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OCR for page 187
Appendix P
Patient Satisfaction
You were recently evaluated as part of the Veterans' Administration (VA)
special program for diagnosis of Persian Gulf veterans' health problems. We
are interested in finding out about your experiences with the care you received
as part of this special program. Please take a few moments to answer the
following questions regarding your impressions of, and satisfaction with, the
services you received.
Getting an Appointment
1. How did you first find out about the special Persian Gulf program at the
VA?
Newspaper
Letter sent to me
From my local VA facility
Friends or fellow veterans
~ ~ Other, please explain
2. Were you able to schedule your first clinic appointment as soon as you
wanted?
Yes
No
187
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188
ADEQUACY OF THE VA PERSIAN GULF=GISTRYAND UCAP
3. From the time you first contacted the VA and informed them that you
wished to participate in the special Persian Gulf program, how long did it take
before you were first seen?
Less than 2 weeks
2 weeks to less than 1 month
lto3 months
~ ~ More than 3 months
4. Was the VA facility where you had your first Persian Gulf examination
convenient for you to get to?
[ ~ Yes
[ ~ No
Clinic Visits
5. How many appointments were scheduled for you?
6. Were you able to keep all appointments scheduled for you?
Yes
[ ~ No. If no, please briefly explain why
7. How long did it take to complete the entire evaluation for your health
problems?
[ ~ Less than 2 weeks (if your evaluation was completed during the first
visit, check this box)
[ ~ 2 weeks to less than 1 month
[ ~ lto3 months
[ ~ More than 3 months. Please enter number of months here
[ ~ My evaluation has not been completed.
8. Did any of your visits take place at more than one VA facility?
[ ~ Yes
L ~ No
9. Are you continuing to receive health care services from the VA?
Yes, I am continuing with the special Persian Gulf program.
~ ~ Yes, I have completed the special Persian Gulf program, but am
continuing to receive services which were recommended to me during the
Persian Gulf examinations.
L ~ Yes, I am continuing to receive services from the VA but they are not
related to the special Persian Gulf program.
~ ~ No
OCR for page 189
APPENDIX P
In the Provider's Office
189
1 O. Did you understand the purpose of the special VA program for Persian Gulf
veterans when you arrived for your first appointment?
~ ~ Yes
[ ] No
If No, to question 10, did the people at the VA facility explain the purpose
of the program to you when you arrived for your appointment?
Yes
~ ~ No
11. Did the provider evaluating you listen to what you had to say?
Yes, completely
Yes, somewhat
No
~ ~ I had nothing to discuss
12. Did this provider take you seriously?
Yes, completely
~ ~ Yes, somewhat
[ ~ No
13. Did this provider seem knowledgeable about Gulf War-related symptoms?
Yes, completely
Yes, somewhat
~ ~ No
14. Did you have confidence and trust in the provider you saw?
Yes, completely
Yes, somewhat
No. Please explain why not
15. Did the provider explain why you needed tests in a way you could
understand?
Yes, completely
Yes, somewhat
No
I did not need any tests
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ADEQUACY OF THE VA PERSIAN GULFREGISTRY AND UCAP
16. After tests were done, did the provider explain the results in a way you
could understand?
Yes, completely
Yes, somewhat
Somewhat
Not at all
Did not need an explanation
Did not yet get results
~ ~ Did not need any tests
17. Did the provider evaluating you recommend any test or other procedures
which you did not receive?
Yes
~ ~ No
If Yes to question 17, what was the reason you did not receive the recommended
testis)?
I am still waiting to have the testis) completed
~ ~ I chose not to have the testis) done even though they were
recommended
It is not convenient for me to have the testis)
~ ~ Other. Please explain
18. Did the provider you saw seem to think that your symptoms were due
to: (Check ALL that apply)
A medical problem related to service in the Gulf War
A medical problem not related to service in the Gulf War
A psychological problem related to service in the Gulf War
A psychological problem not related to service in the Gulf War
"Stress"
Provider didn't know
Other. Please explain
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APPENDIXP
Overall Impressions
191
19. Please rate your satisfaction with various aspects of the health care you
received as part of the VA special Persian Gulf program.
A. At your local VA
1 1 .1 1
very unsatisfied
B. At the regional VA referral center
~ ~ Not applicable
very unsatisfied
C. At the Persian Gulf VA referral center
~ ~ Not applicable
1 1
very unsatisfied
D. From the providers who first evaluated you at your local VA
1 1 1
very unsatisfied
very satisfied
very satisfied
very satisfied
very satisfied
E. From the specialists or consultants whom you have seen during any part
of your evaluation at any facility in the special Persian Gulf program
~ ~ Not applicable
very unsatisfied
very satisfied
20. If you could have free care outside the VA for your health problems, would
you choose to go to the VA again?
1 1 1 1 1
Definitely would not
Definitely would
21. Have you sought an evaluation from a health care provider outside the VA
for what you believe to be Persian Gulf-related health problems?
[ ] Yes
~ ~ No
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ADEQUACY OF THE VA PERSIAN GULFREGISTRY AND UCAP
If yes to question 21, please indicate the type of provider (check ALL that
apply)
Personal doctor
~ ~ A doctor who I learned about and who was interested in problems
related to the Persian Gulf
~ ~ A health care provider other than a physician. Please describe
22. Would you prefer to receive care for your problems outside the VA system?
Yes
No
Representative terms from entire chapter:
gulf program