In my short time going to this clinic I must say it's been amazing. People really care and want to help. When I say people I mean everyone from the security guards that check you in to the admitting staff and overall clinical staff. Appointments are always on time. To be honest I was having a bad day in which my PTSD was winning but I had a scheduled appointment. I went to this clinic and the older military veteran working as security guard had such i welcoming introduction. His positive attitude and willingness to connect with me in that brief moment helped me make it through my day. If for some reason I lose my battle and never get to see him again I want to say Thank you! Brother you helped me get through a hard day of PTSD.
The Santa Ana VA Clínic has finally hired a human to greet you outside and break the news to you, whatever it may be, in a kindly, soothing way. This human told me that the waiting room was too full for me, a giant cow who needs plenty of space to look about and make ordinary navigational movements. But luck was on my side. I was allowed in way ahead of schedule, and as I entered, I saw that everybody was arranged across grand distances in the pandemic way. Take the 59 UC Irvine bus from the train/bus station in Santa Ana. The clinic is way down Grant or Grand -- I forget -- just across Warner, where your bus will stop. You can't pay other than with cash to ride unless you download the OC-something app and buy a ticket for $2 or a day pass to ride all over the county for $4.50. The app is easy. I downloaded the app, set it up and bought a ticket in less than five minutes. Unfortunately, my bus came and left in those very minutes, leaving me waiting another half hour with my day pass and nothing to travel in. Oh. You have to punch the pass once with your finger. This turns it into a machine readable design to be proud of.
I used to have respect for this clinic but after today and their inability to help me fill a simple prescription from my dentist, I am never returning. They told me to call a certain number to get my prescription filled but when I called I was told to drop off the prescription at the pharmacy at the main VA hospital. I went there and they told me to go to the clinic and have them put it in the system. So I go to the clnic and they said we can't help because there is no diagnosis. They could have called the dentist and asked him. I am just going to pay for health Care out of pocket and I would advise any veteran to do the same if they can. I took the prescription to Costco and they filled it in 20 minutes. The VA is an absolute joke. They have no idea what they are doing. They are rude and incompetent. Another waste of tax payer money.
It is sad to see how the service and kindness of the Front Desk people have changed. They find any reason to send you away and I will not go back to this location. I will drive to Long Beach where you feel welcome.
Staff made people wait outside no accommodation. security asked personal medical questions where others can and did hear and without medical staff present. Why is security asking any medical questions this is a gross violation of hippa and the medical privacy act.
The staff here is amazing! All the bad reviews are from inpatient ungrateful over entitled vets. They are understaffed which is not the fault of anyone who works there, the entire VA system is under staffed and under funded. If you want to change that vote for the politicians who will allocate more funds to veterans. Complaining on google reviews isn't going to change a thing. Crazy we have become so entitled as a generation that people complain that they have to do some leg work to get their FREE healthcare.
Waited since Dec 2 for appointment due to Patient Advocate Long Beach VA, scheduled one for the 18th after no one called, todays appointment was canceled without reason and was told I would receive telephone call before end of day for explanation of canceling my scheduled appointment and rescheduled for new appointment, neither occurred.
Absolutely atrocious. I’m not sure what happened but this place has turned in to garbage. The people working at the counter act like they are just waiting for the clock to turn 4 o’clock. They checked me in for a doctor or nurse that wasn’t even in today I waited 90 minutes check twice to see if I was going to be a while and finally I said are we just waiting until you close so you can send me home and tell me you couldn’t help me or is something else going on? They didn’t know who I was, the other person realized that she checked me in for a doctor that wasn’t even there. I won’t ever be coming back here. Thanks for nothing and like my wife said thanks for how you treat your vets.
I got told I'm the one at fault for not being contacted by their staff after having my x-ray appt cancelled. I usually will need to call/ leave several voicemails before someone will answer. There was no examination of my affected area for which I've had a chronic condition. God forbid you touch a patient, let alone look at them in the eyes. Nurse can't even take vitals correctly, attached BP cuff, started it, then tried to attach pulse oximeter on the same arm. I told her she would get a false reading, then get condescendingly told if I'm a doctor. No, but I was a flight medic. Not really a big deal anyway but good info to know if you get some reading in the 80s. I've been trying to get some resolution for my issue since for at least four months. My only treatment thus far has been acupuncture from some quack of a doctor at the Anaheim clinic. They don't offer anything here so I have to go all way to Long Beach to get "seen." My entire VA experience has been terrible. I think the only decent customer service had been from the VSO to help with my ratings and the initial service to get me enrolled. Everything in between has been disgusting. I would take my chances in a Tijuana clinic before coming back here for any actual care.
Long waits even with appointments... had a appointment at 0900 at optometry and it's almost 1000..terrible customer service, no one ever pics up the phone and the Dr. That is treating me like a pos and not getting the correct vision for my lens and only spend 2 min with me before next appoint .. this place is a fail... stick to the long beach VA
