VA-Northwest Clinic

My Dr. is pretty good but they all can do a better job. Worst people in this place are the patient advocate who never returns calls, head shrink doctor who is to old and doesn’t really care about the vet, and the social worker who is sometimes good and sometimes nasty. The vampire section are the best around that I have seen, quick, efficient, and very friendly. Trying to reach my PC is like hoping I’ll win the power ball lottery. No one answers the phone call and when they do it’s someone who is at the call center in San Diego??? What & why!!! Re-​ordering meds isn’t to bad but it can be a trying time getting it filled. All in all they need tremendous improvements in their communication system-it’s broke.

Worst experience I’ve ever had… Dr. AGUILAR and her nurses are very incompetent… I went there 6 month ago because I was I’ll with bronchitis and she was afraid to see me… I gave her and her nurses info of other doctors that I have seen and she was supposed to get my records from them… During that time I had tried to make contact with her or her nurses and every time was told that I had to wait for the 6 month scheduled time and was not able to see her any earlier… even if I became ill again… today I went in because I got Bell’s Palsy and she tried to prescribe a steroid that I explained made me very ill and that it didn’t cure me in the pass… she became very snobby and tried to push it on me regardless how it made me feel without suggesting another format of medication that would or could help. Then started asking me questions about other medications that I didn’t take, but was in her records as I did… When I questioned it… they were records from the other doctors that she was supposed to get records from and didn’t inform me of the results nor medication I was supposed to take… then try to say I gave her this information, which was news to me… When I explained that I never told her any of this… she became irate and defensive… my wife, whom never gets upset… at that point knew the doctor was making up stories to try and cover up their own mistakes… we both just got up and walked out on her… Dr. AGUILAR AND HER STAFF are very unorganized and unprofessional… I will no longer see this person… I’m very disappointed.

Once you get past scheduling the appointment the clinic itself is an awesome experience. It runs like a well oiled machine and you can’t see a frown in sight. All the staff is friendly and helpful. The volunteers do an incredible job at making you feel welcome and comfortable. The waiting area ambiance is very relaxing and its designed that way on purpose. They have stacked vending machines with plenty of choices and reasonably priced items. Free coffee is offered through out the day until the early afternoon and its fresh till the end.
The Doctors are skilled and helpful and do everything they can to meet your needs. The waits are not usually long unless they are short staffed or are running behind which is something you’ll find anywhere.

Just moved here from out of state, took 3 months to get my first appointment, then they canceled and rescheduled, a month further out. A month out from my scheduled appointment they canceled again and pushed out 6 weeks further. Had to go to the ER at the VA hospital to get my meds renewed since the VA only gave me a 90 day supply for moving. Finally the ER doctor got me into see a doctor inside of 2 weeks.
I give them a higher rating since I was referred to specialty clinics at the VA hospital. The doctor ordered tests and follow up appointments with him.
The doctors at the VA hospital actually treated me like crap, and yes appointments were canceled and changed there also. I would think they would have a better system. I am rating the hospital on a separate page.