Quote:
Originally Posted by dano121
I had a Healthcare Worker tell me that the reason I had to wait 4 months to see a Specialist was because a lot of the Birds set up their healthcare down here and then overwhelm the system when they show up for all of their physical needs. Anyone's thoughts???
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Since snowbirds are here for 7 or 8 months of the year, you would have to expect them to want and get healthcare while they are here. The problem is on the delivery side of the healthcare equation. The hospitals and medical office budget for employees based upon year-around quantities of patients. So, because they will have fewer patients in the summer they budget their medical staff for that amount. They can't just budget for the number of patients during the winter months because then what do they do during the summer months. They can't "LAY OFF" Doctors and Nurses for the summer months. They can't say take a 3 or 4 month vacation and then come back. medical staff won't stand for that treatment. They either get permanent work (for 12 months) here or they will LEAVE to a situation up north where they can work all year.
........So here in The Villages where there are a lot of snowbirds, the only solution is to budget Doctors and Nurses to staff the summer months and then just struggle with that minimum number throughout the winter months. Then the Doctors and nurses get overworked with more appointments per day. They try to shorten the average appointment time. I imagine sometimes that the medical employers would consider employing traveling Nurses and Doctors, but that would cost a ton of money.