Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center

Wow, that’s all I have to say, and not a good wow

If you're looking for mental health care do not come here go through community care

Green Elevators 3D nurses Rhoda, MaryAnn, and support staff, are compassionate and caring. My dad is 88 and this is his 1st hospital experience as a patient. They made him feel very comfortable and cared for. The VA social workers inpatient and out patient are very helpful. The intake nurse in the ER thank you for seeing symptoms we were unaware of. The RT Ragine and MICU Ufoma for insisting that the doctors "let the medicine work" 🌹

No one answers their phone. Waited 1.2 hours, still no one answered. They have no one to answer or make appointments at dental. At 100 disabled, I would expect some help. Also, I have never received any follow up on my recent pleading call for Afibs treatment. I need a cardiologist to help me.

Certainly better than any of the surrounding out-patient VA Clinics, but it's definitely not the best healthcare facility in the area - far from it. But if you're a Veteran, this is - unfortunately - the best healthcare facility you're going to find in South-East Texas. Unsure about the other major VA healthcare facilities throughout Texas. Parking for veterans is atrocious - considering the number of veterans this facility serves; I feel like a shark - whipping in and out of the parking areas: hunting for a parking spot while several other veterans are doing the same. You need to arrive at least 20 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment here, and if you're wheelchair bound? Make it 30 minutes. And don't even think about trying to park in the Employees-only parking lot, because you WILL be towed if you're parked for longer than 2 hours. As for the healthcare itself? My primary care doctor: Doctor Yumei Yao is pretty solid. She listens to my needs and various health issues, and has done her best to get me the treatments and medications I need in order to get back onto my feet. And she communicates quickly and efficiently. I face a plethora of health issues: severe insomnia, chronic back pain, severe depression, sleep apnea, etc. Getting treated for my sleep apnea, insomnia, and depression has been going well, but it's an uphill battle with attempting to get rid of my chronic back pain. I have to call and type repeated reminders to the various specialty clinics at this location in order for them to actually follow up on treatments for my chronic back pain. Don't let the VA play the waiting game, because they WILL forget about you. If a week goes by with no follow up on your health issues, you NEED to call them back or reach their patient advocate in order to light a fire under them in order for them to actually take care of you.

THE WORST EXPERIENCED. First off the No Visitors was already suspicious even after I asked multiple times to give my Fiance full authority to Advocate on my behalf along with my Mother. After Identifying some possible issues I developed a stroke due from anxiety and trauma response from my Hydrocele Injury being ignored since 2019. They used high doses of narco drugs to calm me down (I am not a medicine person, I hate taking ibuprofen or tylenol so im not use to anything Doctor prescribed) , but instead it made me confused and lost of understanding anything. I've asked multiple times that my visit was for a Urologist because of a proper diagnosed I got from a local hospital in my area that not elegible for VA medicaid. Instead I kept seeing new faces of Doctors and still confused of whats going on from the narco drugs and it felt they kept intentionally trying to see me alone without my Fiance or Mother because everytime they stepped out for just a minute to use bathroom or take a phone call or get some food, Someone comes in immediately after they leave to attempt to talk to me (im still medicated and confused from it and they expect me to make sense of describing my pain) After 3 days of my Fiance and Mother fighting for extra testing and blood work along with seeing and UROLOGIST that we requested multiple times since day one, it took the VA two mini strokes, multiple spazzms, tingly and lost of feelings on my arms and legs for them to get at least a Consultant to see me. Dr Jacob McCarter was the first Urologist I've seen and Ive reported along with my Fiance and Mother about his inexcusable aggresive inspection. I was alone obviously and had to call my Fiance as she stepped out to get some food, Dr Jacob McCarter did not like my Fiance attitude as she was crying for extra help to get done on me. Dr Jacob McCarter muted my phone on his own will and asked to speak to me privately (mind you im still medicated and in crucial pain still making no sense) After explaining my Fiance role with me Dr Jacob McCarter attitude heightened and aggressively groped my hydrocele after specifically telling to be VERY CAREFUL, Dr Jacob McCarter gave no impression of caring about me (his patient) and caused a HIGH Trauma response along with PTSD while im in indescribable pain. After Dr Jacob McCarter inspection my injury has gotten worse because of how he man handle me, I did not appreciate it and truly made me feel unsafe and nervous being around his presence while in pain. Final day of visit, IV Fluids went out and Medication wore off, My pain has heightened due to still being ignored for extra scanning and testing but instead being prescribed narco medications or antibiotics to "Manage the pain". I developed the most scariest stroke that cause my Fiance to walk out and call my mother begging for help, My body literally felt like a soda can being crushed up I had no feelings in my arm or legs that spread through my upper body causing me to choke and have temporary speech impediments, all i remember was seeing at 4-5 people in scrubs just staring at me YELLING for help CRYING for help, my Mother is a RN for over 20 years and drove over an Hour away to see what the problem was and still nothing was done, My mother has requested Rapid Response, Code Blue anything to help, and still nothing My mother had no choice but to pull the emergency string for IMMEDATE response as i still had no feelings in my arms and legs, my hydrocele was cramping horribly and still could not speech, after the pull, Law Enforcments was called to kick out my Fiance and Mother for "Trespassing" because they were causing a "Disturbance" in the hospital all because no one was doing anything to help. It took this Hospital 4 Strokes (the last one almost cost me my life) Multiple arguements for extra test and scans due to my hydrocele increasing in pain, and for my Mother to pull the Emergency string thing in order for every Specialist that Ive requested since Day 1 to show up on Day 5. THEY CARE MORE ABOUT THEIR PRIDE THAN THEIR PATIENTS

I am extremely Pleased with my Care at Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, TX. Have had wonderful Doctors, PA's, Nurses, et al. Diagnostic is fantastic

I’m currently in this hospital for pancreatitis, and had my gal bladder removed. My experience has been terrific. I first checked in at the ER on Jan 1 because I was having chest pains for a few days and was worried about it being heart related. They immediately took me back and ran an EKG and said it’s not your heart, but we will find out what it is. Within a half hour I was in a CT machine and they found the inflammation and gallstones. So I was admitted and yesterday I had my gall bladder surgically removed. I had no doubt that I have received the very best medial care possible. I love the VA and this hospital. I have tried to be super kind to the staff because it’s so important and I know they hear from crabby people too much, and they have been so kind to me, and now that I’m post OP, I’m looking forward to going home shortly, and I have nothing but love for these people. They’re terrific. Thank you, to everyone who gave me medical care. Curtis Holloway