Just that morning, when her latest crisis began, a nurse at the local VA clinic in Chico, California, had told her mother to bring her in. When they arrived, a telehealth provider was too busy to see Julia. A social worker asked questions to gauge her risk of suicide or violence; even though Julia refused to answer, she was sent out into the world and told to return for the next available appointment, in 11 days.
It was at a small rural clinic, patient still saw a health professional, but refused to answer any questions.
What should the VA do?
Hold the patient against her will for not cooperating?
The family would have to initiate that, and it sounds like they just didn’t.
It might be a good thing because I have experience, might be a bad thing because I’m biased. But I’ve been using the VA for all my medical care for over a decade.
They do a great job, but they’re the largest healthcare provider in America. Statistically speaking some people will fall thru the cracks. But that doesn’t even sound like the case here.
This was someone refusing treatment, and her family not thinking it was serious enough to request an emergency hold against the patients wishes.