Lake Baldwin VA Clinic — Local services in Orlando

I do not trust the medical abilities of any physican of any specialty that presents themselves rather by physical appearance, mental instability, or communicating their illness to me. With that being said, these are a few of my experiences.

Older African American female receptionist at womens clinic, Lake Baldwin, is inconsiderate & rude. You have to engage with an overly bubbly exaggerated personality like a caricature to be treated with basic human decency. (Try it see what happens.) Even though she is the Receptionist and you are the patient with and ailment. Although the pitet soft spoken receptionist that sits behind her is the best and goes above and beyond.

PA Pope African American woman was demeaning of my hunanity. It was so stressful. She uses religion to judge humans. It's deplorable and a HIPPA violation. I went to the patient advocate, but nothing happened.

PT Joy Asian petit woman was dishonest and ignored my records and recommendations from peers in her field. I went to her supervisor, and she recommended me a modality. When I returned for evaluation, it was with PT Joy again that she held a grudge and barely looked at me for proper evaluation. Denied me proper treatment even though I was just in a accident. She said my pain was chronic and in my head. Base on a theory she read about. Although my CT scan and MRI suggest other wise.

Dr. Celestine rerefuseo provide a DBQ after having my annotated service medical records for a day. Never provided real information about all the complaints I provided to her. 1 was never overweight as her patient. Every complaint I made was you should lose weight. That was her treatment to make it my fault. I stop seeing her and only saw Dr Shilowitz he was a great physician, never judge. I am 5'4 I was 40 weight 165.

Dr. Malinglioni who may have lasted at the VA 2 MTHS. Refuse to provide me authorization of treatment I had been getting to manage my pain. Because she said she wants me to start all over so she can get to know me as a patient. As if my medical records were not enough for her to do so. Ignoring all my pain and telling me the VA doesn't want to pay for it. Neglect at its best.

Mental health This physician came in the room blazzin pen & pad like a western movie & said to me ok what do you want?" I was confused . said to speak to someone about recent events that are affecting me physically pain. He said no I mean medication i write scripts." I responded I don't know." Why would i know that? You are the physician. I presumed that after speaking to me, you would know.

Listen, when I tell you I will never. I'm good with my meditation and journal on my own. I definitely see why the nation is having an opioid crisis.

The list of deplorable staff members goes on and on.

I've experienced so much discrimination at Lake Baldwin that I had an emotional breakdown at the facility. Not one staff member stopped to ask me if I was ok, not one.

I recently experienced tactless individuals In the hallway near the eye glasses shop. They were friend of the staff for claims. While I was on an important call with the VA. 2 women walked up, being ridiculously loud about food for nearly 30min. Talking about nothing important, which I didn't mind it was a volume of the banter. No respect for individuals who come their with serious thoughts on their mind and business

Many people there are judgemental, rude, deplorable, and unprofessional. Not all of them. There are some really decent humans great staff at Lake Baldwin, but it's not enough.

Petit Female blonde radiologist tech is so pleasant and caring. Mitchell physical therapy scheduler same above and beyond on countless occasions. Dr. Bahlial, best primary I've ever had, she listened. She's no longer in the state, unfortunately PT supervisor, young African American woman she listening & determines what' best based on facts. She's a great lead.

I have transitioned to Lake Nona.

I realize as a patient at any medical establishment,I have 2 advocate 4 self. Do your research & demand the test. Get 2 the cause not...

I have been service connected vet in the VA system for over 10 years and can understand a lot of reviewers frustrations, as I have had my fair share with the system as well. Like anything else in life, you come across great people who enjoy their jobs and interacting with the veterans and those who epitomize the stereotypical government worker attitude. Over the years, I personally have found the facility and staff at Lake Baldwin improving for the better. My biggest case in point, is Elinda from the Radiology department.

If anyone is going through the service connection process, they know that is a lot of running around, a lot of "we can't do that being said", and a lot of waiting around. I needed to get a copy of my images from Radiology. I called prior to see if it was even possible for me to get them. I was fortunate to talk to Elinda, who answered the phone warmly and with no negativity in her voice at all. Elinda assured me that it would be no problem at all, but that I would have to pick them up in person and that it would take around 15 minutes. If you have been with the VA for a while or read comments, you are aware that statement is a minor miracle in itself.

I arrived at Lake Baldwin's Radiology Dept. the next day, prepared for the worst. They had construction going on near the waiting area for Radiology, which in my mind signified that they are working to improve the clinic. However, I was greeted by a bubbly, upbeat, and compassionate Elinda. My information was taken and I was asked to take a seat. Less than 15 minutes later, my CD was ready for me. I was very thankful to Elinda for making my trip from Deltona, worthwhile in my opinion.

We have to keep in mind, that the VA is just like the military when it comes to the employees and locations. Their are employees just there for the paycheck, who don't care as much about the vets. However, there are Elinda's out there. They care about the quality of service/treatment being given (shout out to the Teal Team and Ms. Zimmerman on the 4th Floor). Those employees that do the best job, rightfully so, get promoted and moved on to bigger and better things.

I hope this review has helped show that their are great employees within the VA, still. If you are dissatisfied with your service, you can request to see someone else (which I have done many times). The same happens even in the private...

All the people who gave this place a 4-5 stars are great if it is true and as a fellow veterans, I am glad to see that your well-being was maintained. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same about my care and it starts with the bottom to the PCP(Clerks to Higher ranking). I have always face discrimination of sort going to get seen at this VA. As proof and just recent visit on 1/29/2019; I went into Green Team as a walk-in, the "Bully Hispanic Green Team clerk name Warren turned me away because I belong to the Purple Team (always my PCP, Dr. Margaitis never ever is available (they always tell me that she is not there or she isn't available any time I go there, strange indeed), then the nightmare of Purple Team as "Bully" nurse Womack wanted to take my vital signs in the waiting area which I refused and walked back to the Green Team because I went to the Purple Team at the persistence of Warren and was denied care there as a walk-in because "good ole' nurse bully Womack kept on coming out into the waiting area and telling me that "walk-ins are overbooked" for today, can you come back on so and so time? "Can you believe that s?", if you have the chance to go and seek help due to your pain at that time and an effing bully (no it all) nurse tells you that you have to feel pain at "his so and so time"? Would you like that? But this was what they did to me time and time again. I now do not ever want to go back but I live here in Orlando and I now have to drive so far away in order to get care for the very organization (VAMedical Center for veterans of U.S. Armed services) that I fought for & even deploying 2x in Iraq. The treatment I got from them...trust me, I'd rather be deploy in Iraq and Afghanistan. At least being deployed you are able to say that you die/serve with honor and the enemy wear a different patch/different flag. The Green Team and Purple Team of OVAMC are a disgrace and disgusting...Patient Advocate s* too , they did not do anything to help but kept on asking if I wanted to transfer or change PCP but I already tried doing...