I'm split on NOVA patient care. I come from a family in the medical field, so I'm more informed than maybe is normal about these things!
See below about my general VA Healthcare thoughts.
Specific to NOVA Patient Care:
Doctors, though somewhat quick, do seem to listen fairly okay. They're not great diagnostics-wise, and are quick to throw labs at you instead of investigate further in the consult itself. Like other docs, I have told them I've done all the research and am certain it is X. They doubt me, throw labs at me, and then second visit they're like, fine, you're right. It is X. Doctors should be able to actually listen to their patients!
Unfortunately this is an average diagnostic cycle for a VA PCP. I wouldn't go here for something that isn't an average issue (flu shot, STI test, etc), if you can help it. BUT at least these are docs that will generally listen to you and try and help you, (not check out on their laptop), before very likely referring you to a specialist.
Need to know: Their office is fairly weird and not great about how it actually works. As other reviews will note. Their phone system very rarely actually gets to someone at the front desk (usually very early in the morning). The only way i've found to actually work with the front desk is to go in-person every time. I've found part of this is they also poorly communicate what can be done through the phone system.
They also have an outdated and nearly broken system for sharing medical data with you and other doctors (as again, seems to be a bit of the norm in VA outside of large hospital systems like VHC). My only solution to this, again, was to go in person to the office. In 2021 these are 100% easily fixable solutions if the people who run this office invest in updating their IT and comms systems.
This office COULD be actually pretty good, but they're currently lacking in improving their bedside and diagnostic consult skill, and their office systems are just missing the mark. The doctors themselves are basically average to maybe, quite good, but the systems and standards in place are preventing them from shining their brightest.
I hope they check this periodically. I believe they can improve and be a better resource to our community, especially during a pandemic, when they are so needed.
I've also had an experience where the doctor was a bit more pro-active than this review might sound. So, I dunno. I think there's some doctors who care in here. Just maybe not at the top of their game.
ABOUT VA HEALTHCARE:
1. So far I find healthcare, in general, not of great quality in Virginia. The best I've found in this area is at the Virginia Hospital Center. I have Medicaid, so this might also affect my access to quality healthcare.
2. Generally, primary care doctors I've gone to, whether connected to big name hospitals or not, have a similar business and diagnostic model that I find is somewhat disconnected to anyone who is actively interested in diagnosing someone accurately. Misdiagnosis in medicine is common and can cause complication/illness, so not a small thing.
The general VA PCP model is 1st patient visit, run labs (regardless of patient history), second visit- actually maybe diagnose (if they're a good doc). In general, this means they are making a certain amount of money off of each patient and saving time standardizing their methods, not all terrible, but not exactly based on the welfare of the patient. You don't want a doctor who runs past your consult. You want a doctor who is talking about your life social and medical, trying to understand how you're doing and whether these things are affecting what brought you in.
Now I have chronic issues, that have not always been easy to diagnose even by great doctors, but also have had plenty of normal easy to diagnose illnesses. I have had doctors (NOT HERE) not check me physically on my not first visit for a very clear physical illness that has been diagnosed for hundreds of years by a quick physical check. I told them what it was, to check me. No. Run the labs. This is the state of PCPs in this area of Virginia. The model comes before the patient, unfortunately. read more