It was just a while ago I saw on TV the VIPs from the Syracuse VA up pumping up the new clinic here in Massena. I hadn't been there yet so I was skeptical. I finally got an appointment for blood work, went in it took many nurses before they got a vein in my arm. Wow, I wasn't impressed. They said I over fasted? I was given a follow up a week later in which I checked in. The kiosk was broken so I checked in with the girl at the counter and told her I was out of one of my medications she said she would get that fixed for me. Forty five minutes later they called me in and asked me routine questions, did routine stuff and wrote down that I was happy. I quickly told her don't write stuff that isn't true. She quickly changed it and then told me a doctor would be in. My thoughts on the doctor? I got no introduction from here…she just said come in sit down tell me your history real quick. She spoke with a thick dialect so it was hard to understand. She asked what's your problem today I'm said this is a blood work follow up, right? Oh yeah, let me see, you don't need those pills any more or any other pills that I see they cause your joints to bother. I stopped her in mid-diagnosis and I told her most of my medications were given by OMH and to leave them alone. She insists I stop Lipitor. I said ok and left. The new Massena VA is not real state of the art unless you count the big screen TV in the lobby. The nurses try real hard but seven attempts by three nurses to draw blood is six attempts too many. The place as a whole is lots of smoke and mirrors. It took a week and two phone calls to get my medications refilled. Same old VA…under staffed and can't get anything right.