Captain James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center - North Chicago, IL

Kim reid

VA hospital

Hannah true

I have been going here since September of this year and have had good experiences with every appointment. My primary care was able to get me referrals right away for an injury I had gotten in back in July and I was in a different state. Orthopedics team is very kind and got me in quickly for my surgery. Overall such a great hospital to go to and having support from health care professionals for my injuries has been wonderful. They always get me in quickly and address all my concerns!

Daniel Pyo

Expect to wait a very long time to be seen, and don’t expect to see a Doctor once you’re in a room either. They will drag the time on, and forget you’re even there.

More than enough Nurses, and Doctors on staff, but absolutely no communication.

Bring a tent, you’ll be staying the night!

If you have an Emergency, go to an actual Emergency Room elsewhere.

Rita Mirsch

Go anywhere else. The ER is slow, you have to push them to get anything done. The wanted to run unnecessary tests and I asked not to and when I gave them push back, magically the tests were available for me. I ended up having to stand in my doorway to get my discharge paperwork started. Then pharmacy took forever with filling the medications. It shouldn’t take 60 plus minutes to fill a simple prescription and then the pharmacist was incredibly rude about it. Go anywhere else. Just not this hospital.

Aaron Cress

Literally the best VA ever!!!! Iv been a lil lost in life in general moved around allot. Getting anything from the VA was always a problem. Unless your at Lovell they have amazing programs u can actually get into, greatvtimes on appointments I wish I lived closer

Nicole Chavez

This place is old. Hospital only has specialty Dr for adults. There should be a separate hospital for children with illnesses. Also it will be very convenient if the clinic stayed open till five or 6 PM in the evening and take patients on Saturdays because working civilian parents who are beneficiaries have to take personal sick time and personal time from work/if we have to leave early from work, which is very unfair if the other parent who is a service member is always working as well. It’s very inconvenient for this clinic to close early. It’s not very helpful or encouraging to schedule appointments. This is why the clinic is just declining. The clinic is supposed to open at 7am and nobody answers the phone except the directory person directing calls to closed clinics, time stamping my calls since 6:40-7:40 am this morning.

Jo Anna R

This hospital is my lifesaver! I've been a patient there for 8 years and I receive the best care there. I have experience from almost all the clinics except dermatology. I had major and minor surgeries performed, numerous procedures, tests, labs, you name it. They have state of the art technology, diagnostic equipment, and referrals to non-VA hospitals for nuclear medicine. I currently see several doctors on a regular basis, and they all know exactly what I'm dealing with. They are extremely knowledgeable, experienced, and think outside the box. They emphasize whole patient care, body, mind, spirit, nutrition, exercise, etc. One time, during my surgery, there were unexpected complications and a second pair of hands was needed. My surgeon called the other surgeon who was on leave and she came to assist immediately. I stayed there for a week after the surgery, which was successful and they saved my life. My current primary doctor is phenomenal! Other specialists and therapists as well. I had great experiences with physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychotherapy (individual and group) and supporting staff. I am able to reach the doctors very easy through secure messaging and they respond if not the same day then definitely the next. Some of the doctors I can reach directly by phone to report serious adverse events due to my illness or medications. MyHealtheVet is an excellent tool to order your prescriptions, access your health records, appointments, and contact the doctors and their staff. FHCC communicates with other VA and non-VA hospitals very well. When I was going through a cancer scare, the entire diagnostic process took only six weeks from my initial visit to their ER on June 30 to final diagnosis on August 13. This process involved lab tests, bronchoscopy, attempted biopsy (however, there was no safe access to the area), PET-CT scan (at Highland Park), and finally exploratory surgery with overnight stay at Zablocki VA in Milwaukee. It was an ordeal because of unknown, but the diagnostic process was perfect. For two years now since the diagnosis I'm treated, have constantly updated and regulated medications, labs, and scans and everything is synchronized perfectly. I still have to visit the ER sometimes, but I'm treated there with dignity and respect. Yes, I have to wait, like everywhere else. However, when I showed up with chest pain, I was seen immediately.
If I was unhappy about some customer service issue, I went to Patient Advocates who are very helpful, compassionate and act immediately. I usually get a call back from the clinic the next day that issue was resolved. As they say, as a patient you are your best advocate. If there is a problem, address it with proper personnel and it will be fixed.

Samantha O

Good luck making an appointment or getting people to pick up the phones at so many of the clinics.

Also, doctors truly do not care, this place is just as bad or worse than Hines in my experience.