VISN 4 Eastern Regional Sleep Center

I am a veteran with severe, documented PTSD that is directly connected to institutional actions and policies, including prolonged exposure to discrimination under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. I was recently informed that the VA will not cover community-based trauma therapy because they state they have psychotherapists available internally and that those providers are “great.” Availability and quality, however, are not the same as clinical appropriateness. My trauma is institutional in nature. Receiving psychotherapy within the same institution that played a significant role in that trauma is retraumatizing and clinically inappropriate for me. This is not a preference — it is a boundary grounded in trauma-informed care. What makes this especially harmful is that the VA did not intervene before I sought care. I did the work myself — navigating waitlists, referrals, insurance barriers, and clinical fit — to finally secure appropriate trauma-informed therapy. Only after I had done all of that work did the VA step in and attempt to override it. Forcing a patient to abandon appropriate, hard-won care in order to restart inside a system that has already caused harm is not neutral. It is destabilizing and actively undermines recovery. The VA’s position effectively leaves veterans like me with two choices: accept retraumatization inside the institution or go without therapy altogether. Veterans deserve care that is individualized, trauma-informed, and clinically appropriate — not care dictated solely by policy convenience after the fact.

I had to take a Veteran to get a Colonoscopy and Also he worked here for a Few Years " I like they have Security Administration with Guns 💕 The Food Cafe and Store 🏪 is Awesome 😎! I met someone who did 10 years of communication of the Armed Forces getting medical treatment but I felt sad person Donot get a Pension of 20 years! But Good News 🤞 Person partner did over 20 years! So One hand washes the other 💕👌 Let's go Philadelphia Phillies 2026

I know there’s issues with all hospitals, but I’m grateful for the staff and I’m grateful for the doctors even with the doctors that I didn’t get along with. I’m still grateful for those doctors without the VA hospital being involved with my mental health. I don’t know what I Would do without it. There are so many caring and loving doctors nurses janitors all the staff they take their time to come in to say thank you for your service. I have bipolar and I was just recently diagnosed with it. I’m 53 years old and I’m lost and the VA has been helping me through my journey this very hard journey of a disease thank you to all of the employees of the VA hospital.

The two is for the travel dept as Erika stated in her post waiting on the phone like that is all the time . I called at 8:02 am one day and waited to after 9 for a ride that was suppose to already be put in - causing for a late arrival that day . Just recently called early in the morning as the ride was also suppose to be put in. I had went to the window and was told it would be put in yet only one ride was put in , so I called early in the morning to speak to a person to get the ride put in . She proceeded to ask me was I getting ready to leave and started telling me what time in the morning it was . I didn't call her for that - nor did I know I was sleeping with her and needed her approval for when I could leave my home .Knowing it is a Friday morning by 5:30 am the traffic starts to get heavy and the ride is usually 40 to 45 minutes long without I 95 being closed off! Why should I have to get on the phone and say that ? Her job is to put the ride in - a child could do that job like a 9 yr old really. She proceeded to tell me I am going to wait to put your ride in . The appointment is not until 8:30 am . 9 yrs coming to that hospital - how can an office clerk proceed to tell me when we can leave our home ? She did not go to school to be a Doctor pushes papers and answers a phone .She has no idea what the veteran has to do before his appointment - what medication he has to get or anything . She actually went off and keep telling me how she was not going to put the ride in because it was 3 am but what I should wait and try to get through to them at 6 am or wait until travel opens at 8 am and be f late ? I got through because I called Admins for a ride that I was told Monday at the window would put in . Again only ride that was put in was for Wed. To be questioned about what time I am leaving home was so unacceptable. I had to explain about needing to do things before the appt . Then at the end I mentioned the emergency room - I know you can not take travel for the emergency room which it was not used for that - I should not have had to say anything except a ride is needed for a scheduled appt not have to get medication at 7 am . That office is vital to the veterans. The attitude by the workers is ridiculous . They seem to come to work miserable and hate their jobs . It is one of the first contacts so many disabled veterans that have served our country have contact with. It is sad to see so many of them having to go through hell as I did getting a veteran a ride. To think so many of them have no one advocating or helping them and have to deal with this department ! It is the worse dept in the hospital.- I will give the foot doc Mrs . Gamble a 10 !!! She takes extremely great care of our veterans' 🐾 feet ! There are so many depts that really have great doctors that are looking out for our veterans ! It is usually office staff individuals who want to think they have a doctrine - a degree- they are the ones giving the veterans problems . I will say it is not all depts . She even proceeded to tell me how she has been on job for 5 yrs . First , I never asked her anything about how long she has been doing her job like that was relative to me - What is that 5 yrs wow? -it is not 30 or 40 yrs like she was talking to a child . The office staff is the contact veterans have first the face of the VA hospital . I believe they need to hire people with real degrees in these positions that have trained and know how to deal and conduct themselves with the public . No one needs to deal with staff that are rude and unpleasant. Maybe it is a Philly thing huh? She doesn't know if they need to have breakfast before or after their medication then proceed to their appt. Veterans Family Members - should not be spoken to crazy when they know their history and are a vital part in keeping veterans with all kind of problems safe and well. I say go to excellent universities and hire UP to make the FACE of the Philadelphia VA hospital what it should be.

Myself, along with a large group of Veterans who feel the same about this facility want to warn our fellow Veterans. Please heed this warning. For Veterans who decide to come to this facility, you better be prepared for one of the worst rated VA facilities (by Veterans) in the country. Look it up if you don’t believe me. Medical malpractice, veteran suicides, selective benefits based on how you act - not what you’re eligible for, run rampant at this low ranked facility with zero oversight. The Psychology department turns away Veterans in crisis and the community care department maliciously tries to charge Veterans for pre-approved visits. I honestly care about Veterans; this VA facility does not. Please consider other options or demand community care from this facility. They can’t deny you. You have patient autonomy. Do not go here! Do not let yourselves suffer through medical malpractice at this VA facility. I encourage others to share their horrible experiences with this VA facility, and demand accountability through community care.