Thread by @Johnny_Joey

Thread:

Today I was contacted by: @AtlantaVAMC patent advocate
@AtlantaVAMC Ear Director
Newnan Clinic Medical Director
Reps from both GA Senators
Reps from 2 GA Congressmen
@IndyFund
And a few friends and strangers asking to help in response to my viral tweets

Everyone who contacted me was very professional, most were sincere in their offer to help and concern over my experience. But... here’s what you all need to understand.. I’m one veteran.

I moved back to Georgia in Sept ‘16. I’ve been trying to set up my primary health care with the Newnan, GA VA since January ‘17. Upon my first visit(May ‘17). After having my height and weight measure while wearing my prosthetics (not very accurate) I was asked questions like

Were you injured in services?
Why do you need medical treatment?
Have you ever had surgery?
Have you ever received blood?
What is the source of your pain?

All from a nurse reading from a computer in a accent so strong I had to ask her to repeat herself many times.

Nothing wrong with having an accent, but she was visibly bothered that I asked her to repeat herself, as if it was because I’m mean rather than the fact these questions could determine my health care... she then continued reading the Gambit of suicide questions robotically w/o

Pause or follow up. She was going through the motions. Then I was handed off to a physician. As was explained to me as recently as today, upon intake vets aren’t scheduled to meet their assigned Dr. we’re simply seen by whomever is available at that time. So, a Dr you may never

See again is the Dr asking you if you’re suicidal, safe in your own home, or happy with your Care. The Dr walked in the room, silently say down at a computer and after more than 5 minutes of fumbling through the computer began with “Jones..?”

He asked most of the same questions the nurse asked just minutes before in the room next door. He didn’t introduce himself, say hello or attempt to create any type of rapport. When I asked to him to introduce himself he got bothered, when I asked him to use complete sentences

He got downright upset. Then when he was done he walked me into the waiting room, turned around and poof he was gone. When I checked out I was told I would meet my assigned Dr. in 6 months when I came back for my next check up.

Of course when I returned in Nov ‘17 my assigned doctor was on vacation, so again I was seen by whomever was available. Today I got a call from my assigned doctor.. it took: A viral tweet, 2 senators, 3 congressmen 5 hrs in a VAER, and 18 months for my assigned Dr to say... hello

What you all need to know is this;
With my contacts and visibility I could’ve gotten red carpet treatment the day I moved to Georgia. But why should I get special attention? My Twitter didn’t earn my health care, my Fox hits didn’t pass legislation telling the VA to do its job

I’m just one veteran. I’m no more important than the thousands of veterans who’ve experienced much worse and just go home, emotionally defeated or simply thankful that got any care to begin with.

I’m livid, I’m down right pissed that walking into the @AtlantaVAMC ER on prosthetic legs, missing a finger and a scar from wrist to elbow with a smile on my face and ID card in my hand didn’t garner an inkling of decency and respect that a tweet storm did.

Because millions of veterans on have a smile and ID card, but deserve the red carpet like I’ll get for now on because I’m “somebody”... bullshit, I’m a vet. Nothing more and not a damn thing less. I’m more pissed at the attention I got today that the lack of for the past 8yrs.

My best friend needed the VA’s attention in 2012 while struggling with addiction, depression and suicidal thoughts. He didn’t have a Twitter, he had me, our best friend Keith and his dad.

We weren’t enough to sway the VA and he lost his battle to himself. These were his last words to me. He deserved better, we all deserve a @DeptVetAffairs that cares about what happen to us after we walk out their door.