Alaska VA Healthcare System

Relatively new VA facility. Specialists as good as what other VA clinics have. It can get challenging to see PCM, as Alaska has a high per capita veteran population. They are still growing capacity and capability, but the facilities are very nice, and the staff are very helpful and capable.

This is the major VA facilitate serving veterans in AK colocated with with the USAF Hospital in Anchorage. It has several general medical clinics but no emergency room services and is only open 5 days a week during 7 AM to 5 PM. It has a pharmacy for veterans.

Pros: My overall experience with the VA system here in Anchorage confirms that it is the best healthcare system in the nation, but only if you have the endurance to constantly and politely chase after them for help. Cons: Getting an appointment for your medical needs may take a very long time. During this waiting time, you may be in pain or a worsening condition, thus forcing you to go to the Emergency Room. However, in the ER, physicians and staff may orally abuse you for coming there, because your reason for going there seems trivial to them. Dr. Michael Hidek, EDD

5 weeks of waiting, no call from Community Care. Sat on hold multiple times for over an hour during the past 2 weeks. No answer, automatic disconnect. What happened to the VA? Care used to be speedy. Hopefully I don't die waiting for a Cardiologist appointment!!

Waited a month to get a chance to even schedule an appointment, just for them to not know if they can even help me. "OH I'll talk to the provider and call you back." No call, shocking. Guess it's time to give up.

I Now understand the VA's plan of attack. They will leave you on hold or delay your appointment until you die from the issue you're going in for. This has happened before and you can read it about it in the news or you can simply try to call them and find this to be correct.

My dad went in for a extreme kidney infection, they sent him away and book him an appointment for 30 days out, 3 days later he went into diabetic shock, was in a coma for 4 days, and was told it would be best to take him off of life support. He went without oxygen to his brain for way to long, there was no hope. Ak state troopers didn't respond to his 911 call, (he couldn't talk) and it was 20 minutes outside of palmer..... he was past there boundaries. The VA didn't pay attention or listen. Once again.

Tried to schedule an appointment three different times for mental health. One person just passes you off to another as soon as they don't think its their job anymore. For mental health staff they really make you feel terrible for calling and asking for help. 22 a day makes sense when you reach out to people like they have here. Truly disgusting and I would recommend talking to a brick wall before seeking help from any of these people. Absolutely shocked from how difficult it was just to get an appointment and the level of rudeness from each representative.