Walter Reed at Bethesda

 Okay, so I'm having my procedure at the new Walter Reed.  Now I know they had to move 4 weeks early becaue of the hurricane and everything is a bit of a mess there but my surgeon's staff hasn't returned my calls for 2 weeks!!!  I've been calling since Sep 16th and they just won't call me back.  So this week (thanks to USAFWife) I started calling the patient advocate and THEY WON'T RETURN MY CALLS EITHER!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm at a loss as to where to go now.  Do I call the Commander of Walter Reed, my Congresswoman, I'm trying to take care of it through the proper channels but noone is doing ther damned job.  I know if I could actually talk to my surgeon he'd be pissed as hell.

Any idea would be great.

Talk to the hospital commander or the patient advocate office. Every military hospital has both.

 That's my point the patient advocate office won't return my calls either.  I've been calling since Monday.  And please if you can find the contact information for the commander I'd love to have it but I've been over and over http://www.bethesda.med.navy.mil/ and it is nowhere to be found.

His name is COL Norvell V. Coots but even a google search gets you nothing.  I'm about ready to call my congresswoman tomorrow because I've had enough of this ****

 Then go to the office face to face.  Look up the number on google.  It's there.

 really please tell me where.  Because I'm not an internet idiot.  Neither is my husband and we can't find it.

 Command Office -(direct 301-295-4611)

How far are you from the facility? 

 About 40 miles but in DC traffic, so it isn't just a jaunt down the road.  I have to go there for another appointment on Monday, so if I have to I'll sit in his office on his desk, but it's now not just getting my office to call me back.  I want people in trouble.  Noone should have to go through this just to talk to their nursing staff.

This is a systemic issue with the civilians working in the system around DC.  I've never had aproblem with the military folks they are all happy to do their jobs.  The civilians it's a different story.  You get major attitude if you ask them to do somethign that is PART OF THEIR JOB.  Are there exceptions, yes every now and again and I make sure to let their supervisors know of their good job but on the most part it is just poor at every level.

Please PM the name of you doc and what ever details you are comfortable with. I will see what what I can come up with and PM you back.
I have 28 years experience working in the military medical establishment... there is nothing I have not seen, heard, been told, that would surprise me.
You know the military health care system is akin to "welfare" medicine.  If you think it is bad now, wait until you retire. Education and patience will serve you best.  Try to relax, and regroup. 
Know you can come to forums like this and ask for help. It will take a minute, but stay vigilant. You are fixing to go through something "bigger" than having kids or marriage.... you will not be able to go back in time, divorce it, get a second chance, this surgery will never grow up and move it, its a big deal.
Let me know and I will see what I can find out.

 Thank you for the offer.  I usually love the medical care I receive.  I've either been in the army or been a spouse for 10 years.  Honestly it's a DC thing.  I've never seen a place where so many get by doing so little.  I think we can thank congress for that.

Here's what I've decided to do.  I'm writing a real live snail mail letter to my surgeon making him aware of the issue, because you can be damned sure he isn't, and I'm CCing it to the hospital commander.  I will go to the patient advocate in person on Monday while I'm there for another appointment but I'm also going to find out who their boss is and file a complaint against them.