VA Mental Health Provider Venting / Problem-solving / Peer Support Thread

[Shiori]

There are some pretty substantial rumors that the new administration is not going to allow any telework for federal employees, so I'm not sure what that would mean for those cushy VACO jobs

I wonder what that would look like for all the clinics struggling with space. Even with teleworking and remote positions, space is a significant issue. I imagine addressing actual problems isn't the goal though. We're working off vibes here.

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[cara susanna]

Yeah, we have full time telework employees and gave away their offices a long time ago so 🤷‍♀️

 

[Shiori]

Yeah, we have full time telework employees and gave away their offices a long time ago so 🤷‍♀️

I will just be watching the show.

 

[Sanman]

I wonder what that would look like for all the clinics struggling with space. Even with teleworking and remote positions, space is a significant issue. I imagine addressing actual problems isn't the goal though. We're working off vibes here.

It won't happen overnight. Teleworking is much easier to get rid of than fully remote positions. I imagine that it will take time to figure out how to house everyone. However, it will be a mess all around. That said, VA is in a better position that something like EPA, IRS, or DOE. Especially for actual healthcare providers. My VA has remote medical directors and if you force them all back in and they quit (because they don't live there), I imagine we are shutting down parts of the hospital. That will go over well.

 

[cara susanna]

I am so burnt out by my VA cell phone requiring me to change my pin and not letting me use old pins that I have now set the dumbest possible pin for it (I probably shouldn't say what it is specifically, so use your imagination)

 

[Sanman]

I am so burnt out by my VA cell phone requiring me to change my pin and not letting me use old pins that I have now set the dumbest possible pin for it (I probably shouldn't say what it is specifically, so use your imagination)

I gave up on numbers and went to letters now. However, I was so sick of it that my password was 1-2-3-4 at one point.

 

[cara susanna]

I gave up on numbers and went to letters now. However, I was so sick of it that my password was 1-2-3-4 at one point.

One day I'm going to make my password Actuallypasswordrequirementsmakethemlessecurenotmore

 

[Sanman]

One day I'm going to make my password Actuallypasswordrequirementsmakethemlessecurenotmore

I will do that when I am fired by Trump. God knows that I would never be able to type all that in without a typo.

 

[summerbabe]

There are some pretty substantial rumors that the new administration is not going to allow any telework for federal employees, so I'm not sure what that would mean for those cushy VACO jobs

Interesting, I assume they can’t change jobs that have been coded as fully virtual.

But I imagine many of these mid level management jobs have telework at the discretion of the agency and they are required to live within a certain distance from their central office location, even if they essentially work full time remotely.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

There are some pretty substantial rumors that the new administration is not going to allow any telework for federal employees, so I'm not sure what that would mean for those cushy VACO jobs

I've always wondered that about VA. I can understand the need to have providers present in the clinic, but I've never worked at a VA that did not have space issues. Easiest way to improve access when you don't have space for more doctors? Hire doctors for remote positions. Cheaper than contracting with community providers, and you'll get better continuity of care.

But then there seems to be this pervasive idea, even within VA among leadership, that VA clinicians are slackers, can't be trusted to monitor themselves, and will all take advantage of the situation if allowed to telework.

 

[Sanman]

Interesting, I assume they can’t change jobs that have been coded as fully virtual.

But I imagine many of these mid level management jobs have telework at the discretion of the agency and they are required to live within a certain distance from their central office location, even if they essentially work full time remotely.

Some are telework. However, I have looked at a few of these position postings and know a few VACO folks where the rule is simply show up to any location in your VISN. Some had even managed to secure offices pre-pandemic.

 

[Sanman]

I've always wondered that about VA. I can understand the need to have providers present in the clinic, but I've never worked at a VA that did not have space issues. Easiest way to improve access when you don't have space for more doctors? Hire doctors for remote positions. Cheaper than contracting with community providers, and you'll get better continuity of care.

But then there seems to be this pervasive idea, even within VA among leadership, that VA clinicians are slackers, can't be trusted to monitor themselves, and will all take advantage of the situation if allowed to telework.

The other half of the problem is that the people hiring you/managing personnel have no idea about the reality. When I was originally hired at the VA, my SF-50 was listed as the main medical center, my HBPC team was housed out of a CBOC and I was told to report there. Turns out there was no space and the whole team had been teleworking for over a year due to office space issues. So much for the right hand knowing what the left is doing.

I often wonder if forced to RTO, how long it would take for someone to figure out if I never actually showed up and just continued to work at home.

 

[Fan_of_Meehl]

One day I'm going to make my password Actuallypasswordrequirementsmakethemlessecurenotmore

At one point my password for my CPRS login was 'kissmyass@07.' I crap you not.

 

[cara susanna]

I know some people who work for VACO who live on like the other side of the country, or at least several states away

 

[psychedaboutpsych123]

Interesting, I assume they can’t change jobs that have been coded as fully virtual.

But I imagine many of these mid level management jobs have telework at the discretion of the agency and they are required to live within a certain distance from their central office location, even if they essentially work full time remotely.

I have a fully remote VA clinical job, was hired as fully remote, was not required to relocate (and I live several states away from the hospital I work for). I am definitely worried about the stability of it with the new admin, though my entire team is virtual/remote so knocking out this position would be losing an entire BHIP which feels like an unwise choice... I am hoping to make it through the next few years

 

[Sanman]

I have a fully remote VA clinical job, was hired as fully remote, was not required to relocate (and I live several states away from the hospital I work for). I am definitely worried about the stability of it with the new admin, though my entire team is virtual/remote so knocking out this position would be losing an entire BHIP which feels like an unwise choice... I am hoping to make it through the next few years

You aren't alone. There are a lot of folks in the same position, myself included. Though there is a lot of rhetoric, I don't think that the reality will be as chaotic as the talk will make it seem. At the very least, I think that there will be some notice and time to plan. There has been a big push towards telehealth that last few years and the interruption in patient care would make for terrible press.

 

[summerbabe]

You aren't alone. There are a lot of folks in the same position, myself included. Though there is a lot of rhetoric, I don't think that the reality will be as chaotic as the talk will make it seem. At the very least, I think that there will be some notice and time to plan. There has been a big push towards telehealth that last few years and the interruption in patient care would make for terrible press.

I’m not worried about fully remote clinical jobs until further notice.

To start, the entire national Clinical Resource Hub infrastructure would need to be dismantled and providers re-assigned (eg when C&P depts were disbanded but those people had to find homes in other clinics if they didn’t voluntarily leave), which would massively impact patient care and hospital processes. And then there’s the fully remote hiring that has happened locally to recruit and/or expand staff.

I read a The Hill op-ed that just was published and they spoke of proponents in Congress being upset that federal buildings are not being utilized, which shouldn’t include hospitals since there’s almost certainly a lack of space versus too much space.

 

[psychedaboutpsych123]

You aren't alone. There are a lot of folks in the same position, myself included. Though there is a lot of rhetoric, I don't think that the reality will be as chaotic as the talk will make it seem. At the very least, I think that there will be some notice and time to plan. There has been a big push towards telehealth that last few years and the interruption in patient care would make for terrible press.

Ugh sorry to hear you're in a similar spot! I had a similar thought about the bad press of it all, and then talked myself back into emotion mind and got nervous again. I agree though, we rely a lot on our remote providers (including all the CRH) and the loss of all of them would crush the in person providers. There aren't enough to make up for it!

 

[psychedaboutpsych123]

I’m not worried about fully remote clinical jobs until further notice.

To start, the entire national Clinical Resource Hub infrastructure would need to be dismantled and providers re-assigned (eg when C&P depts were disbanded but those people had to find homes in other clinics if they didn’t voluntarily leave), which would massively impact patient care and hospital processes. And then there’s the fully remote hiring that has happened locally to recruit and/or expand staff.

I read a The Hill op-ed that just was published and they spoke of proponents in Congress being upset that federal buildings are not being utilized, which shouldn’t include hospitals since there’s almost certainly a lack of space versus too much space.

I needed to hear this, thank you 💕

 

[cara susanna]

The cabinet picks just keep getting worse and worse. I wish he'd just announce the VA secretary and get it over with at this point.

 

[WisNeuro]

The cabinet picks just keep getting worse and worse. I wish he'd just announce the VA secretary and get it over with at this point.

Nah, we need more clowns in this car. Let's also create another several departments. Because, nothing says "we don't like big government" by making up new government positions for your friends.

 

[summerbabe]

The cabinet picks just keep getting worse and worse. I wish he'd just announce the VA secretary and get it over with at this point.

While I have zero inside scoop details, Dennis McDonough (who had zero healthcare or military experience whatsoever prior to his appointment) has been spearheading the access above all push (which sounds exactly like something a career bureaucrat would do) so it probably can’t get any worse.

 

[cara susanna]

While I have zero inside scoop details, Dennis McDonough (who had zero healthcare or military experience whatsoever prior to his appointment) has been spearheading the access above all push (which sounds exactly like something a career bureaucrat would do) so it probably can’t get any worse.

Ohh, yeah, that does track. But I am pretty sure it could still get worse, lol.

 

[WisNeuro]

Derek Zoolander has just been nominated to be Education Secretary.

 

[Fan_of_Meehl]

Derek Zoolander has just been nominated to be Education Secretary.

I tried to post a pic of Alfred E Neuman but failed, lol

 

[Fan_of_Meehl]

Ohh, yeah, that does track. But I am pretty sure it could still get worse, lol.

New VA Secretary (kinda looks like all the others):

 

[Sanman]

The cabinet picks just keep getting worse and worse. I wish he'd just announce the VA secretary and get it over with at this point.

Doug Collins

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cn...lins-department-of-veterans-affairs-secretary

 

[Fan_of_Meehl]

I would seriously get behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as VA secretary. Larry Bird can head up all the SUDS programs, too.

 

[psy.d. 2021]

Doug Collins

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cn...lins-department-of-veterans-affairs-secretary

Honestly he has better chops for the job than McDonagh. Biden screwed that one up royally. Should have been Buttigieg.

 

[cara susanna]

Derek Zoolander has just been nominated to be Education Secretary.

At least he wants to teach kids how to read good!

 

[Sanman]

Is it just me or does Matt Gaetz look like he was born to play the lead in American Psycho?

 

[cara susanna]

Is it just me or does Matt Gaetz look like he was born to play the lead in American Psycho?

The Wish version of American Psycho

 

[futureapppsy2]

At least he wants to teach kids how to read good!

And do other things good too!

 

[WisNeuro]

Is it just me or does Matt Gaetz look like he was born to play the lead in American Psycho?

He looks exactly like the kind of person who would brag about having sex with underage girls would look.

 

[Fan_of_Meehl]

Is it just me or does Matt Gaetz look like he was born to play the lead in American Psycho?

More like he's saying, 'Settle down, Beavis..huh-hu-huh a'huh-huh!'

 

[Sanman]

More like he's saying, 'Settle down, Beavis..huh-hu-huh a'huh-huh!'

Now that you mention it, I actually think he looks like Beavis with brown hair.

 

[Pragma]

Where’s AOC to chastise ya’ll?

 

[R. Matey]

Where’s AOC to chastise ya’ll?

On Instagram asking Gen-Z men what podcasts they listen to.