Topic
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Abuse and Misuse of Mill title 38..Abuse of Vets..private Facility via Malcolm Randall VA medical
So this is honor? Torture I say.
Thesaga of how veterans have been treated is disturbing but the surface has notbeen even scratched. I spent the weekend doing one on one conversationswith some veterans who had been patients or clients as they are called athealthcare facilities . This is not limited to Gainesville and notlimited to VA hospitals. This is healthcare for people in general but isvery prominent with veterans who were promised healthcare in exchange for theirsacrifice to serving their country. Gainesville, Florida needs a shakeup for better healthcare for ourveterans.
I talked with veterans, two of which were women this weekend andit was sickening.
I will be calling a get together with these folks as soon as I can as they allwant to go on record for their treatment. They were as my husbandsupposed to be seen and treated at a VA facility but were transferred to aprivate non va facility mental /behavioral health facility for differentreasons. The reasons for non admission at The VA does not make sense andsince the sudden departure of the VA Administrator after our intervention withVISN and The White House and the media, we can hope things shape up. IWILL BE MONITORING...They asked me to publish their story until they give methe video interview or recorded interview that will be public. Pleasegrab a hankie and something to throw that is not breakable below thesquiggly...
I foundsome papers in a journal from my husband of some mis treatment that Ifound outrageous and it looks like I have to go back on Hal Donahue not tomention to try and get some coverage on C-Span or elsewhere. A senatehearing committee would be nice.
The dayI went to the VINES hospital in Ocala to pick up my husband and I am naming thehospital as I will be doing so in upcoming days. I was in a state ofpanic getting a call from my husband and another veteran patient who had beenreleased to please go get him out quickly. I had to demand at the front desk tosee one of the heads of the Administration of this local community facility tolet them know I was not playing and wanting to know what the Hell was going on. The man was pleasant but clearly on guard as when I brought up VAprotocol and contracts and why was my husband so upset, the man was scrambling. I knew he would go home with me or be transferred back to the VA as mostpeople know when folks are bluffing or not. I was clearly not bluffing onwho all with the help of you folks not bluffing. The interview had nottaken place yet but this man knew it was in process. If I had known thenwhat I know now, the interview would have been even more revealing anddisgusting.
I donot want to get ahead of myself so I want to tell you why I contacted the phonenumbers listed in my husband's journal. I walked to the mailbox to get mailFriday evening and found a bill from the Vines Hospital for Five dollars. The statement said, 7,000 had been paid by the VA and 9,000 was waitingto be received. For what? Torture. That is what the price oftorture is going for these days. I was glad i got that bill as it justproves that 15,000 or 16.000 per patient at a local facility to accommodate a100 percent combat vet who could not be accommodated at a VA facility due tonew construction of wings that could not afford to be staffed is ridiculous. make that times 10 and how come our vets are being farmed out? Agood question to bring up to our congressmen and inspector general. Thiswas for about a two week stay. Enough about that ditty of which some ofus will be taking up soon and on with the horror.
My husband would not tell me why he was so upset that day Ipicked him up. Not that day or the next day or the next week. Hewas so clammed up on this subject that I could not get the info out of him orthe administrator of what the problem was. Truth has a way of coming out.
The stories were scaring me of what I found in the journal as it seemedreminiscent the horror stories of years gone by of state mental homes.
Forthose who do not know..My husband suffered a heart attack about one week out ofthat place. My husband did not have heart trouble or even high bloodpressure prior to this admission.
I wascleaning the mantle and found next to the bible a journal that my husband haskept for years but some names, phone numbers and addresses fell out. Ipicked up the journal and papers and begin to read some writing my husband haddone. He had documented what happened the last weekend at the Vines Hospitalin Ocala Florida. The day before he got to a phone and called me to come gethim and I started receiving calls from other veterans. The names were veteranswith stories who had been transferred to this place.
Thewritings went something like this.....
I havegot to get out of here before I really lose it. This is the worsefacility I have ever seen and that includes the VA's of the 70's and 80's. I am stuck in this wheelchair and I know they are pushing buttons oneverybody but this treatment is making me sicker. The have us sleeping oncots that feel like something your wouldn't put any human on. They makeus attend group I don't do group. Well I am walking out.. I am notgoing to group. None here are veteran or ptsd qualified to treat patientsbut they are messing with us and wanting us to do something to either keep uslonger or jail us. We are behind locked doors and some of us are reallyphysically sick. There are no medical docs here, just a nurse practioner.
They are changing my meds, I am OK on the meds theVA gave me and I have not been able to speak to a doctor. Not my primaryVA doctor or any doctor. Amanda is going to have to come get me as theyare holding veterans here against their will. They won't let them leave. Noteven against medical advice. What medical advice? They are refusingme meds. My VA meds. My roommate had a flashback last night andthey ......I don't want to talk about it. I can't remember.
He has been here 30 days I hear. I saw a patient tackled and slapped around..civilianor vet, I don't know yet. There are people screaming. They arescreaming in pain and are afraid. I am writing this down. I don'twant to block all of it.
Wordfor word from the journal.....timeline
Words from my vet's journal....Sunday evening.. time >
me: I was in pain and upset.Requested activan andtramadol. I was told it was not time for PRN of activan. I reallyneeded it. Told the same. I became extremely upset and cursing. Told the same. A nurse named ????? brought me Tramadol..I askedagain
for the activan with it....along with my other meds. Told me she did notknow what they were. (Close as I recall the following conversation) She was person who gave out meds.
me...Can't you get them
her..No
me...Canyou give me my fucking tramadol but nothing else..
her..Not my job
me...Youcan or won't get someone to get them
her..No
me: wheeling outside the building and busted through thescreen door...
became very sick. A man ....brought all my meds with the Ativan.
I was dry heaving, vomiting and I was given a vitriol tab after I wheel backinside.
Continued vomiting a good while.
Went tocot and man brought a wet rag. He was either nurse or someonecalled a technician. I did not see a doc.
......................
Monday.. 6:30 AM before breafast meds.. NOT GIVEN
I was sick. If I did not get up I did not get them. One pill for stomach has to be given half hour before meals. Can'tmove.. They knew I was in there. They called everyone but I was sick.
Morning meds after breakfast.. not given....I am still in bed.
Note ..I was called to breakfast ...I declined.
Smoke break a privilege.. I had been quit for 10 years.. Started back in thisfacility.
Did not call me for the privilege.
Noon..Second med time
Notgiven...................
.....................................................................
Lunchbrought to me..
I thendecline..
.......................................................................
SmokeBreak
Not notified
Smokers know they have to get their cigarettes from desk and short time.
.........................................................................................................
They knew I had started smoking as wife had brought three packsfor me once she found the facility I was in earlier in the week and hadattended the smoke breaks.
Had names on packs.
..........................................................................................................
1:00 PM ...They called group meeting.. I declined.
Theyclaim Mandatory
1:35......Icalled a vet who was hospitalized and released as I had gotten some numbers onthe hall phone.
Leftnumber and message to contact Amanda....my wife,,,EMERGENCY.
1:38
A nurse comes to my room and tells me I must have some meds Ineed to take.
I tell them they would have to bring them to me as I was not asking foranything and
no meds had been given. I won't ask for anything else HERE.
1:45PM
I called vet again to get in touch with Amanda.. I can only calllocally on this phone..
Amanda is long distance.
2:40sh
Called my wife to get me out now today . Being here is not to my mentalor physical well being. Nurse receptionist allowed me to use the deskphone when I was not allowed. I assured her I would not become upsetwhile using the phone or cause trouble.
4:30
After a long talk with non VA psych doc he explained I had to wait 24 hoursafter signing papers here to leave AMA.
He showed me a paper I signed .. This was signed at the GainesvilleVA and heavily sedated weeks earlier before transfer. I was neitherrational or at myself when signing a paper for submission for voluntarytreatment. i thought I was staying at the VA... It was a contractsaying I have read and understand blah blah blah. My wife shouldhave been given opportunity to help me with that decision. (New lawmaybe?) Wife was present and had durable power of attorney.
At Vines I asked Margaret a good nurse for a request form to goAMA. She said she couldn't get it but someone else said Noproblem......Same man that brought me rag.
time ? I was informed Amanda was here.
I find out Amanda has called a top official into a conferenceroom and I was escorted in there and I did not have to leave AMA. Amandathought I would be getting New medications and asked me to stay till morningand did not know all of this and she and the top official agreed with mypermission to stay another night to get all my meds.
when I left there were no prescriptions.
6:00 PM
I go to take meds after Amanda leaves and I was asked if I ever refused medsand I said NO. First time I had ever been asked that anywhere.
...............................................
At the Vines.. I have seen more patients screaming cursingand becoming pushed to their limits
The staff teaches us how to stay calm and how not to react. By far, thepatients I questioned here agree the staff involved intensified situations farbeyond it's beginning point, to the point of almost unbearable for patients.
I havebeen fortunate that I have had but one such encounter and that was Sunday andMondy with the Vines
.
The talks with the veterans were equally horrible. Onelady soldier complained that she had become an alcoholic and was having manyproblems with anxiety attacks but
when the VA told her that could not accommodate her psychiatric and orbehavioral problems due to PTSD she was told to go to the local Ocala hospitalwhere a phone call was made and the VA made arrangements for to admit herto the Vines Hospital. She was admitted and in her 10 day stay requestedher regular meds in which she was told no that she would have to see her VApsychiatrist in which she begged to see and was told they only had regular nonveteran psych docs on staff.
This lady vet was also extremely nervous as she hadbeen a rape victim and was uncomfortable with the sleeping arrangements. It was a co ed type setting and she wanted to feel safe without the fearof the room next door housing men, The screaming and wailing made
her afraid and made her more reminiscent of her past. She also said thatmany would pitch so many fits that they would bring shots of whatever likeThorazine or whatever to stop them from becoming extremely out ofcontrol. She also witnessed a girl begging for her seizure medicine andtold no only to have a severe seizure there in the floor.
No medical team was called to the patient's aid.
This woman also told me that she was the one who called me as many along withmy husband witnessed things that were barbaric in terms of mental health andcharging the VA. She said she felt she was being punished rather thanbeing helped and people had to struggle to leave the facility.
Keepin mind this was reported to me by a veteran who like my husband was notconsidered involuntarily there but had reached out to the Gainesville VA forhelp. She also mentioned the staff member tackling a patient there. She spoke of the beds or cots so bad that she preferred to sleep on thefloor but it was against the rules. All of the veterans seemed to likethe liason for the VA but all said she was running in circles and was learningas she was going and was there for admissions, etc., and I have not yet quitefigured how exactly what this woman's role in this place is except for fixtureof some sort of VA facilitator being on premises but found it disturbing that Idiscovered an outpatient satellite office with trained psychiatrist (combat) VAmental health professionals were only two blocks away.
The Ocala VA satellite office could also see medicalproblems but no one from that facility was called for this woman, or my husbandor John the vet having flashbacks. This woman did not call me once theentire time my husband was in the facility, This woman was a 100 percentdisabled veteran. This woman also told me that visiting hours wereextremely strict. I found tat odd as well. The security was notthat good in my opinion as I had to present an ID but no one looked in my pursefor what I could have brought into the
patient area and again I had to tell them to turn off 1st BloodRambo in theWaiting Room,
Not appropriate viewing for children or veteran families,
Thesecond woman told me she was being given much medicine for PTSD but St Pete hadturned her down on a disability. ((((Sigh))))) She informed me shehad seen veterans having severe problems in which the staff clearly did notknow how to address other than just shooting them up with medicine. Therewere group therapies but it was not veteran oriented. There was plenty shewanted to tell me but wanted to talk to me in person to go on the record, nameand all about the abuse she had suffered at the hands of North FloridaGainesville Medical Center and when she went to be treated was always sentelsewhere as they did not have the staff to treat her.
Shealso told me that the VA Gainesville worked her in housekeeping fora small salary and in exchange for a place to stay while in detox, Whatthe hell?
I have about 8 more calls to make and am at a complete loss of patienceas an advocate because this is no way to treat our veterans or anyone withcombat or any kind of emotional or mental issues. i am going to get alltreatment hospital summaries from this hospital regarding my husband as of lastweek the VA satellite office did not have the records. I WILL GET THEM. She was sent back to the VA to get prescriptions written and filledunlike my husband and the other vet who were discharged back home. Therelease patient forms asked my husband if he felt he wanted to go home withwife or transferred to the VA in Gainesville. My..a paper that says he is a danger to himself or others which he wasnot asking the patient what did he want? Especially since there was no room for him two weeks prior to thisnightmare. The patient was never Bakeracted and was there voluntarily yet they did not want to give up theirpatient Is that false imprisonment? Now there is the situation of the mill actbeing implemented and yet when he has a heart attack two weeks later after theVA satellite office is notified of chest pains and following their instructionsto go to nearest local hospital, the VA insists the Mill act does notapply. He had third party Insurance…LIE!!!!! VA is all he has and thisemergency instructions needs investigating. The VA Gainesville is the one throwing the mill act under title 38around to suit economic needs of whom again? Extreme cardiac emergency ..no coverage? Pain and Ptsd along with possible circulation problems..farm out to ahospital that denies medication which may be part of the heart attackblame. The DoJ needs to investigate andspeak with at least 8 veteran patients and staff at the mistreatment ofveterans at the Vines Hospital in Ocala, Florida. They also should investigate what handshakeand no formal contract is between this hospital and the VA Malcolm RandallFacility. Why is there an understaffedwing in a VA Facility yet thousands being paid for what many would deem abusein a private facility.
Thishospital is not under formal contract as I stated in the interview but getsmoney on Fee basis, It is NOT a stabilizing hospital as that is extremelyshort term and this hospital is NOT.
DickPierce, another advocate and I were concerned over my vet being in a non VAfacility but when I tried to have him moved even if it had to be out of statein a VA facility ,,,,it was a no room at the inn scenario which is preciselywhy I got so angry and started posting this info for change, Do not thinkthis is the only place this is happening, Remember the veteran who wasdumped in the street and and Wilkes Barre did take him in, He diedshortly after. I am concerned now on whether this non va faciilitystressed my husband to the point of heart attack.
If Ihave this much what else is going on to our PTSD and physically ill veteransalready rated top priority according to veteran regulation at 100 percent.
.
TheVines Hospital is listed with HHS in Florida and I am more than sure there ismoney connections somehow with all of this farming out and look who ourgovernor is for goodness sake, Mr, Medical Fraud Investigations himself. What is going on? I know the administrator is gone but someof these complaints I will be bringing them right into the spotlight,
I want you to look at the link here and don't be fooled by thepic, I never saw anything that looked that nice there and furthermore,how safe is it to have children and veterans residing in the same mental/behavioral hospital?
http://www.thevineshospital.com/
Lot of questions and this runs deeper than one veteran advocate and one veteranbut be ever so sure I am deep into this atrocity of care. Scott wanted toprivatize the prisons, the mental health facilities and all VA nursinghomes.
Forthose who borne the Battle....This is not honor ....This is torture and Shame.
AmandaL Kato
VeteransAdvocate
352-346-6977
Inverness,Florida 34453
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