Dr. Lezama is chief of the emergency department at the Memphis VA Medical Center.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States government.

Joseph T. Burns, MD
Fargo VA Health System, North Dakota
Generally, the patients here are more appreciative of what we do than those from civilian settings in which I have worked. The scope of what is seen is often more narrow, but is often deeper or more complex. We don’t see pediatric patients or deliver babies, but patients here require “brain power” to work through their complaints. You will get a cerebral workout with each shift. Time spent with patients can be greater. On the whole, the opportunity to talk with patients is greater than in civilian settings. History is the most important component of making a diagnosis; it’s easier to do that here. Many civilian nurses in our community have come to the VA because this represents “real” nursing practice as well, meaning they have time to spend with patients. The benefits are great, but the pay is less, and the total work intensity is generally less than civilian facilities.

Thomas Schneider, DO
Muskogee VA Medical Center, Oklahoma
We get to work 24/7 for Veterans, who served our great nation. The better we serve these great people, the more people might step up and serve our nation in the future. I am a proud American physician, serving people willing to provide freedom and safety.

Neil Patel, MD
West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, California
“One of the chief reasons why I love working at the VA is that I can practice medicine without incorporating medico-legal concerns and patient financial circumstances into my medical decision-making. In other words, I can practice the art and science of medicine in its purest form, for the sole benefit of the patient, without worrying about my pocketbook, both in terms of reimbursement and medical malpractice. The fact that it’s an integrated health care model, where I can see what other providers have done and can freely refer to specialists, isn’t too shabby either!”

Andrew Auerbach, MD, FACEP
Dallas VA Medical Center, Texas
I think the best reason is the opportunity to improve the quality of emergency care in the VA system. A more material reason is paid time off; I never had that when I was in the private world.