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I am not disagreeing with you or Mr. Black. I am just suggesting a possible solution until the VA gets their act together. I also suggested to him that he file a complaint with either the EEOC or even with his VA's local EE officer. Several years ago, the Long Beach VA Dental Clinic was having problems with faux service dogs disrupting their exams and treatments. It got so bad that a dentist was finally bitten by one of the fake service dogs. So, they declared the exam rooms to be operatories and prohibited all dogs, even legitimate service dogs like mine.
I contacted the local EE Officer at Long Beach, and she agreed with me that there was no reason service dogs should be excluded from the examining and treatment rooms. While she worked to have the new policy changed, she became the puppy sitter for my Canine Companion Hearing Dog, Montera, during my dental subsequent appointments. Six months later, service dogs were welcome back into the dental exam and treatment rooms.
One unexpected result from this was that Voluntary Services constructed kennels for the use of veterans with pets. However, despite the fact that the kennels were built, the pet care program was never approved.
While I suggested to Mr. Black that he contact either the EEOC or his VA's EE Officer to file a complaint, he seems to feel that others should do that work for him. And, as we both know, the VA does not always follow its own laws or policies. And, sometimes it requires that we invest our own time and energy into changing things.
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
Thanks! I didn’t know that but I agree with Mr. Black.
I recently had an Audiolgy appointment with my private audiologist. I was able to get my last exam directly from my VA Audiologist who is phenomenal.
Shouldn’t have to do that. We should be able to access it ourself. Ron:
The complaint that Mr. Black has is that he cannot get his audiograms on the VA Premium system files. I checked my own audio appointments on my VA Blue Ribbon Reports and found that, although the audiograms were not graphically reproduced, my own audiologists in Long Beach published the plot points so that any audiologist outside the VA could reconstruct my audiograms. I emailed Mr. Black to let him know about this, but his response was that he should be able to get the audiograms themselves.
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
I have a meeting Wednesday morning with staff for the Senate Committee on Aging re: VA’s shortfall on compliance with Section 508 of the Rehab Act.
Some of you have significant more experience/knowledge on these issues than I do so I am requesting your input as to some issues you are aware of and perhaps willing to talk about.
I don’t know HLAA’s thoughts but I would like to offer them an opportunity to meet with us next week so they could have a more direct interchange of info with those of you willing to talk with them.
A few issues I plan on bringing up include:
Access to audiology medical exam results (I know some of you have mentioned that and I have had that problem)
Loop - I know nothing about this except how to spell it
I know there has been some chatter on other issues but don’t recall them now.
Did we ever decide on the survey? Maybe we can discuss possible questions from them for a survey.
For this meeting I will speak only for myself and no one else.
Let me know what you think and Carla please let me know HLAA’s position on inviting them and/or working with them to perhaps doing a survey for them.
See you all next week.
Ron
http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/
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So.. I'm afraid to use secure messaging now.. Excessive messaging is an opinion of someone randomly placed on veterans that need the option the most. I think it's because it's less convenient for the VA employees and it also leaves a written record. Who determines what is excessive ? It's not someone that is HOH, I'm pretty sure of that.
I appealed it and won so I can secure message again. But I'm still on the disruptive Veteran list.
My records are flagged. The VSO has dropped the ball.
This is incredible. Have you taken any action through your VSO or anyone else?
You're welcome.. I can get MRI images XRays. all the info to go with them. Colonoscopy images and all the doctors notes/ But audiology? Nope,, You have to fill out a release of information request and wait for that. I live 90 miles away so the internet is critical to me as well as in Secure messaging. Being HOH I use that more and prefer to use that over phone calls. Even with a caption phone. I prefer messaging. Well that requires more messages and I was banned from secure messaging for excessive messages. They know I am hearing impaited but they don't have any issue with banning hearing disabled Veterans from the one thing that I've thought was going to be a plus for us. There are 3.5 million hearing impaired veterans and 1/2 that many are service connected. So secure messaging was going to be a good thing. As it turned out,It wasn't for our benefit after all.
Wow! Thanks. This is very helpful especially about the lack of captioning on video appointments. I’ve never had one so wasn’t aware of that and didn’t think about it. Raises another issue with Microsoft Teams and Zoom. LOOP. I'm not sure but I saw an illustration and it looked to be how to give veterans the " run around".
There isn't Close captions in the Video appointments. Which the DOJ requires.
There is an online portal for veterans to access their medical records called " Blue Dot " You can get about everything except an audiogram from the audiology department. Or anything from audiology for that matter.
In Spite of having a secure message app on their website. Medical personnel seem to insist on calling when they know you are HOH. That works to their benefit and if one uses secure messaging. you can get banned and even put on a " Disruptive Behaviour Veteran" and a flag is placed in your records, So being HOH at the VA is Punished .
I have been banned and am still on the DBL.. Even after they admitted they were wrong to ban me from secure messaging.
I have a meeting Wednesday morning with staff for the Senate Committee on Aging re: VA’s shortfall on compliance with Section 508 of the Rehab Act.
Some of you have significant more experience/knowledge on these issues than I do so I am requesting your input as to some issues you are aware of and perhaps willing to talk about.
I don’t know HLAA’s thoughts but I would like to offer them an opportunity to meet with us next week so they could have a more direct interchange of info with those of you willing to talk with them.
A few issues I plan on bringing up include:
Access to audiology medical exam results (I know some of you have mentioned that and I have had that problem)
Loop - I know nothing about this except how to spell it
I know there has been some chatter on other issues but don’t recall them now.
Did we ever decide on the survey? Maybe we can discuss possible questions from them for a survey.
For this meeting I will speak only for myself and no one else.
Let me know what you think and Carla please let me know HLAA’s position on inviting them and/or working with them to perhaps doing a survey for them.
See you all next week.
Ron
http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/
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I appealed it and won so I can secure message again. But I'm still on the disruptive Veteran list.
My records are flagged. The VSO has dropped the ball.
This is incredible. Have you taken any action through your VSO or anyone else?
You're welcome.. I can get MRI images XRays. all the info to go with them. Colonoscopy images and all the doctors notes/ But audiology? Nope,, You have to fill out a release of information request and wait for that. I live 90 miles away so the internet is critical to me as well as in Secure messaging. Being HOH I use that more and prefer to use that over phone calls. Even with a caption phone. I prefer messaging. Well that requires more messages and I was banned from secure messaging for excessive messages. They know I am hearing impaited but they don't have any issue with banning hearing disabled Veterans from the one thing that I've thought was going to be a plus for us. There are 3.5 million hearing impaired veterans and 1/2 that many are service connected. So secure messaging was going to be a good thing. As it turned out,It wasn't for our benefit after all.
Wow! Thanks. This is very helpful especially about the lack of captioning on video appointments. I’ve never had one so wasn’t aware of that and didn’t think about it. Raises another issue with Microsoft Teams and Zoom. LOOP. I'm not sure but I saw an illustration and it looked to be how to give veterans the " run around".
There isn't Close captions in the Video appointments. Which the DOJ requires.
There is an online portal for veterans to access their medical records called " Blue Dot " You can get about everything except an audiogram from the audiology department. Or anything from audiology for that matter.
In Spite of having a secure message app on their website. Medical personnel seem to insist on calling when they know you are HOH. That works to their benefit and if one uses secure messaging. you can get banned and even put on a " Disruptive Behaviour Veteran" and a flag is placed in your records, So being HOH at the VA is Punished .
I have been banned and am still on the DBL.. Even after they admitted they were wrong to ban me from secure messaging.
I have a meeting Wednesday morning with staff for the Senate Committee on Aging re: VA’s shortfall on compliance with Section 508 of the Rehab Act.
Some of you have significant more experience/knowledge on these issues than I do so I am requesting your input as to some issues you are aware of and perhaps willing to talk about.
I don’t know HLAA’s thoughts but I would like to offer them an opportunity to meet with us next week so they could have a more direct interchange of info with those of you willing to talk with them.
A few issues I plan on bringing up include:
Access to audiology medical exam results (I know some of you have mentioned that and I have had that problem)
Loop - I know nothing about this except how to spell it
I know there has been some chatter on other issues but don’t recall them now.
Did we ever decide on the survey? Maybe we can discuss possible questions from them for a survey.
For this meeting I will speak only for myself and no one else.
Let me know what you think and Carla please let me know HLAA’s position on inviting them and/or working with them to perhaps doing a survey for them.
See you all next week.
Ron
http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/
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Good luck. Keep us informed. Advocate is what is way to rare and my sense is the VA doesn’t like it.
The
Vet organic
Zations like the VFW don’t help because their members are deep on denial.
Karl
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
From: HLAAVeterans@... <HLAAVeterans@...> on behalf of Steve Sterry via hlaagroups.hearingloss.org
<steve.sterry=gmail.com@...>
Sent: Monday, April 11, 2022 3:41:54 PM
To: HLAAVeterans@... <HLAAVeterans@...>
Subject: Re: [HLAAVeterans] 508
The VA Vet Centers in the Los Angeles Area have switched their teleconnection services to Cisco's Webex. Webex has onscreen captioning available. I am wondering whether or not this is a regional switch or a national switch.
Steven C. Sterry, M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email:
steve.sterry@...
Wow! Thanks. This is very helpful especially about the lack of captioning on video appointments. I’ve never had one so wasn’t aware of that and didn’t think about it. Raises another issue with Microsoft Teams and Zoom.
LOOP. I'm not sure but I saw an illustration and it looked to be how to give veterans the " run around".
There isn't Close captions in the Video appointments. Which the DOJ requires.
There is an online portal for veterans to access their medical records called " Blue Dot " You can get about everything except an audiogram from the audiology department. Or anything from audiology for that matter.
In Spite of having a secure message app on their website. Medical personnel seem to insist on calling when they know you are HOH. That works to their benefit and if one uses secure messaging. you can get banned and even put on a " Disruptive Behaviour Veteran"
and a flag is placed in your records, So being HOH at the VA is Punished .
I have been banned and am still on the DBL.. Even after they admitted they were wrong to ban me from secure messaging.
I have a meeting Wednesday morning with staff for the Senate Committee on Aging re: VA’s shortfall on compliance with Section 508 of the Rehab Act.
Some of you have significant more experience/knowledge on these issues than I do so I am requesting your input as to some issues you are aware of and perhaps willing to talk about.
I don’t know HLAA’s thoughts but I would like to offer them an opportunity to meet with us next week so they could have a more direct interchange of info with those of you willing to talk with them.
A few issues I plan on bringing up include:
Access to audiology medical exam results (I know some of you have mentioned that and I have had that problem)
Loop - I know nothing about this except how to spell it
I know there has been some chatter on other issues but don’t recall them now.
Did we ever decide on the survey? Maybe we can discuss possible questions from them for a survey.
For this meeting I will speak only for myself and no one else.
Let me know what you think and Carla please let me know HLAA’s position on inviting them and/or working with them to perhaps doing a survey for them.
See you all next week.
Ron
http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/
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Thanks! I didn’t know that but I agree with Mr. Black.
I recently had an Audiolgy appointment with my private audiologist. I was able to get my last exam directly from my VA Audiologist who is phenomenal.
Shouldn’t have to do that. We should be able to access it ourself. Ron
http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/
On Apr 11, 2022, at 6:38 PM, Steve Sterry <steve.sterry@...> wrote: Ron:
The complaint that Mr. Black has is that he cannot get his audiograms on the VA Premium system files. I checked my own audio appointments on my VA Blue Ribbon Reports and found that, although the audiograms were not graphically reproduced, my own audiologists in Long Beach published the plot points so that any audiologist outside the VA could reconstruct my audiograms. I emailed Mr. Black to let him know about this, but his response was that he should be able to get the audiograms themselves.
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
I have a meeting Wednesday morning with staff for the Senate Committee on Aging re: VA’s shortfall on compliance with Section 508 of the Rehab Act.
Some of you have significant more experience/knowledge on these issues than I do so I am requesting your input as to some issues you are aware of and perhaps willing to talk about.
I don’t know HLAA’s thoughts but I would like to offer them an opportunity to meet with us next week so they could have a more direct interchange of info with those of you willing to talk with them.
A few issues I plan on bringing up include:
Access to audiology medical exam results (I know some of you have mentioned that and I have had that problem)
Loop - I know nothing about this except how to spell it
I know there has been some chatter on other issues but don’t recall them now.
Did we ever decide on the survey? Maybe we can discuss possible questions from them for a survey.
For this meeting I will speak only for myself and no one else.
Let me know what you think and Carla please let me know HLAA’s position on inviting them and/or working with them to perhaps doing a survey for them.
See you all next week.
Ron
http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/
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The VA Vet Centers in the Los Angeles Area have switched their teleconnection services to Cisco's Webex. Webex has onscreen captioning available. I am wondering whether or not this is a regional switch or a national switch.
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
Wow! Thanks. This is very helpful especially about the lack of captioning on video appointments. I’ve never had one so wasn’t aware of that and didn’t think about it. Raises another issue with Microsoft Teams and Zoom. LOOP. I'm not sure but I saw an illustration and it looked to be how to give veterans the " run around".
There isn't Close captions in the Video appointments. Which the DOJ requires.
There is an online portal for veterans to access their medical records called " Blue Dot " You can get about everything except an audiogram from the audiology department. Or anything from audiology for that matter.
In Spite of having a secure message app on their website. Medical personnel seem to insist on calling when they know you are HOH. That works to their benefit and if one uses secure messaging. you can get banned and even put on a " Disruptive Behaviour Veteran" and a flag is placed in your records, So being HOH at the VA is Punished .
I have been banned and am still on the DBL.. Even after they admitted they were wrong to ban me from secure messaging.
I have a meeting Wednesday morning with staff for the Senate Committee on Aging re: VA’s shortfall on compliance with Section 508 of the Rehab Act.
Some of you have significant more experience/knowledge on these issues than I do so I am requesting your input as to some issues you are aware of and perhaps willing to talk about.
I don’t know HLAA’s thoughts but I would like to offer them an opportunity to meet with us next week so they could have a more direct interchange of info with those of you willing to talk with them.
A few issues I plan on bringing up include:
Access to audiology medical exam results (I know some of you have mentioned that and I have had that problem)
Loop - I know nothing about this except how to spell it
I know there has been some chatter on other issues but don’t recall them now.
Did we ever decide on the survey? Maybe we can discuss possible questions from them for a survey.
For this meeting I will speak only for myself and no one else.
Let me know what you think and Carla please let me know HLAA’s position on inviting them and/or working with them to perhaps doing a survey for them.
See you all next week.
Ron
http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/
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This is incredible. Have you taken any action through your VSO or anyone else?
Ron
http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/
On Apr 11, 2022, at 6:06 PM, N Y Business <black8765309.8765309@...> wrote: You're welcome.. I can get MRI images XRays. all the info to go with them. Colonoscopy images and all the doctors notes/ But audiology? Nope,, You have to fill out a release of information request and wait for that. I live 90 miles away so the internet is critical to me as well as in Secure messaging. Being HOH I use that more and prefer to use that over phone calls. Even with a caption phone. I prefer messaging. Well that requires more messages and I was banned from secure messaging for excessive messages. They know I am hearing impaited but they don't have any issue with banning hearing disabled Veterans from the one thing that I've thought was going to be a plus for us. There are 3.5 million hearing impaired veterans and 1/2 that many are service connected. So secure messaging was going to be a good thing. As it turned out,It wasn't for our benefit after all.
Wow! Thanks. This is very helpful especially about the lack of captioning on video appointments. I’ve never had one so wasn’t aware of that and didn’t think about it. Raises another issue with Microsoft Teams and Zoom. LOOP. I'm not sure but I saw an illustration and it looked to be how to give veterans the " run around".
There isn't Close captions in the Video appointments. Which the DOJ requires.
There is an online portal for veterans to access their medical records called " Blue Dot " You can get about everything except an audiogram from the audiology department. Or anything from audiology for that matter.
In Spite of having a secure message app on their website. Medical personnel seem to insist on calling when they know you are HOH. That works to their benefit and if one uses secure messaging. you can get banned and even put on a " Disruptive Behaviour Veteran" and a flag is placed in your records, So being HOH at the VA is Punished .
I have been banned and am still on the DBL.. Even after they admitted they were wrong to ban me from secure messaging.
I have a meeting Wednesday morning with staff for the Senate Committee on Aging re: VA’s shortfall on compliance with Section 508 of the Rehab Act.
Some of you have significant more experience/knowledge on these issues than I do so I am requesting your input as to some issues you are aware of and perhaps willing to talk about.
I don’t know HLAA’s thoughts but I would like to offer them an opportunity to meet with us next week so they could have a more direct interchange of info with those of you willing to talk with them.
A few issues I plan on bringing up include:
Access to audiology medical exam results (I know some of you have mentioned that and I have had that problem)
Loop - I know nothing about this except how to spell it
I know there has been some chatter on other issues but don’t recall them now.
Did we ever decide on the survey? Maybe we can discuss possible questions from them for a survey.
For this meeting I will speak only for myself and no one else.
Let me know what you think and Carla please let me know HLAA’s position on inviting them and/or working with them to perhaps doing a survey for them.
See you all next week.
Ron
http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/
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Ron:
The complaint that Mr. Black has is that he cannot get his audiograms on the VA Premium system files. I checked my own audio appointments on my VA Blue Ribbon Reports and found that, although the audiograms were not graphically reproduced, my own audiologists in Long Beach published the plot points so that any audiologist outside the VA could reconstruct my audiograms. I emailed Mr. Black to let him know about this, but his response was that he should be able to get the audiograms themselves.
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
I have a meeting Wednesday morning with staff for the Senate Committee on Aging re: VA’s shortfall on compliance with Section 508 of the Rehab Act.
Some of you have significant more experience/knowledge on these issues than I do so I am requesting your input as to some issues you are aware of and perhaps willing to talk about.
I don’t know HLAA’s thoughts but I would like to offer them an opportunity to meet with us next week so they could have a more direct interchange of info with those of you willing to talk with them.
A few issues I plan on bringing up include:
Access to audiology medical exam results (I know some of you have mentioned that and I have had that problem)
Loop - I know nothing about this except how to spell it
I know there has been some chatter on other issues but don’t recall them now.
Did we ever decide on the survey? Maybe we can discuss possible questions from them for a survey.
For this meeting I will speak only for myself and no one else.
Let me know what you think and Carla please let me know HLAA’s position on inviting them and/or working with them to perhaps doing a survey for them.
See you all next week.
Ron
http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/
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Thanks Jim
Ron
Ron Drach, President Drach Consulting 240-413-3183
On Monday, April 11, 2022, 06:05:22 PM EDT, Jim Rau <jimrau@...> wrote:
VA Directive VHA DIRECTIVE 1170.02 spells out audiology care for veterans. That is, who can get care and what they can get. It seems to stop short of aural rehabilitation and follow up care. Those things are available but apparently veterans must request care beyond being fitted with hearing aids or CIs.
VA is aware of the issue of no captioning on their VVC (Veterans Video Connect) video conferencing platform. They are working on a “fix” at this time. It should be operational soon.
Regarding hearing access at medical facilities I don’t see any internal VA administrative policy. I’m aware that the facilities I visit do have some ALDs (assistive listening devices) available. The trouble is they are not commonly offered by providers. Veterans need to ASK for help. That is something most veterans just don’t do. I see efforts by medical staff to help veterans but are not familiar with the technology available. Audiology does have the technology but often don’t coordinate well with other medical staff. I understand that many staff are now discussing these things at internal meetings. I don’t know anything that is driven by administration but then I’m not is a position to see that if it is happening. Maybe it is.
For example the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis has pocket talkers and even loaner hearing aids available. But getting the veterans in need connected to the devices doesn’t always happen without the veteran making the request.
Personally I always take my remote microphone to my medical appointments and ask the Dr to wear it so I can hear her voice from behind her mask and face shield. The VA has provided the remote microphones. I also keep my smartphone handy to use a speech-to-text app if needed too.
Jim LOOP. I'm not sure but I saw an illustration and it looked to be how to give veterans the " run around".
There isn't Close captions in the Video appointments. Which the DOJ requires.
There is an online portal for veterans to access their medical records called " Blue Dot " You can get about everything except an audiogram from the audiology department. Or anything from audiology for that matter.
In Spite of having a secure message app on their website. Medical personnel seem to insist on calling when they know you are HOH. That works to their benefit and if one uses secure messaging. you can get banned and even put on a " Disruptive Behaviour Veteran" and a flag is placed in your records, So being HOH at the VA is Punished .
I have been banned and am still on the DBL.. Even after they admitted they were wrong to ban me from secure messaging.
I have a meeting Wednesday morning with staff for the Senate Committee on Aging re: VA’s shortfall on compliance with Section 508 of the Rehab Act.
Some of you have significant more experience/knowledge on these issues than I do so I am requesting your input as to some issues you are aware of and perhaps willing to talk about.
I don’t know HLAA’s thoughts but I would like to offer them an opportunity to meet with us next week so they could have a more direct interchange of info with those of you willing to talk with them.
A few issues I plan on bringing up include:
Access to audiology medical exam results (I know some of you have mentioned that and I have had that problem)
Loop - I know nothing about this except how to spell it
I know there has been some chatter on other issues but don’t recall them now.
Did we ever decide on the survey? Maybe we can discuss possible questions from them for a survey.
For this meeting I will speak only for myself and no one else.
Let me know what you think and Carla please let me know HLAA’s position on inviting them and/or working with them to perhaps doing a survey for them.
See you all next week.
Ron
http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/
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You're welcome.. I can get MRI images XRays. all the info to go with them. Colonoscopy images and all the doctors notes/ But audiology? Nope,, You have to fill out a release of information request and wait for that. I live 90 miles away so the internet is critical to me as well as in Secure messaging. Being HOH I use that more and prefer to use that over phone calls. Even with a caption phone. I prefer messaging. Well that requires more messages and I was banned from secure messaging for excessive messages. They know I am hearing impaited but they don't have any issue with banning hearing disabled Veterans from the one thing that I've thought was going to be a plus for us. There are 3.5 million hearing impaired veterans and 1/2 that many are service connected. So secure messaging was going to be a good thing. As it turned out,It wasn't for our benefit after all.
Wow! Thanks. This is very helpful especially about the lack of captioning on video appointments. I’ve never had one so wasn’t aware of that and didn’t think about it. Raises another issue with Microsoft Teams and Zoom. LOOP. I'm not sure but I saw an illustration and it looked to be how to give veterans the " run around".
There isn't Close captions in the Video appointments. Which the DOJ requires.
There is an online portal for veterans to access their medical records called " Blue Dot " You can get about everything except an audiogram from the audiology department. Or anything from audiology for that matter.
In Spite of having a secure message app on their website. Medical personnel seem to insist on calling when they know you are HOH. That works to their benefit and if one uses secure messaging. you can get banned and even put on a " Disruptive Behaviour Veteran" and a flag is placed in your records, So being HOH at the VA is Punished .
I have been banned and am still on the DBL.. Even after they admitted they were wrong to ban me from secure messaging.
I have a meeting Wednesday morning with staff for the Senate Committee on Aging re: VA’s shortfall on compliance with Section 508 of the Rehab Act.
Some of you have significant more experience/knowledge on these issues than I do so I am requesting your input as to some issues you are aware of and perhaps willing to talk about.
I don’t know HLAA’s thoughts but I would like to offer them an opportunity to meet with us next week so they could have a more direct interchange of info with those of you willing to talk with them.
A few issues I plan on bringing up include:
Access to audiology medical exam results (I know some of you have mentioned that and I have had that problem)
Loop - I know nothing about this except how to spell it
I know there has been some chatter on other issues but don’t recall them now.
Did we ever decide on the survey? Maybe we can discuss possible questions from them for a survey.
For this meeting I will speak only for myself and no one else.
Let me know what you think and Carla please let me know HLAA’s position on inviting them and/or working with them to perhaps doing a survey for them.
See you all next week.
Ron
http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/
|
|
|
You're welcome.. I can get MRI images XRays. all the info to go with them. Colonoscopy images and all the doctors notes/ But audiology? Nope,, You have to fill out a release of information request and wait for that. I live 90 miles away so the internet is critical to me as well as in Secure messaging. Being HOH I use that more and prefer to use that over phone calls. Even with a caption phone. I prefer messaging. Well that requires more messages and I was banned from secure messaging for excessive messages. They know I am hearing impaited but they don't have any issue with banning hearing disabled Veterans from the one thing that I've thought was going to be a plus for us. There are 3.5 million hearing impaired veterans and 1/2 that many are service connected. So secure messaging was going to be a good thing. As it turned out,It wasn't for our benefit after all.
Wow! Thanks. This is very helpful especially about the lack of captioning on video appointments. I’ve never had one so wasn’t aware of that and didn’t think about it. Raises another issue with Microsoft Teams and Zoom. LOOP. I'm not sure but I saw an illustration and it looked to be how to give veterans the " run around".
There isn't Close captions in the Video appointments. Which the DOJ requires.
There is an online portal for veterans to access their medical records called " Blue Dot " You can get about everything except an audiogram from the audiology department. Or anything from audiology for that matter.
In Spite of having a secure message app on their website. Medical personnel seem to insist on calling when they know you are HOH. That works to their benefit and if one uses secure messaging. you can get banned and even put on a " Disruptive Behaviour Veteran" and a flag is placed in your records, So being HOH at the VA is Punished .
I have been banned and am still on the DBL.. Even after they admitted they were wrong to ban me from secure messaging.
I have a meeting Wednesday morning with staff for the Senate Committee on Aging re: VA’s shortfall on compliance with Section 508 of the Rehab Act.
Some of you have significant more experience/knowledge on these issues than I do so I am requesting your input as to some issues you are aware of and perhaps willing to talk about.
I don’t know HLAA’s thoughts but I would like to offer them an opportunity to meet with us next week so they could have a more direct interchange of info with those of you willing to talk with them.
A few issues I plan on bringing up include:
Access to audiology medical exam results (I know some of you have mentioned that and I have had that problem)
Loop - I know nothing about this except how to spell it
I know there has been some chatter on other issues but don’t recall them now.
Did we ever decide on the survey? Maybe we can discuss possible questions from them for a survey.
For this meeting I will speak only for myself and no one else.
Let me know what you think and Carla please let me know HLAA’s position on inviting them and/or working with them to perhaps doing a survey for them.
See you all next week.
Ron
http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/
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VA Directive VHA DIRECTIVE 1170.02 spells out audiology care for veterans. That is, who can get care and what they can get. It seems to stop short of aural rehabilitation and follow up care. Those things are available but apparently veterans must request care beyond being fitted with hearing aids or CIs.
VA is aware of the issue of no captioning on their VVC (Veterans Video Connect) video conferencing platform. They are working on a “fix” at this time. It should be operational soon.
Regarding hearing access at medical facilities I don’t see any internal VA administrative policy. I’m aware that the facilities I visit do have some ALDs (assistive listening devices) available. The trouble is they are not commonly offered by providers. Veterans need to ASK for help. That is something most veterans just don’t do. I see efforts by medical staff to help veterans but are not familiar with the technology available. Audiology does have the technology but often don’t coordinate well with other medical staff. I understand that many staff are now discussing these things at internal meetings. I don’t know anything that is driven by administration but then I’m not is a position to see that if it is happening. Maybe it is.
For example the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis has pocket talkers and even loaner hearing aids available. But getting the veterans in need connected to the devices doesn’t always happen without the veteran making the request.
Personally I always take my remote microphone to my medical appointments and ask the Dr to wear it so I can hear her voice from behind her mask and face shield. The VA has provided the remote microphones. I also keep my smartphone handy to use a speech-to-text app if needed too.
Jim
LOOP. I'm not sure but I saw an illustration and it looked to be how to give veterans the " run around".
There isn't Close captions in the Video appointments. Which the DOJ requires.
There is an online portal for veterans to access their medical records called " Blue Dot " You can get about everything except an audiogram from the audiology department. Or anything from audiology for that matter.
In Spite of having a secure message app on their website. Medical personnel seem to insist on calling when they know you are HOH. That works to their benefit and if one uses secure messaging. you can get banned and even put on a " Disruptive Behaviour Veteran" and a flag is placed in your records, So being HOH at the VA is Punished .
I have been banned and am still on the DBL.. Even after they admitted they were wrong to ban me from secure messaging.
I have a meeting Wednesday morning with staff for the Senate Committee on Aging re: VA’s shortfall on compliance with Section 508 of the Rehab Act.
Some of you have significant more experience/knowledge on these issues than I do so I am requesting your input as to some issues you are aware of and perhaps willing to talk about.
I don’t know HLAA’s thoughts but I would like to offer them an opportunity to meet with us next week so they could have a more direct interchange of info with those of you willing to talk with them.
A few issues I plan on bringing up include:
Access to audiology medical exam results (I know some of you have mentioned that and I have had that problem)
Loop - I know nothing about this except how to spell it
I know there has been some chatter on other issues but don’t recall them now.
Did we ever decide on the survey? Maybe we can discuss possible questions from them for a survey.
For this meeting I will speak only for myself and no one else.
Let me know what you think and Carla please let me know HLAA’s position on inviting them and/or working with them to perhaps doing a survey for them.
See you all next week.
Ron
http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/
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Wow! Thanks. This is very helpful especially about the lack of captioning on video appointments. I’ve never had one so wasn’t aware of that and didn’t think about it. Raises another issue with Microsoft Teams and Zoom. Ron
http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/
On Apr 11, 2022, at 4:37 PM, N Y Business <black8765309.8765309@...> wrote: LOOP. I'm not sure but I saw an illustration and it looked to be how to give veterans the " run around".
There isn't Close captions in the Video appointments. Which the DOJ requires.
There is an online portal for veterans to access their medical records called " Blue Dot " You can get about everything except an audiogram from the audiology department. Or anything from audiology for that matter.
In Spite of having a secure message app on their website. Medical personnel seem to insist on calling when they know you are HOH. That works to their benefit and if one uses secure messaging. you can get banned and even put on a " Disruptive Behaviour Veteran" and a flag is placed in your records, So being HOH at the VA is Punished .
I have been banned and am still on the DBL.. Even after they admitted they were wrong to ban me from secure messaging.
I have a meeting Wednesday morning with staff for the Senate Committee on Aging re: VA’s shortfall on compliance with Section 508 of the Rehab Act.
Some of you have significant more experience/knowledge on these issues than I do so I am requesting your input as to some issues you are aware of and perhaps willing to talk about.
I don’t know HLAA’s thoughts but I would like to offer them an opportunity to meet with us next week so they could have a more direct interchange of info with those of you willing to talk with them.
A few issues I plan on bringing up include:
Access to audiology medical exam results (I know some of you have mentioned that and I have had that problem)
Loop - I know nothing about this except how to spell it
I know there has been some chatter on other issues but don’t recall them now.
Did we ever decide on the survey? Maybe we can discuss possible questions from them for a survey.
For this meeting I will speak only for myself and no one else.
Let me know what you think and Carla please let me know HLAA’s position on inviting them and/or working with them to perhaps doing a survey for them.
See you all next week.
Ron
http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/
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LOOP. I'm not sure but I saw an illustration and it looked to be how to give veterans the " run around".
There isn't Close captions in the Video appointments. Which the DOJ requires.
There is an online portal for veterans to access their medical records called " Blue Dot " You can get about everything except an audiogram from the audiology department. Or anything from audiology for that matter.
In Spite of having a secure message app on their website. Medical personnel seem to insist on calling when they know you are HOH. That works to their benefit and if one uses secure messaging. you can get banned and even put on a " Disruptive Behaviour Veteran" and a flag is placed in your records, So being HOH at the VA is Punished .
I have been banned and am still on the DBL.. Even after they admitted they were wrong to ban me from secure messaging.
I have a meeting Wednesday morning with staff for the Senate Committee on Aging re: VA’s shortfall on compliance with Section 508 of the Rehab Act.
Some of you have significant more experience/knowledge on these issues than I do so I am requesting your input as to some issues you are aware of and perhaps willing to talk about.
I don’t know HLAA’s thoughts but I would like to offer them an opportunity to meet with us next week so they could have a more direct interchange of info with those of you willing to talk with them.
A few issues I plan on bringing up include:
Access to audiology medical exam results (I know some of you have mentioned that and I have had that problem)
Loop - I know nothing about this except how to spell it
I know there has been some chatter on other issues but don’t recall them now.
Did we ever decide on the survey? Maybe we can discuss possible questions from them for a survey.
For this meeting I will speak only for myself and no one else.
Let me know what you think and Carla please let me know HLAA’s position on inviting them and/or working with them to perhaps doing a survey for them.
See you all next week.
Ron
http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/
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|
I have a meeting Wednesday morning with staff for the Senate Committee on Aging re: VA’s shortfall on compliance with Section 508 of the Rehab Act. Some of you have significant more experience/knowledge on these issues than I do so I am requesting your input as to some issues you are aware of and perhaps willing to talk about. I don’t know HLAA’s thoughts but I would like to offer them an opportunity to meet with us next week so they could have a more direct interchange of info with those of you willing to talk with them. A few issues I plan on bringing up include: Access to audiology medical exam results (I know some of you have mentioned that and I have had that problem) Loop - I know nothing about this except how to spell it I know there has been some chatter on other issues but don’t recall them now. Did we ever decide on the survey? Maybe we can discuss possible questions from them for a survey. For this meeting I will speak only for myself and no one else. Let me know what you think and Carla please let me know HLAA’s position on inviting them and/or working with them to perhaps doing a survey for them. See you all next week. Ron http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/
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Event: Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter Meeting
#cal-invite
HLAAVeterans@hlaagroups.hearingloss.org Calendar <noreply@...>
Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter Meeting
When:
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
8:00pm to 9:00pm
(UTC-04:00) America/New York
Repeats: Monthly on the third Tuesday
Where:
Virtual Zoom Meeting
Organizer: Carla Beyer-Smolin
cbeyer-smolin@...
View Event
Description:
We invite VAAVC members to attend the next Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter Meeting (VAAVC) online using Zoom.
Date: April 19, 2022
Time: 8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. CT, 6 p.m. MT, 5 p.m. PT
This will be an open meeting. We look forward to seeing you online.
REGISTER
The HLAA Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter is sponsored exclusively by Starkey.
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Re: External Veteran Survey
Good luck.
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
It's been two years on some issues and the hearing issue is nearing 6 months.
The VA is just self serving nowadays as far as I can tell. I'm waiting for a civil right attorney to respond..
Of Course contacting anyone by email gets little responses.
It shouldn't be. However, if they keep ignoring you, it may be your only option.
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
Why would one be required to file a formal request to ask the VA to follow federal law?
Have you requested reasonable accommodation in writing?
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
Reasonable accommodation to access my audiology medical records is the issue.
I don't disagree with you. However, unless you are ready to file a formal complaint under the Rehabilitation Act, you may get nowhere.
One other suggestion, however, comes to mind. I believe that each VA Medical Center has an Equal Opportunity Office. When I wanted to file a complaint because my local VA Dental Department decided to declare its examining rooms as operatories and, therefore off limits to both pets and service dogs, I contacted their EO Officer, and within six months, my service dog was, once again, able to accompany me to my dental exams. In the meantime, before the settlement was reached, she volunteered to puppy-sit my service dog while I attended my dental appointments.
Finally, you cannot dictate what action the VA has to take. All you can do is ask for reasonable accommodation, and it is then up to them to offer you something reasonable if they feel that there is some other viable solution that they can propose.
Good luck,
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
Sorry. I don't work there . I'm the Veteran using the Blue dot website. I'm using the Blue Dot web site because the VA is 90 miles away. It was designed for this reason. for veterans to use when they need access to their records.
You can't find the "tools" menu because you are looking at a printout of the record, not the record itself. The record can only be accessed on the VA computers. On the other hand, if the VA is willing to print the values of the plot points of your audiogram, that should take care of your problem.
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
The issue is that what is put in the records should be usable by other audiologists.
I'm looking for the " Tools Menu " . Can't find that .
That's too bad. All of the notes that I found in my record were very professional and very detailed. Maybe you should contact your Audiology Department head and explain your specific needs to him or her. In the meantime, maybe we can get a general letter from HLAA to the National VA to suggest that audiologists notes be held to the same standards and detail of the other medical practitioners that we veterans see.
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
I'm searching for the records now . There are some comments about how good of a job the audiologist did according to the audiologist in regards to fit and was I happy to get them. Nothing another audiologist can use. The audoligist was covering his azz his all I can find so far.
Understood. Perhaps one temporary solution to the problem would be to ask your audiologist to document the measurements at each normal plot point on the audiogram chart in his or her comments. As I understand, the normal plot points are 125, 250, 500. 1k, 2k, 4k, and 8kHZ. That is the only additional information that outside audiologists would really need. Perhaps the HLAA could draft and send a letter to Washington with a request that this be standardized for the whole VA system.
I think that part of the problem here is that the VA is trying to shift from its old archaic system into a new one and is having enough problems generating the necessary data to create reliable medical records. I think that the resistance that you are getting is based upon their plans to activate the new system and deactivate the old one. They don't want to spend money enhancing a computer system that will shortly (as they hope) go away.
What do you think?
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
I am also a premium member and have searched the Blue Dot. The graph is what is needed when you are going to an outside audiologist to avoid retaking the test at a cost. . Now I can get images of MRI and CAT scans and colonoscopy from the Blue Dot info sharing download etc. . But not a scanned document of the hearing test which is what outside audiologist and need to make adjustments to hearing aids.
I understand that some members of this group have complained that audiology medical records are being excluded from our online medical records. I can tell you that is not the case in our Los Angeles area VA facilities. I have a premium account in MyHealtheVet, and I was able to select VA Notes in the VA Blue Button Report section. I was able to find notes going back to the year 2013. The following is an example that I read from my 2013 report:
"Audiological Evaluation
(view Audiogram under Tools menu)
Purpose of visit: re-evaluation
Primary complaint: Pt. perceives decrease in hearing sensitivity
History:
Situation(s) of greatest difficulty:
Background noise
History of middle ear disease/surgery: denied
Tinnitus: both ears constant
Dizziness/vertigo: present
occasionally when leaning head back
Aural Fullness: No
Otalgia: No
Hearing aid use: both ears VA issued; removal wire has broken off aid. Unable to replace wire in clinic. Pt. did not want to send aids in at this time.
Cleaned and checked both aids. Both aids functioning properly.
Results:
Otoscopy: Right ear: clear view of eardrum
Left ear: clear view of eardrum
Tympanometry: Right ear: normal
Left ear: normal
Earphones used: supra-aural earphones
Test reliability: good
Impressions:
AD: Mild to profound sensorineural hearing loss.
Word recognition for amplified speech was fair-to-poor (45-59%).
52% @ 85 dbHL
AS: Mild to profound sensorineural hearing loss.
Word recognition for amplified speech was good (80-100%).
80% @ 90 dbHL
AU: Hearing essentially unchanged.
Patient education: Communication strategies for difficult listening situations,
Realistic expectations from hearing aid use
Recommendations:
The results of the hearing test were explained to the patient.
RTC if hearing changes.
Pt. is interested in new amplification. Spoke with patient about new hearing
aids coming on contract in May. Pt. will contact audiologist after May 1."
Yes, my audiogram is missing. However, its evaluation is still there. The reason that the audiogram is not there has to do with the fact that the VA report system (including all test results) is a text based system. It is not capable of being presented graphically.
Maybe this is a regional issue, rather than a national issue. Or maybe some people are looking in the wrong section of their Blue Ribbon reports. I hope this might shed some light to this issue.
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
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Re: External Veteran Survey
Reasonable accommodations are for individuals and must be requested. They are designed for individuals and not the general population.
Contrast that with what is required and if an entity is in violation of the ADA a complaint must be filed by, or on behalf, of an individual or class of individuals. Such complaint needs to be filed with the appropriate investigative body, e.g. DOJ or EEOC Ron
http://www.conceptscommunications.com/team/ronald-drach/
On Mar 26, 2022, at 1:37 PM, Steve Sterry <steve.sterry@...> wrote: It shouldn't be. However, if they keep ignoring you, it may be your only option.
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
Why would one be required to file a formal request to ask the VA to follow federal law?
Have you requested reasonable accommodation in writing?
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
Reasonable accommodation to access my audiology medical records is the issue.
I don't disagree with you. However, unless you are ready to file a formal complaint under the Rehabilitation Act, you may get nowhere.
One other suggestion, however, comes to mind. I believe that each VA Medical Center has an Equal Opportunity Office. When I wanted to file a complaint because my local VA Dental Department decided to declare its examining rooms as operatories and, therefore off limits to both pets and service dogs, I contacted their EO Officer, and within six months, my service dog was, once again, able to accompany me to my dental exams. In the meantime, before the settlement was reached, she volunteered to puppy-sit my service dog while I attended my dental appointments.
Finally, you cannot dictate what action the VA has to take. All you can do is ask for reasonable accommodation, and it is then up to them to offer you something reasonable if they feel that there is some other viable solution that they can propose.
Good luck,
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
Sorry. I don't work there . I'm the Veteran using the Blue dot website. I'm using the Blue Dot web site because the VA is 90 miles away. It was designed for this reason. for veterans to use when they need access to their records.
You can't find the "tools" menu because you are looking at a printout of the record, not the record itself. The record can only be accessed on the VA computers. On the other hand, if the VA is willing to print the values of the plot points of your audiogram, that should take care of your problem.
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
The issue is that what is put in the records should be usable by other audiologists.
I'm looking for the " Tools Menu " . Can't find that .
That's too bad. All of the notes that I found in my record were very professional and very detailed. Maybe you should contact your Audiology Department head and explain your specific needs to him or her. In the meantime, maybe we can get a general letter from HLAA to the National VA to suggest that audiologists notes be held to the same standards and detail of the other medical practitioners that we veterans see.
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
I'm searching for the records now . There are some comments about how good of a job the audiologist did according to the audiologist in regards to fit and was I happy to get them. Nothing another audiologist can use. The audoligist was covering his azz his all I can find so far.
Understood. Perhaps one temporary solution to the problem would be to ask your audiologist to document the measurements at each normal plot point on the audiogram chart in his or her comments. As I understand, the normal plot points are 125, 250, 500. 1k, 2k, 4k, and 8kHZ. That is the only additional information that outside audiologists would really need. Perhaps the HLAA could draft and send a letter to Washington with a request that this be standardized for the whole VA system.
I think that part of the problem here is that the VA is trying to shift from its old archaic system into a new one and is having enough problems generating the necessary data to create reliable medical records. I think that the resistance that you are getting is based upon their plans to activate the new system and deactivate the old one. They don't want to spend money enhancing a computer system that will shortly (as they hope) go away.
What do you think?
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
I am also a premium member and have searched the Blue Dot. The graph is what is needed when you are going to an outside audiologist to avoid retaking the test at a cost. . Now I can get images of MRI and CAT scans and colonoscopy from the Blue Dot info sharing download etc. . But not a scanned document of the hearing test which is what outside audiologist and need to make adjustments to hearing aids.
I understand that some members of this group have complained that audiology medical records are being excluded from our online medical records. I can tell you that is not the case in our Los Angeles area VA facilities. I have a premium account in MyHealtheVet, and I was able to select VA Notes in the VA Blue Button Report section. I was able to find notes going back to the year 2013. The following is an example that I read from my 2013 report:
"Audiological Evaluation
(view Audiogram under Tools menu)
Purpose of visit: re-evaluation
Primary complaint: Pt. perceives decrease in hearing sensitivity
History:
Situation(s) of greatest difficulty:
Background noise
History of middle ear disease/surgery: denied
Tinnitus: both ears constant
Dizziness/vertigo: present
occasionally when leaning head back
Aural Fullness: No
Otalgia: No
Hearing aid use: both ears VA issued; removal wire has broken off aid. Unable to replace wire in clinic. Pt. did not want to send aids in at this time.
Cleaned and checked both aids. Both aids functioning properly.
Results:
Otoscopy: Right ear: clear view of eardrum
Left ear: clear view of eardrum
Tympanometry: Right ear: normal
Left ear: normal
Earphones used: supra-aural earphones
Test reliability: good
Impressions:
AD: Mild to profound sensorineural hearing loss.
Word recognition for amplified speech was fair-to-poor (45-59%).
52% @ 85 dbHL
AS: Mild to profound sensorineural hearing loss.
Word recognition for amplified speech was good (80-100%).
80% @ 90 dbHL
AU: Hearing essentially unchanged.
Patient education: Communication strategies for difficult listening situations,
Realistic expectations from hearing aid use
Recommendations:
The results of the hearing test were explained to the patient.
RTC if hearing changes.
Pt. is interested in new amplification. Spoke with patient about new hearing
aids coming on contract in May. Pt. will contact audiologist after May 1."
Yes, my audiogram is missing. However, its evaluation is still there. The reason that the audiogram is not there has to do with the fact that the VA report system (including all test results) is a text based system. It is not capable of being presented graphically.
Maybe this is a regional issue, rather than a national issue. Or maybe some people are looking in the wrong section of their Blue Ribbon reports. I hope this might shed some light to this issue.
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
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|
|
Re: External Veteran Survey
It's been two years on some issues and the hearing issue is nearing 6 months.
The VA is just self serving nowadays as far as I can tell. I'm waiting for a civil right attorney to respond..
Of Course contacting anyone by email gets little responses.
It shouldn't be. However, if they keep ignoring you, it may be your only option.
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
Why would one be required to file a formal request to ask the VA to follow federal law?
Have you requested reasonable accommodation in writing?
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
Reasonable accommodation to access my audiology medical records is the issue.
I don't disagree with you. However, unless you are ready to file a formal complaint under the Rehabilitation Act, you may get nowhere.
One other suggestion, however, comes to mind. I believe that each VA Medical Center has an Equal Opportunity Office. When I wanted to file a complaint because my local VA Dental Department decided to declare its examining rooms as operatories and, therefore off limits to both pets and service dogs, I contacted their EO Officer, and within six months, my service dog was, once again, able to accompany me to my dental exams. In the meantime, before the settlement was reached, she volunteered to puppy-sit my service dog while I attended my dental appointments.
Finally, you cannot dictate what action the VA has to take. All you can do is ask for reasonable accommodation, and it is then up to them to offer you something reasonable if they feel that there is some other viable solution that they can propose.
Good luck,
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
Sorry. I don't work there . I'm the Veteran using the Blue dot website. I'm using the Blue Dot web site because the VA is 90 miles away. It was designed for this reason. for veterans to use when they need access to their records.
You can't find the "tools" menu because you are looking at a printout of the record, not the record itself. The record can only be accessed on the VA computers. On the other hand, if the VA is willing to print the values of the plot points of your audiogram, that should take care of your problem.
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
The issue is that what is put in the records should be usable by other audiologists.
I'm looking for the " Tools Menu " . Can't find that .
That's too bad. All of the notes that I found in my record were very professional and very detailed. Maybe you should contact your Audiology Department head and explain your specific needs to him or her. In the meantime, maybe we can get a general letter from HLAA to the National VA to suggest that audiologists notes be held to the same standards and detail of the other medical practitioners that we veterans see.
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
I'm searching for the records now . There are some comments about how good of a job the audiologist did according to the audiologist in regards to fit and was I happy to get them. Nothing another audiologist can use. The audoligist was covering his azz his all I can find so far.
Understood. Perhaps one temporary solution to the problem would be to ask your audiologist to document the measurements at each normal plot point on the audiogram chart in his or her comments. As I understand, the normal plot points are 125, 250, 500. 1k, 2k, 4k, and 8kHZ. That is the only additional information that outside audiologists would really need. Perhaps the HLAA could draft and send a letter to Washington with a request that this be standardized for the whole VA system.
I think that part of the problem here is that the VA is trying to shift from its old archaic system into a new one and is having enough problems generating the necessary data to create reliable medical records. I think that the resistance that you are getting is based upon their plans to activate the new system and deactivate the old one. They don't want to spend money enhancing a computer system that will shortly (as they hope) go away.
What do you think?
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
I am also a premium member and have searched the Blue Dot. The graph is what is needed when you are going to an outside audiologist to avoid retaking the test at a cost. . Now I can get images of MRI and CAT scans and colonoscopy from the Blue Dot info sharing download etc. . But not a scanned document of the hearing test which is what outside audiologist and need to make adjustments to hearing aids.
I understand that some members of this group have complained that audiology medical records are being excluded from our online medical records. I can tell you that is not the case in our Los Angeles area VA facilities. I have a premium account in MyHealtheVet, and I was able to select VA Notes in the VA Blue Button Report section. I was able to find notes going back to the year 2013. The following is an example that I read from my 2013 report:
"Audiological Evaluation
(view Audiogram under Tools menu)
Purpose of visit: re-evaluation
Primary complaint: Pt. perceives decrease in hearing sensitivity
History:
Situation(s) of greatest difficulty:
Background noise
History of middle ear disease/surgery: denied
Tinnitus: both ears constant
Dizziness/vertigo: present
occasionally when leaning head back
Aural Fullness: No
Otalgia: No
Hearing aid use: both ears VA issued; removal wire has broken off aid. Unable to replace wire in clinic. Pt. did not want to send aids in at this time.
Cleaned and checked both aids. Both aids functioning properly.
Results:
Otoscopy: Right ear: clear view of eardrum
Left ear: clear view of eardrum
Tympanometry: Right ear: normal
Left ear: normal
Earphones used: supra-aural earphones
Test reliability: good
Impressions:
AD: Mild to profound sensorineural hearing loss.
Word recognition for amplified speech was fair-to-poor (45-59%).
52% @ 85 dbHL
AS: Mild to profound sensorineural hearing loss.
Word recognition for amplified speech was good (80-100%).
80% @ 90 dbHL
AU: Hearing essentially unchanged.
Patient education: Communication strategies for difficult listening situations,
Realistic expectations from hearing aid use
Recommendations:
The results of the hearing test were explained to the patient.
RTC if hearing changes.
Pt. is interested in new amplification. Spoke with patient about new hearing
aids coming on contract in May. Pt. will contact audiologist after May 1."
Yes, my audiogram is missing. However, its evaluation is still there. The reason that the audiogram is not there has to do with the fact that the VA report system (including all test results) is a text based system. It is not capable of being presented graphically.
Maybe this is a regional issue, rather than a national issue. Or maybe some people are looking in the wrong section of their Blue Ribbon reports. I hope this might shed some light to this issue.
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
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Re: External Veteran Survey
It shouldn't be. However, if they keep ignoring you, it may be your only option.
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
Why would one be required to file a formal request to ask the VA to follow federal law?
Have you requested reasonable accommodation in writing?
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
Reasonable accommodation to access my audiology medical records is the issue.
I don't disagree with you. However, unless you are ready to file a formal complaint under the Rehabilitation Act, you may get nowhere.
One other suggestion, however, comes to mind. I believe that each VA Medical Center has an Equal Opportunity Office. When I wanted to file a complaint because my local VA Dental Department decided to declare its examining rooms as operatories and, therefore off limits to both pets and service dogs, I contacted their EO Officer, and within six months, my service dog was, once again, able to accompany me to my dental exams. In the meantime, before the settlement was reached, she volunteered to puppy-sit my service dog while I attended my dental appointments.
Finally, you cannot dictate what action the VA has to take. All you can do is ask for reasonable accommodation, and it is then up to them to offer you something reasonable if they feel that there is some other viable solution that they can propose.
Good luck,
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
Sorry. I don't work there . I'm the Veteran using the Blue dot website. I'm using the Blue Dot web site because the VA is 90 miles away. It was designed for this reason. for veterans to use when they need access to their records.
You can't find the "tools" menu because you are looking at a printout of the record, not the record itself. The record can only be accessed on the VA computers. On the other hand, if the VA is willing to print the values of the plot points of your audiogram, that should take care of your problem.
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
The issue is that what is put in the records should be usable by other audiologists.
I'm looking for the " Tools Menu " . Can't find that .
That's too bad. All of the notes that I found in my record were very professional and very detailed. Maybe you should contact your Audiology Department head and explain your specific needs to him or her. In the meantime, maybe we can get a general letter from HLAA to the National VA to suggest that audiologists notes be held to the same standards and detail of the other medical practitioners that we veterans see.
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
I'm searching for the records now . There are some comments about how good of a job the audiologist did according to the audiologist in regards to fit and was I happy to get them. Nothing another audiologist can use. The audoligist was covering his azz his all I can find so far.
Understood. Perhaps one temporary solution to the problem would be to ask your audiologist to document the measurements at each normal plot point on the audiogram chart in his or her comments. As I understand, the normal plot points are 125, 250, 500. 1k, 2k, 4k, and 8kHZ. That is the only additional information that outside audiologists would really need. Perhaps the HLAA could draft and send a letter to Washington with a request that this be standardized for the whole VA system.
I think that part of the problem here is that the VA is trying to shift from its old archaic system into a new one and is having enough problems generating the necessary data to create reliable medical records. I think that the resistance that you are getting is based upon their plans to activate the new system and deactivate the old one. They don't want to spend money enhancing a computer system that will shortly (as they hope) go away.
What do you think?
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
I am also a premium member and have searched the Blue Dot. The graph is what is needed when you are going to an outside audiologist to avoid retaking the test at a cost. . Now I can get images of MRI and CAT scans and colonoscopy from the Blue Dot info sharing download etc. . But not a scanned document of the hearing test which is what outside audiologist and need to make adjustments to hearing aids.
I understand that some members of this group have complained that audiology medical records are being excluded from our online medical records. I can tell you that is not the case in our Los Angeles area VA facilities. I have a premium account in MyHealtheVet, and I was able to select VA Notes in the VA Blue Button Report section. I was able to find notes going back to the year 2013. The following is an example that I read from my 2013 report:
"Audiological Evaluation
(view Audiogram under Tools menu)
Purpose of visit: re-evaluation
Primary complaint: Pt. perceives decrease in hearing sensitivity
History:
Situation(s) of greatest difficulty:
Background noise
History of middle ear disease/surgery: denied
Tinnitus: both ears constant
Dizziness/vertigo: present
occasionally when leaning head back
Aural Fullness: No
Otalgia: No
Hearing aid use: both ears VA issued; removal wire has broken off aid. Unable to replace wire in clinic. Pt. did not want to send aids in at this time.
Cleaned and checked both aids. Both aids functioning properly.
Results:
Otoscopy: Right ear: clear view of eardrum
Left ear: clear view of eardrum
Tympanometry: Right ear: normal
Left ear: normal
Earphones used: supra-aural earphones
Test reliability: good
Impressions:
AD: Mild to profound sensorineural hearing loss.
Word recognition for amplified speech was fair-to-poor (45-59%).
52% @ 85 dbHL
AS: Mild to profound sensorineural hearing loss.
Word recognition for amplified speech was good (80-100%).
80% @ 90 dbHL
AU: Hearing essentially unchanged.
Patient education: Communication strategies for difficult listening situations,
Realistic expectations from hearing aid use
Recommendations:
The results of the hearing test were explained to the patient.
RTC if hearing changes.
Pt. is interested in new amplification. Spoke with patient about new hearing
aids coming on contract in May. Pt. will contact audiologist after May 1."
Yes, my audiogram is missing. However, its evaluation is still there. The reason that the audiogram is not there has to do with the fact that the VA report system (including all test results) is a text based system. It is not capable of being presented graphically.
Maybe this is a regional issue, rather than a national issue. Or maybe some people are looking in the wrong section of their Blue Ribbon reports. I hope this might shed some light to this issue.
Steven C. Sterry,
M.A./M.B.A.
10149 Grayling AV. – Whittier, CA 90603-2608
Phone (562) 947-2258
Email: steve.sterry@...
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