest to become just that by writing your senator and demanding an explanation of what they are doing and why. Very often, doctors will recognize the path of least resistance is just to cut the bologna and do what needs to be done rather than deal with the hassle of a senator's office scrutinizing their practices, though of course this is no guarantee. I wish you the best of luck, No one should have to endure this kind of treatment but unfortunately, that is the way things are in this country your husband and I gave of our time to serve.

I'm going to print this off and keep it. I think ...

2008-03-22T10:03:00.000-04:00

I'm going to print this off and keep it. I think my husband has been blacklisted at the VA.

He's been diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, which is a progressive degenerative disease of the spinal vertebra. He had an appointment at the pain clinic last week because his pain meds are not working any more.

He had a failed nerve block last year at the VA, and has had trouble with his legs working properly ever since. The doctor who did the block sent him for an MRI, which didn't show any cause for the problems.

Now this same doctor has scheduled him to have a psych eval for somatization syndrome, which is basically saying it's all in his head. He is in therapy for PTSD, so they're using that as an excuse.

We are furious, and worried that they will do it the eval from his records if he cancels it. He has already been diagnosed with a condition that causes chronic pain, and we think he's been blacklisted as a "problem patient."

My question is, how do you fight this?

I had to add more than that last comment: I have b...

2008-01-04T14:22:00.000-05:00

I had to add more than that last comment: I have been a chronic pain patient for the past 23 years, during which time I could have been working and contributing instead of having to beg for the medications and procedures that kept me alive, if just barely at times. Because of lack of Tx, I have lost my home, job, a wife and child (who has since moved here to be with me), ended up on the street, and I have treated as an addict, no definitive tests done, then had 6 back operations. For a time I was treated right and actually put a life together again.

Now, sole caretaker of a wife in end-stage COPD, I have been blackmailed into signing a draconian pain contract that is designed to be unavoidably violated,(my PCP and I already had one that had worked well for years), been forced to see a "Pain Management Specialist" whose "specialty" seems to be removing any medications that help - he removed 2/3+ of my oral meds with no exam, no consult, just took away the meds and threw me into withdrawals, and left me in almost too much pain to move, much less care for a dying wife. How would YOU feel if you were forced to be the instrument of your dying wife's early death by neglect when the regimen you had been on - a legal, medically justified and effective regimen - was pulled out from under you, destroying your ability to function?

Aside from the fact that we're human, you VA doctors seem to forget how we were trained, and how we stayed alive. It may have been recent, or as in my case (I'm 51) it may have been long ago, but no one forgets training and experience like that, and no one is friendly to someone who just casually calls him or her a liar and just as casually, literally destroys one's life. And make no mistake - that's what the result is!

I am a moderator, contributor and administrator, as well as an advocate at PRN. You will find some strong emotions there, but no attacks. There are links to educational materials all through the site, including a vet's forum with our stories, and materials on current treatment standards, VA directives (which the VA itself is violating) - there's a LOT of information there, and there are also doctors and other healthcare professionals, as well as extremely well-informed lay-people.

Please - for your own sake as well as that of your patients, check it out!

Ian

Ian MacLeod

I strongly suggest you look into the Pain Relief N...

2008-01-04T13:59:00.000-05:00

I strongly suggest you look into the Pain Relief Network. There you'll find some stories of people whose lives are being casually destroyed by people like you, along with how pain should be treated and why. You'll find my own story there, as well as those of other veterans. You'll also have a chance to explain your POV.

http://www.painreliefnetwork.org/

http://doctordeluca.com/wordpress/index.php/sf-forum/

Ian MacLeod

Hi all,, am wondering if i have been Blacklisted. ...

2008-01-02T12:17:00.000-05:00

Hi all,, am wondering if i have been Blacklisted. have been fighting the VA for 7years now after they, the VA dr's, broke off two pieces of wire inside me and left them. have filed a 1151 claim but to no avail even using a lawyer hasnt helped. I need to find a doctor in Arizona who will help me fight these people. Also went to the VA in Phx, to get help for my pain, the dr there gave me a small amount and that was it, when i moved out of the metro Phx area and had my records tranferred to the Prescott VA, the docotor there would not help at all, said that since i get all my meds from my outside doctor i would have to go to him,k, thats BS, they are there to help ALL of us, i finally drove all the way back to Phx to see my private dr and he did give me a script for pain meds, i hate living with this pain but have no choice, my private dr has mentioned that i might have to have my kidney removed because of the FU of the VA dr's. I have no faith in the VA anymore. Have a Happy New Year you fkng VA doctors

Dear Anonymous VA provider:What exactly is a "comp...

2007-11-18T11:57:00.000-05:00

Dear Anonymous VA provider:
What exactly is a "completely ridiculous request for opiates?" Did you make your decision not to precribe medication before you walked into the room based on the flag in the patient's chart? Could the patient's response to your denial of treatment be based on his fear, frustration, illness and pain? Unless you have lived with chronic pain, you have no idea how powerless you can be made to feel by a medical provider who dismisses your suffering. I imagine your patient to be a crusty old line seargent wondering why a snot-nosed young doctor who is still wet behind the ears could possibly know anything about medicine, let alone properly treat him for his pain. Has compassion left the medical profession? It seems to have left the VA, and you.

From a veteran who is also a compassionate RN with chronic pain

Of course, this begs the question how the patient ...

2007-11-10T00:03:00.000-05:00

Of course, this begs the question how the patient protects himself from your particular form of battery, which is denial of treatment and blacklisting. Some people are not as inclined to give you a pass for gratuitous attempts to destroy their lives as others, a point you might want to consider along the road to a much needed attitude adjustment.

one of the only patients i've cared for at the va ...

2007-11-09T22:57:00.000-05:00

one of the only patients i've cared for at the va that i remember being flagged (in advance of my encounter) literally almost beat me up after i refused his completely ridiculous requests for opiates. flag away, i say. if somebody else's "libel" protects me from battery, all the better...