Pics not for the squeemish, only I get hurt installing...

[vt_maverick]

Also, not sure where you guys live, but at any busy hospital sitting 13 hours waiting for some service isn't a far stretch no matter where you are in the spectrum. If it ain't obviously life-threatening or giving birth, then you are LAST in their line.

You'd think. But they allowed their "LAST" priority to consume 1 of their 4 triage rooms for 9+ hours, then 1 of their 6 exam rooms for another 3 hours. Apparently she was in enough danger that they wouldn't let us leave, but not enough danger that they couldn't take 12 hours to figure out what was wrong. And apparently it was serious enough to waste one of their rooms all day while 30+ people were in the waiting room, but not serious enough that the doctor would call the on-call OBGYN at any point.

Btw, there were enough complaints a few years ago that this base hospital lost their certification as an emergency treatment facility - they literally had to send military folks off base to receive emergency treatment. They just regained that certification a couple years ago. So yes, it is as bad as it seems.

I will concede that there are exceptions to this rule. My wife and grandfather (both vets) have been seen at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in the past, and we've had an outstanding experience each time (staff are very friendly and helpful, plenty of doctors on the floor at all times). But then again there is the ridiculously long wait at the dispensary counter...

[technocoy]

You'd think. But they allowed their "LAST" priority to consume 1 of their 4 triage rooms for 9+ hours, then 1 of their 6 exam rooms for another 3 hours. Apparently she was in enough danger that they wouldn't let us leave, but not enough danger that they couldn't take 12 hours to figure out what was wrong. And apparently it was serious enough to waste one of their rooms all day while 30+ people were in the waiting room, but not serious enough that the doctor would call the on-call OBGYN at any point.

Btw, there were enough complaints a few years ago that this base hospital lost their certification as an emergency treatment facility - they literally had to send military folks off base to receive emergency treatment. They just regained that certification a couple years ago. So yes, it is as bad as it seems.

I will concede that there are exceptions to this rule. My wife and grandfather (both vets) have been seen at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in the past, and we've had an outstanding experience each time (staff are very friendly and helpful, plenty of doctors on the floor at all times). But then again there is the ridiculously long wait at the dispensary counter...

I can see that for sure. Course that's the case with all hospitals. The one from my hometown was just notoriously bad. Especially for waits. Of course, it was the only hospital for 30 miles, whereas in Raleigh you have about 5 hospitals within 15-20 miles.

Of course, this also gets into the larger problem in that most of the medical system is in need of serious overhaul.

I can sympathize in most the situations (except of course that my experiences weren't with a military hospital) so I'm not knocking anyone, just playing devils advocate a little. The clearest perspective is always our own. That's why I always take a minute to try and put myself in others shoes. I'm pretty good at this in all my life situations except driving. Man, I got some road rage for sure. We all got our character flaws, eh?

Cheers guys, didn't mean to threadjack on Marlin and his gimp finger.

[technocoy]

You'd think. But they allowed their "LAST" priority to consume 1 of their 4 triage rooms for 9+ hours, then 1 of their 6 exam rooms for another 3 hours. Apparently she was in enough danger that they wouldn't let us leave, but not enough danger that they couldn't take 12 hours to figure out what was wrong. And apparently it was serious enough to waste one of their rooms all day while 30+ people were in the waiting room, but not serious enough that the doctor would call the on-call OBGYN at any point.

Btw, there were enough complaints a few years ago that this base hospital lost their certification as an emergency treatment facility - they literally had to send military folks off base to receive emergency treatment. They just regained that certification a couple years ago. So yes, it is as bad as it seems.

I will concede that there are exceptions to this rule. My wife and grandfather (both vets) have been seen at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in the past, and we've had an outstanding experience each time (staff are very friendly and helpful, plenty of doctors on the floor at all times). But then again there is the ridiculously long wait at the dispensary counter...

Oh, I agree Maverick, it aggravates the hell out of me to ever need to go to an emergency room. I was just pointing out that it's not really a military care problem alone. The rest of the country is just as befuddled as you are.

I personally loved it when my sister was bleeding from her head and had part of her bone sticking out at the elbow and they were hassling her about insurance and identification but the dude that came in right behind us (who didn't speak English, conveniently) had neither and they didn't so much as wince before taking him on back for what appeared to be a burned forearm.

Just sayin'

[Marlin]

Oh, I agree Maverick, it aggravates the hell out of me to ever need to go to an emergency room. I was just pointing out that it's not really a military care problem alone. The rest of the country is just as befuddled as you are.

I personally loved it when my sister was bleeding from her head and had part of her bone sticking out at the elbow and they were hassling her about insurance and identification but the dude that came in right behind us (who didn't speak English, conveniently) had neither and they didn't so much as wince before taking him on back for what appeared to be a burned forearm.

Just sayin'

They just billed Obama...

On a happy note, the wound already closed over. I am thinking of getting some adamantium claws installed. With my super healing ability...the possibilities are endless.