Patient advocates
The patient advocates at VA North Texas health care are specially trained to help you resolve issues with your care. If you've experienced any problems that you haven't been able to resolve by talking with your care team, please reach out to one of our patient advocates.
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Care we provide at VA North Texas health care
VA North Texas supports and promotes the Joint Commission's Speak Up™ program urging patients to take an active role in preventing health care errors by becoming an involved and informed participant on their health care team.
We ask that you:
- Speak up if you have questions or concerns. If you still don’t understand, ask again. It’s your body and you have a right to know.
- Pay attention to the care you get. Always make sure you’re getting the right treatments and medicines by the right health care professionals. Don’t assume anything.
- Educate yourself about your illness. Learn about the medical tests you get, and your treatment plan.
- Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate (advisor or supporter).
- Know what medicines you take and why you take them. Medicine errors are the most common health care mistakes.
- Use a hospital, clinic, surgery center, or other type of health care organization that has been carefully checked out. For example, The Joint Commission visits hospitals to see if they are meeting The Joint Commission’s quality standards.
- Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the health care team.
Connect with a patient advocate
Victor Roddy
Supervisory health system specialist, customer experience coordinator
VA North Texas health care
Phone: 214-857-0482
The best and fastest way to resolve a complaint, concern, or issue is directly with the person involved. If that does not work, talk with that person's supervisor or section chief. If the issue remains or you do not feel your complaint has been properly addressed, contact a patient advocate.
Yes. Patient advocates have the responsibility to act as a neutral party by serving as a link between you and the hospital. Patient advocates are not lawyers and/or clinicians and do not provide legal or medical advice.
Patient advocates gather the facts, speak to everyone involved, and help resolve patient and family complaints. If you are not satisfied with your care or if there are communication issues, a Patient advocate can help you.
Patients, families, visitors, and staff may all contact a patient advocate with an issue or concern.
Patient advocates work Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and have offices at Dallas, Bonham, and Fort Worth campuses. You can also reach them by the telephone numbers and email addresses above.
Yes, but the investigation and follow-up will be more difficult to accomplish because we will not be able to use specific information about your case.