C&P

[babyduck16r]

My friend who is a vietnam veteran went to c&p friday and the examiner told his wife that she couldn't come in office while he was interviewing her husband for ptsd.I thought wife could accompany husband. :Could someone shed some light on this.

[stumpy]

I would bet the reason a wife was not allowed to be present for a PTSD exam is because of the nature of the discussion. There is doctor/patient confidentiality thing here. It does not matter if the patient wants his wife present or not, it is not the way things are done. The doctor wants to hear the whole truth not something sugar coated because a wife is present.

[babyduck16r]

Thanks Stumpy
babyduck

[TinCanMan]

My understansing is she can. She and her husband should see the patient rep at the VAMC see what they say. I might consider asking that this C&P be invalidated and a new one scheduled based on patient rep decision.

[stumpy]

Yes you can see the patient advocate, however if the Veteran is not rated as incompetent, I don't think the wife has a complaint. I have a degree in the Mental Health area, but have never worked for the VA, and mental health exams are private and family members are never allowed in examinations at the places I have worked.

[TinCanMan]

I've never had anyone accompany me at a C&P so I can't speak from experience but, I've heard many veterans with mental disorders say they have someone with them at a C&P because they simply can't remember things or are intimidated in new surroundings without a familiar face. FWIW, I don't believe their is a doctor/patient relationship at a C&P because it's an examination of the evidence or fact finding, not treatment. That's neither here, nor there because we don't know these things with certanty, so I decided to ask. The VA has an inquiry system wherein the veteran can pose a question online and receive a response in about 5 days by e-mail, letter or phone. Go here: http://tinyurl.com/6xvfx I did, and I asked about it. We'll see.

[stumpy]

Please post the VA's response please. It will be interesting to learn what they will have to say.

[TinCanMan]

That's my intention, but anyone wanting a personal answer can do so. I've used this system before and it works fairly well for simple questions if you have the time to wait.

[stumpy]

TinCanMan, I can already see several problems with whatever the VA may say on this issue. First will their response cover all VA Facilities or just the one your friend went to. Or are doctors on a case by case basis authorized to make the decision to not allow a significant other to be present at a c&p exam. This is a very touchy and interesting situation.

[TinCanMan]

First I don't have a friend in this situation. I talk with lots of veterans both online and off. Thirty five percent of the workforce at my location are veterans. We tend to talk about veterans issues, some are SC for PTSD. In my office, 3 out of 5 are vets and the other 2 are married to vets. On several occasions I participated in dicussions where someone with PTST related they had their wife accompany them at a C&P.

Second, when I asked the question, it was an inquiry form on the VBA site not any of the Health Care sites so it should be generic. The VA is doing it's level best to have a single policy across the system although it's not there yet. The VBA inquiry form does make you pick a state. I chose Alabama because it was first on the pick list. I posted the link to the inquiry form so that anyone interested could ask for themself. Pick a state and try it. If we get different answers, we'll know it isn't consistant.

Personally, If this happened to me, I wouldn't sit still for any doctor telling me my wife couldn't accompany me, if I thought it necessary. I'd start with the patient rep and work my way up till I got satisfaction.

[stumpy]

I'm sorry it was babyduck16r that started this thread with the quetion we are discussing. I will ask the same question for the State of Texas and see what they have to say. Then we can compare notes. lol

[babyduck16r]

It was my friend that went to C&P,and examiner wouldn,t let his wife sit in with him while being inview.I told him that he could take his wife in with him.Before i begin my pct program for anger managment i had to see psychiatrist and the counselor told me to take my wife with me and i did and the psychiatrist said it was ok although this was for pct program. This was done at the vamc in Tuskegee Al.My friends C&P was done Montgomery AL.

Babyduck

[TinCanMan]

...and we have an answer.

Question:
I recently had a C&P for PTSD. The examiner refused to allow my wife to attend during the examination. I need help with remembering things. Can the examiner refuse my attendant? Can I have this C&P invalidated and request another one where she is present?

Response:
You are asking the Regional Office a question that actually falls under the VA Hospital's jurisidition and is the examining doctor's decision.

If you are not satisfied with the examination, let me suggest that you do the following. Notify us in writing of your dissatisfaction and tell us why (just like you did in this email). Ask the VA to reschedule you for an examination.

Michael Fairchild
Service Center Mgr - 61


So... it is the doctors decision whether to permit it but, the veteran has the option to submit, or not. Now I need to speak with the patient rep. I have an appointment with the opthamologist late November at the VAMC in de beeg city and will drop by and ask. Inquiring minds want to know. The previous dialog was edited for clarity and to remove the names of the guilty. Anyone wanting their own answers can contact the VA thru their Inquiry System.

[stumpy]

I asked the same question last night. Still waiting for a reply. will post when received

[TinCanMan]

Originally Posted by stumpy

I asked the same question last night. Still waiting for a reply. will post when received

I think we'll find it isn't consistant because it is a Health Care Service issue rather than that of the VARO. I find the VARO's are farther along the path of uniformity than Health Care.

[babyduck16r]

Originally Posted by TinCanMan

...and we have an answer.

Question:
I recently had a C&P for PTSD. The examiner refused to allow my wife to attend during the examination. I need help with remembering things. Can the examiner refuse my attendant? Can I have this C&P invalidated and request another one where she is present?

Response:
You are asking the Regional Office a question that actually falls under the VA Hospital's jurisidition and is the examining doctor's decision.

If you are not satisfied with the examination, let me suggest that you do the following. Notify us in writing of your dissatisfaction and tell us why (just like you did in this email). Ask the VA to reschedule you for an examination.

Michael Fairchild
Service Center Mgr - 61


So... it is the doctors decision whether to permit it but, the veteran has the option to submit, or not. Now I need to speak with the patient rep. I have an appointment with the opthamologist late November at the VAMC in de beeg city and will drop by and ask. Inquiring minds want to know. The previous dialog was edited for clarity and to remove the names of the guilty. Anyone wanting their own answers can contact the VA thru their Inquiry System.

In Montgomery Al,if you have c&p for ptsd,you won't know if you are dissatisfy or not,until after you have been rated.when i had c&p done oct 2003 i went down to release of records to fill out papers to have c&p summary mail to me and the lady in office told me that i could fill out papers but, if it was for ptsd i was wasting my time because,she had got orders that day not to mail out anymore ptsd summary.
mobie

[TinCanMan]

Originally Posted by babyduck16r

In Montgomery Al,if you have c&p for ptsd,you won't know if you are dissatisfy or not,until after you have been rated.when i had c&p done oct 2003 i went down to release of records to fill out papers to have c&p summary mail to me and the lady in office told me that i could fill out papers but, if it was for ptsd i was wasting my time because,she had got orders that day not to mail out anymore ptsd summary.
mobie

BD:

I would think her orders were illegal. Submit a request, in writing, RRR to the Director of the facility holding the record and state it is a Freedom of Information Act request. Identify, in detail, the information you want. They have 20 days to respond to your request although a simple letter asking for more time will suffice. I've yet to determine exactly what limitations are on "more time". If you keep it simple, "more time" can be minimized. You may find it necessaary to file a legal action to obtain those records.

[babyduck16r]

Thanks,tincanman i am submiting request tomorrow.
babyduck

[babyduck16r]

Unbelieable,mail letter to release of records the Twentyfirst and recieved c&p health summary the Twentysix.
babyduck

[TinCanMan]

Well, ya finally caught a break, eh BD? Bout time.