[cmfjr]

Within the past month I was privileged to see 1st hand the outstanding work preformed in each of these units. My wife was taken by our wonderful EMTS to The Villages Hospital due to life threating complications. She was taken directly to an ER room where she was seen by no less than 4 doctors. They were able to stabilize her condition and we were told she would be transferred to ICU once a bed opened up. It took 15 hours for that to happen. However, while still in ER she was seen by the ICU doctor and his team every 3-4 hours. When they were not there the ER doctor made sure her vitals remained in the safe range. I was in the room the entire time. The nursing staff were efficient and attended to any needs we had. Once in the ICU they were right on top of everything. Her stay there was a day longer than medically necessary because they did not have a private room (required due to her condition) available. The treatment she received the other 14 days was as good as any teaching hospital that she has been in and yes, she has been in more than a few. We wanted to leave to go back north but decided that the care received was equal to or better than she has received on prior hospitalized. The nursing staff was attentive and met every expect ion as well as the unit aids. W/O having a primary care physician one was assigned. He and his team were professional and again meet or exceeded our expectations. Prior to release, the case manager made sure that all of our questions were answered as to medications, follow up visits etc. again, we could not be more satisfied!
However, I do understand comments of waiting in the ER. Being there for the better part of 3 weeks, at times I did see the ER waiting room very crowded. I believe there needs to be a better triage system as there were people there with sprains/strains, headache and other ailments that should of been seen at an urgent care center!
Yes, they have begun building a major expansion and this will help elevate some of the delays and less that The Villages service we have all come to expect.