VA Medical Center-Bath — Local services in Town of Bath

I already understand by leaving this review that nothing will still get done. I am a Marine Corps Combat Veteran. I have been assigned to the Bath VA for just over 2 years since I moved back to this area. They recently disenrolled me due to restrictions which prevented Veterans to receive the care and treatment they have needed by cancelling all non emergency appointments during the year plus long 'Government Operated' COVID gaggle. Now, I am denied my medications in the mail and I am forced to restart the process all over again which takes up MY time. Unfortunately I have had other issues in the past with the Bath VA. They also denied me the right to continue seeing an outside provider (which is my personal right) whom they initially branched me out to due to an injury they could not treat. I have been tossed around, ignored and given confusing information from a smorgasbord of unprofessional VA employees (All Civilians). I never know what medical care provider that I am assigned to in which I still do not have one at this time. I am sick and tired of this dereliction and laziness from so called government funded professionals who's Legitimate Requirement is to CARE FOR US. It is unfair treatment in which we do not deserve. I have made complaints in the past by how wrongfully I was treated by their personnel (Pharmacy and the 5th Floor Check In Desk). It is just disgusting how Veterans are treated by some of the actual VA employees. It is obvious that those ones are just there for a paycheck or the job title. Don't hate us for serving our country. Also, I have been ignored many times by their nurses after leaving multiple messages for 3-4 weeks at a time then when I finally spoke with them, they were standoffish, argumentative and disrespectful which is unbecoming period. One person who has helped me tremendously and who ALWAYS maintains contact with me regardless if he misses my call or listens to my messages then directly calls me back is a registered nurse named Jim (Of whom is also a fellow Veteran). His diligence, professionalism, consideration, initiative and overall excellence to duty is what sets him apart from the rest. He treats you like a person, not a patient and he is the only one who gets the 5...

Some of the staff here is alright, this location is really understaffed, and doesn't offer much. Several of the employees here just dont offer much help. While some are alright, and some are even pretty good, their are some here that are just awful. The physical therapy here specifically is SUCH A JOKE. The physical therapist i got, LAURIE HAIGHT was absolutely TERRIBLE! She was over 25 minutes late for our appointment, depite me being on a fairly tight schedule, with my next appointment being on the opposite end of the facility, but still i had over an hour to work with her. She didnt seem to even notice that she was late either, no apology or acknowledgment of being late at all. On top of that she was very rude, and spent more time actually bickering with me, and reiterating that i should basically just 'Help Myself' at home, because she wasnt willing to do much for me herself at the facility. I told her what was and was not easy for me, but she was very insistent in blaming me for my pain, and telling me that i need to do the things that were not feasible for me to do. she basically just wanted me to do everything, for myself at home, without her having to do anything, even the things i told her were not working for me. She just kept arguing with everything i said, as if SHE were the patient, until i finally just had to stop responding to her because i had very little time before my next appointment. She basically just shut me down from the start, my prefrences or comforts were not acknowledged by her at all, i felt very ignored, and judged, and blamed by her. She wasted so much time arguing with me, then left to her office for another 20 mins, finally i had to tell her i needed to go so i wouldnt be late for my next appointment. Obviously showing up on time was not important to her, but to me it is extremely unproffessional to show up late and waste a patients time without any apology. She refused any further in person appointments, i agreed to a video appointment once more, to which again she was of no help again. I'd much rather not get any help at all than have to receive such unhelpful, unprofessional, degrading,...

Maybe if you are an old man you will receive adequate care. As a younger woman that moved here from a nice VA, I am pretty disappointed. Having someone answer a phone is a miracle, the "Women's Care" is in the exact same place as the men and they don't have a GYN anyway. They tried sending me to community care with a 2.8* rating 30min away for a routine pap. The Dermatologist made me feel very uncomfortable. The Orthopedics and Physical Therapy practice differently, one told me one thing and the other told me to do the opposite for my injury. I asked about it at my follow-up there was no explanation offered although both were very nice. I only received care from mental health briefly at this facility, I am not in a hurry to ever go back - I felt she was underqualified and cold. My criteria for buying a home was to have a VA nearby but this facility is stuck in 1980. Some of the providers need to retire to make room for new, modern medical professionals. Also of note, I was told several of the positive reviews on here are from employees. Dental is the only reason for giving an extra star - they are great people and managed my anxiety with grace. PS. I am all for queer rights and empowerment but while your entrance was colored by rainbows, you neglected to recognize PTSD awareness. Update: Took the 2nd star away. Had my first trip to the Urgent Care where I was spoken to like I am an idiot and refused care stating, "we don't think you are seriously ill". After speaking to my nurse friend the next morning, she urged me to go to Urgent Care somewhere else. I drove very sick to Elmira where they refused me treatment too because they said I needed to go to the ER asap. He sent me to Corning and I was treated with so much kindness and respect. The care was above and beyond and I got everything that I needed to be on the mend. From pain management to IV antibiotics and a take home script for more. Diagnosed with progressed cellulitis, fyi, it can kill you if left untreated. Thanks VA, I am officially switching to my state healthcare until I can move out...