San Diego VA Medical Center

So I arrived at the emergency dept. around 10 am because I had food poisoning from the night before. I came with the chills, vomiting, and diarrhea. I could barely stand up. 4 hours of intense suffering, I finally got my vitals and specimens collected. After that, I didn’t know anything else for 3 more hours. I literally felt I was going to die. 7 hours of waiting to be seen by a doctor? I couldn’t wait anymore so I went to the check in window and asked what would be my estimated wait time because I was super sick. The staff stated it would be another 6 ½ hours to see a doctor. I became more sick just by hearing that. Needless to say, people need to be screened better if their case is really an «emergency» I saw many people there that walked, talked, and laughed and didn’t seem like they had it bad. I ended up calling a über ride to take me to another hospital where I was immediately seen and cared for. Makes me think I served this country for nothing!

Wouldn’t go anywhere else. Other VAMC just can’t get the standard La Jolla vamc has. The Nursing staff is by far better than most private clinics.

Very nice people but ridiculous wait time. Here at the ER this Saturday and waited 6 hours with only 10 people here. I understand this is a triage place but jeeze do they only have 1 doctor? Was told that there was only 1 person in front of me…2 hours ago wtf

I would like to thank all of the United States military men and women for all of your service. You are all heroes! I believe that you should all be taking care of by our best. Without your service we would have nothing. I appreciate everyone of you and wish the rest of us did. Happy holidays to everyone of you! And what ever you call your higher up I hope they bless you very well. Because I feel I’ve been blessed by your service.
I love the United States armed services!
Thank you from every part of me!
Peace love and hippy flowers!

Been there lately for my dad. Aside from the doctors here, the staff is rude and couldn’t buy a clue. These vets deserve better.

I’m a military brat, that’s why I’ve been here numerous times.
I’ve been coming here for years because my family has faithfully served this country (about 60+ years combined) and going to the VA is how we properly utilize the free military health benefits. This includes everything from getting immunization shots to getting your gall bladder removed to intensive care when you’re living your final days on this earth (my father in law passed away here).
I’ve worked at and utilized other private civilian hospitals/​health care facilities around town and, to be honest, the VA lacks in many ways in comparison. I’m sure the VA is doing the best it can, with what it has available, to ensure every patient gets the best care (it can offer). But, like everyone else, you’d like to have the best care available and get better… fast? That’s where VA seriously lacks, it doesn’t have the best staff (bad beside manners, indifference, bad attitudes), the best treatment (long waits, lots of guesswork, you’re better off getting a second opinion elsewhere), the best facilities (parking sucks, this place is dirty, cluttered, old and is always under construction). It can be a crap shoot if you’re hoping for full recovery. Will you be treated by the best doctor available? Or will you be treated by a glorified resident student physician (going to school nearby) who thinks they’re a full fledged certified doctor?
Does this make you feel better? Not me.
As the saying goes, you get what you pay for.
Since my family doesn’t drop a dime by coming here, it probably holds true.
I hope you feel better soon.

I have gone here for many years and have always got first class service. They are very nice and get me to the right place every time. It’s hard to hear Bad things about the VA when I have never had a bad experience.
Keep up the good work and Thanks

Props to the ER Staff yesterday! It may have taken 7 ½ hours waiting (7 hours for me to stress and ½ hour to send emails and check Facebook… lol) for a 30 minute procedure, but once seen my care was TOP NOTCH SERVICE! The night shift surgeon did an outstanding job. He performed a procedure solo better than others have done partnered up with one and even 2 surgeons/​nurses in the past.
I’m glad to see the skill set of the current staff and feel confident about the care the returning San Diego vets will be receiving upon their arrival.

What was supposed to be a SD excursion to meet up with a buddy aboard NAS North Island, turned into a visit to the ER at the San Diego VA. I was about 15 minutes south of this place, when I started feeling weird. Because I did this trip solo, I did not want to take chances and checked myself into the ER here.
The wait was a pain in the neck. Where the Long Beach VA takes about 2 hours to process people, this place took 5 hours. I do not blame the medical staff, but rather the administration here. The staff did all they could with the resources at hand. Granted, my situation was not life threatening, so I had to wait behind the guys that came in with more serious ailments. Unfortunately for me, about five other guys came in as I was waiting to see the doc, so my wait time extended for a few hours. The good things was that they found nothing wrong with me, and instructed me to follow up with my GP if anything persists. Here’s hoping.
My excursion to SD may have been interrupted, but I’d rather have an MD give me a clean bill of health than risk passing out behind the wheel of my car.
Thanks for the help, peeps.

This review is for the dental clinic. I would like to thank the dentist and her aide who performed my emergency root canal. They really did do a lot to take care of me; very caring and job well performed. They should get 5 stars.
However, they can do better at scheduling for cleanings. I’m finally scheduled for one in about 4 more months. Oh well at least I’m scheduled.

Visiting the ER at this facility can really test your patience. I’ve waited 3 – 4 hours just to be seen. I believe they are very understaffed. Also note that patients are treated based on severity of their illness or injury. You could be the first person in line but have 10 people come after you and get treated before you.

One of their social workers in the La Jolla office violated HIPAA and leaked my family member’s private health information and address. Complaint was filed – hopefully the «action» they took included someone getting fired.

Fantastic service. Always in and out of this place with the top service. Never had any issues and even with last minute appointments they alway for me In. Love it here. If you bitch and complain a lot then there is a reason you put 3 stars or below. Be patient and planned and it will be a smooth experience here. Good job guys and girls.

Sadness. They sub/​pizza stuff has been moved into the regular cafeteria. The subs are still good, but at the lunch rush it’s just chaos in there.

HORRIBLE!!! Worst customer service WORST call center! MOST incompetent government run organization. Call center and pharmacy are hands down absolutely horrible! Wish I could give 0 stars. Jun and Jeff in the call center are horrible

Worst place ever, I went into the emergency room and had severe pain in my right leg, they diagnosed me 6 hours later and had no compassion for my pain or injury. After try a steroid and some other shots they said they could not help me and released me at 4am with no ride home and expected me to walk home, when the injury prevented me from walking home. This place sucks.

My husband fell down stairs at the movies and severely damaged his knee. He is in great pain. He asks me to take him to VA Emergency. We get there and I ask someone to come help me get him out of the car with a wheel chair to support his leg. The RN say we don’t have one, then says how did you get him IN the car? Very sarcastic. I said I’ll get him myself. They triage him and X-​ray him within 15 minutes and I think WOW. We don’t have issues like other states. 5 hours later, he is still in pain. All they say at the counter is, I’m sorry. There are no beds upstairs for the people were admitting. I’m sorry, there is still one ahead of him. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.
WHAT IF THESE MEN HAD SAID, IM SORRY, I CANT FIGHT FOR YOUR FREEDOM???
NOW, I understand why, when my husband gets sick, he NEVER lets me bring him to the VA and just toughs it out.
You people don’t care about these men and women. It’s just a job. I’m sorry, you suck.

If the Taliban doesn’t kill you than these motherfuckers will. My friend was fighting them for months to help him, he died yesterday. I called today to ask about walking into the ER and some smug receptionist tells me absolutely nothing. I ask if I am better off paying to just go to an urgent care, to which she says she cant tell me, and she has no idea how long the wait is. You people should seriously be in prison.

It took me nearly 15years to see a doctor at the VA. Now that I am in the system I wish I would had done it 15years ago. While there is some expected confusion with doctors and specialists, the over all service is excellent-​! You are treated as a person and not a number. They automatically extend you other services that may apply to you without having to specifically request. From the initial in-​processing to receiving services is well within a week. Live further than reasonable driving distance? They will find an ‘out of provider’ close to your home to reduce the stress of driving; as well as provides a shuttle service for those with limited transportation.

Free Valet! shit service… I HATE COMING HERE. This is not the service a vet should get after 8 good years. Came in in December to get my post separation teeth cleaning… They scheduled me for that same appointment in October. That’s a long ass time. Now it’s July and I called in throwing a fit and threatened to contact the news. Guess what, I now have an appointment next week lol. Eat shit VA.