San Francisco VAMC

I had a vasectomy at a Veteran Affairs hospital which was out of the area. The medical staff had told me to stop in at my local VA clinic to get two sample containers, that I could use to later mail my semen to a laboratory for testing.I walked into the VA Clinic in Eureka and explained my situation to one of the two receptionists who were not busy. Did I mention there was not even a line. She told me I would have to register with that particular VA clinic and then set up an appointment to speak with somebody about getting two specimen containers. She said the person who registers people with the clinic was on her lunch, but if I took a seat and waited then I could speak with her about getting an appointment to register with her.I looked around the lobby and only saw a couple people waiting in chairs. The clinic did not appear to busy. I asked her if I really had to do all that to just get two containers. She said that I did have to do all that. She answered me as if she was losing her patience with me. I just left.

I've been seen at this clinic since 2002. Once VA San Francisco Medical Center took over maybe 5 years ago, the Staffing seemed to have stabilized. I have always been able to get a female primary care provider, and I feel as if they have always giving me the attention and care that I needed. That being said, sometimes even when you have an appointment you can spend way too long waiting to be seen. Maybe that means that there was an unexpected absence I don't know. On two occasions since SF VAMC took over, if I waited more than an hour for an appointment, I usually took off and rescheduled if I could. The pharmacy and Eureka is great; but I've definitely had problems with prescriptions that had to be filled through SF VAMC. Thumbs up for X-ray and Podiatry too. Sometimes you have to wait between 4 weeks and 6 or 8 weeks for an appointment, but let's be honest, you pretty much have to do that for almost any medical or dental provider in Humboldt County.

Veterans health services center for the northern California coast area, that is for veterans to remote to be serviced by the San Fransisco VA medical system in San Francisco.A shuttle service runs back and forth from this clinic to the bay daily, stopping at pretty much every remote town along the 101 corridor along the way, giving remote veterans access to the SFVAMC in the city.This remote Vet Center provides primary care services, a pharmacy and a variety of other medical and health related services.My primary care doctor has changed three times in the past two years, so it does make it hard to establish a relationship with your primary doctor.However, having been in the VA medical system for forty years now and I have dealt with various clinics both large and small across the country over the years, and this clinic is top notch.The staff are all professional, courteous and attentive. Though my primary care doctor has changed a couple times, I always see the same front desk personnel as well as nursing and department staff. These staff members are a part of the community here and do care about us as veterans and do the best they can within a strained system.Regardless of how you may feel about the VA medical system and all its flaws, this remote veterans care clinic does a great job with what it has to work with and makes me at least, feel like they care about us and appreciate us for our service and sacrifices made.