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

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aim-agm said:
My favorite are the V95.43 "Spacecraft collision injuring occupant" - there has never been a spacecraft collision (as far as I'm aware) and they wouldn't merely injure involved parties...
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Depends on the definitions here. If spacecraft is more loosely defined, multiple people have been injured by falling debris from spacecraft/satellites.
 
futureapppsy2 said:
So far, the proposed solution to the clinic requiring opening several heavy doors to open is essentially to functionally lock me in the clinic at the beginning of my TOD and let me out at the end (the clinic has no bathrooms internal to it).
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I would absolutely not be okay with that. Due to medical issues, though, I have to run to the bathroom very frequently.
 
So now that it’s the start of the new fiscal year, any new updates/leaks/rumors regarding the VA reorg plans? 👀
 
cara susanna said:
I heard that our VISN is still thought to be overstaffed and we'll have to lose some newer hires. Which just boggles my mind, because our clinic is running on fumes.
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Because this sounds better when Leavitt delivers her daily gaslight briefing. Most of teh rubes watching don't really care what is actually happening on the ground. Same way the VA secretary said "no one is delivering care from a cubicle" farm when my friends and dozens of other providers here were doing exactly that, among countless others across the country. Not much you can do for a base that is willfully lied to with easily verifiable facts, but they still don't care.
 
cara susanna said:
I heard that our VISN is still thought to be overstaffed and we'll have to lose some newer hires. Which just boggles my mind, because our clinic is running on fumes.
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Are there still a bunch of layers in the VA of mostly useless middle management? THAT is where they need to cut, NOT direct service staff.
 
Front page of WaPo today: https://www.washingtonpost.com/inve...laims-fraud/?itid=hp-top-table-main_p001_f001

From the article:

The investigation exposed an increasingly costly disability program prone to rampant exaggeration and fraud, which make it harder for veterans with legitimate claims to get their benefits processed. Bipartisan political indifference and a weak array of checks and balances have compounded the dysfunction.

Veterans’ advocates, for-profit companies and VA itself encourage vets to file as many claims as possible to milk the system. The documents and data obtained by The Post spotlighted other obvious signs of waste and abuse, as well as an internal awareness and tolerance of such problems.
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cara susanna said:
Whoa, is it starting?
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After they start getting angry calls/messages from Vets, the investigation into this will end pretty quickly in congress. There is zero political will to investigate waste, fraud, and abuse if it involves their own base.
 
Oof, this article is making the rounds on social media and people are not happy.
 
cara susanna said:
The claims the article makes. They are saying that it's cherry picking and making disability fraud sound like way of a problem than it actually is.
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I certainly don't want to overstate the problem, but I'm guessing none of these people have ever worked or trained in the VA...
 
AcronymAllergy said:
I certainly don't want to overstate the problem, but I'm guessing none of these people have ever worked or trained in the VA...
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Oh yeah, if anything, this article drastically understates the scope of the problem and the extent of WFA. We only ever saw the most extreme cases even investigated, like maybe the worst 5% only.
 
cara susanna said:
The claims the article makes. They are saying that it's cherry picking and making disability fraud sound like way of a problem than it actually is.
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I mean, there is no doubt that its abused. Literally, no doubt.

It's also probably very confusing to most people outside the systems, right? If you are collecting a "80-100% disability" income from the VA but also working full-time, most lay people are not going to understand that. And understandably so.

"VA disability" is literally an entitlement program for anyone that ever served. Some will think this is "right and just"... or whatever. Personally, I think it's a bunch of crap.
 
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WisNeuro said:
Oh yeah, if anything, this article drastically understates the scope of the problem and the extent of WFA. We only ever saw the most extreme cases even investigated, like maybe the worst 5% only.
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Nah, how could they be understating the problem with the high quality rates paid by loyal source, etc to complete disability evaluations. Who could turn down those wonderful flat rates?
 
I'm surprised the article didn't mention the FAA thing. It would have helped bolster their argument.
 
JustNoticing said:
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Thank you.
I am struggling... I started a small PP to hedge my bets against being fired from the VA. Now I find that I really love the PP, while I've gotten steadily more frustrated, exhausted and upset since January working at the VA. But I'm afraid to leave and potentially crash my finances. I know this is an issue that many people face. I have so much anxiety.
 
I felt the anxiety myself and considered a similar PP hedge. But right now, I don't think anyone else is going to be laid off from the VA, unless you work for the VISN or VACO or something, and even those roles may actually be safe. It feels more like it will be a slow bleed towards privatization, which should give you time to figure out what is next and make intentional, rather than reactive moves.
 
PsynofTimes said:
Thank you.
I am struggling... I started a small PP to hedge my bets against being fired from the VA. Now I find that I really love the PP, while I've gotten steadily more frustrated, exhausted and upset since January working at the VA. But I'm afraid to leave and potentially crash my finances. I know this is an issue that many people face. I have so much anxiety.
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I definitely remember a bit of wariness, but after making the jump, the only regret I have, and others I know, is that we didn't do it sooner.
 
JustNoticing said:
I felt the anxiety myself and considered a similar PP hedge. But right now, I don't think anyone else is going to be laid off from the VA, unless you work for the VISN or VACO or something, and even those roles may actually be safe. It feels more like it will be a slow bleed towards privatization, which should give you time to figure out what is next and make intentional, rather than reactive moves.
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Agreed, it is unlikely providers will be laid off, especially if you are already RTO.

More likely is death by a thousand cuts. I am hearing about canteen services and VA stores closing at certain locations. More problems finding coverage for vacation as colleagues leave for other jobs and positions are not backfilled. Fewer MSAs and office staff to help with paperwork. And on and on.
 
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WisNeuro said:
I definitely remember a bit of wariness, but after making the jump, the only regret I have, and others I know, is that we didn't do it sooner.
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I think jumping into PP is going to depend on your personal financial situation and ability to tolerate those initial paycheck interruptions. That said, it is much easier nowadays than it was even a few years ago with telehealth.
 
Sanman said:
Agreed, it is unlikely providers will be laid off, especially if you are already RTO.

More likely is death my a thousand cuts. I am hearing about canteen services and VA stores closing at certain locations. More problems finding coverage for vacation as colleagues leave for other jobs and positions are not backfilled. Fewer MSAs and office staff to help with paperwork. And on and on.
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I'm not super worried about being laid off although I think it is a possibility once the administration gets to a point of wanting to just go nuclear on everyone, which I could see happening. But the death by 1000 paper cuts is real. Part of what has me down is the slow erosion of the things that make me feel like a psychologist - time has been taken for almost all student meetings, there's no research time, no time for case discussion/consultation. I feel like I work in a factory. Morale is low and underlying personality stuff that had been held at bay is flying out everywhere. And I can't decide if the pension is worth it. The day to day anxiety is making me feel physically ill. My supervisor is supportive, but I don't get the sense that management is feeling any better than we are.
 
WisNeuro said:
I definitely remember a bit of wariness, but after making the jump, the only regret I have, and others I know, is that we didn't do it sooner.
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I've been doing a lot of thinking, "soul searching," and running numbers. I have a lot of connections and colleagues for referral streams and support. It's time to go. I don't know that it's the best financial move, but I also don't want to feel this way for the rest of my career. The job is financially good, but ruining everything else career wise, not to mention my own mental health. There's no flexibility, no telework, no breathing room & constant threat. No growth. No research, no teaching, no training. I feel a little like I'm leaving a sinking ship that won't actually fully sink, and may even come back stronger than ever. But I think if I do this carefully and time it well, I can have a full practice ready for me when I go. Hoping that a month's notice is reasonable. I'd like to give more than that, but I also don't think private practice patients are going to schedule that far in advance.
 
The idea of telework “fairness” makes no sense. If your profession allows for telework, it should be an option. Dentists can’t do their job teleworking…so that makes it unfair for a psychologist to telework? They really do not care the slightest about retaining VA’s mental health staff…
Shiori said:
They feel it's unfairly distributed and there aren't enough veterans interested in virtual appointments. My virtual slots are always full, so that sounds like a "them" problem. I wish them the best of luck finding my replacement when I jump.
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Shiori said:
They feel it's unfairly distributed and there aren't enough veterans interested in virtual appointments. My virtual slots are always full, so that sounds like a "them" problem. I wish them the best of luck finding my replacement when I jump.
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That's nice of you. I don't wish them kindly in doing that when they've treated me and everyone else like crap
 
Shiori said:
They feel it's unfairly distributed and there aren't enough veterans interested in virtual appointments. My virtual slots are always full, so that sounds like a "them" problem. I wish them the best of luck finding my replacement when I jump.
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Rumor here is that the local leadership aren't bringing it back because they don't want it to get taken away again and have to redo the office assignments/deal with impact/deal with anger.
 
PsynofTimes said:
Rumor here is that the local leadership aren't bringing it back because they don't want it to get taken away again and have to redo the office assignments/deal with impact/deal with anger.
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Yeah, there are a bunch of logistical issues here as well. I'm sure they will figure it out though. I'll be at home unless I'm feeling fancy and want to get an office one day.
 
Shiori said:
Yeah, there are a bunch of logistical issues here as well. I'm sure they will figure it out though. I'll be at home unless I'm feeling fancy and want to get an office one day.
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I hope to get an office as far (at least psychologically speaking) from the VA as possible. Also, I love your avatar. Cosy Grove!
 
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