Can I find out if a friend of mine is a patient at the hospital???

Yes, you can either call the hospital or stop by.

Yes

Yeah, actually, the VA is extremely set on making sure to follow patient confidentiality. However, you can try to call the hospital and if your friend is inpatient and has given his ok to release his status, you may be in luck.

Call the hospital

Think a better place to start would be a va office. A hospital would NOT give out confidential info except tobonafied family.