What Happened...

[gfmucci]

...to the "How Long Would You Wait" thread?

[Talk Host]

I removed it. There were too many pieces of information that I didn't want to post to put the thread into focus. The brittle replies that had been posted were based on the sketchey information I included in the first post. I found myself in the uncomoftable position of having to defend myself about something that didn't require defense. It was easier to remove it.

We frequently remove topics at the request of the original poster when it spoils before it even has a chance.

[Russ_Boston]

That's too bad. I was really worried that the medical profession in central Florida isn't what it should be. I was going to ask a question about why TVRH wouldn't have been part of the solution. When we move to TV do we need to go to JAX to get an MRI? Especially after I read this in the TVRH web site: The latest magnetic resonance - Philips Achieva 3.OT, one of the fastest, highest resolution MRI systems was added to TVRH’s diagnostic imaging services.
Is that not correct? I'm coming down there in a month to interview at TVRH and I'll look into ER wait times and MRI availability. I know that they are not a level 1 trauma center but they have med-flights to Orlando Medical if needed.

If there were 'brittle' comments other than mine then maybe something struck a nerve in us. If you post something you have the right to have it removed but don't say it didn't require defense - us wannabes are concerned about health care availability (and my career) and this story was troublesome. I was just trying to get to the bottom or why anyone would have to wait 14 hours in any ER with an MRI that should be being discussed with the doc who ordered it.

My 2 cents - I won't bring it up again.

[KathieI]

As the other "brittle" commenter, :agree:

[Talk Host]

Regardless of how you want to twist it, my friend waited 14 hours to be seen. The local doctors said they couldn't see him because they didn't have the MRI that had been taken at Shands. It wasn't "sensationalistic," it was fact. My facts about this incident have a far better foundation that anybody else who commented.

I removed it because it was creating confusion. Reposting it is just keeping it alive.

[Russ_Boston]

Don't doubt that he did wait 14 hours. 'Why' is the question. Who knows since you've decided that you don't have enough facts to support the questions either way.

Ok - now enough said by me. I'll judge for myself when i visit.

[graciegirl]

We are considering moving to TV, however lack of excellent medical care is a real negative persuader. The aging population, (Us) gets the best care from a LARGE teaching hospital. In the medical community, ALL of Florida is looked to be not anywhere close to, say Sloan Kettering, or Houston for Cancer, LA, Boston, Cincinnati, and Birmingham for heart..... Even sub specialties, Pittsburgh for Prostate Cancer. etc. You have the best chance to survive and have continuing good health when you choose the finest care and the best doctors at a large teaching institution. Florida does not have any center that the national medical community can give accolades to.

[graciegirl]

omigosh. My husband will kill me. I didn't mention The Cleveland Clinic. It is number one in the country for heart.

[JohnnyM]

I hope this doesn't turn into paranoia. We went from living in paradise to worrying about our health. If God wants us he will take us no matter how good our health care professionals are. I am sure after all these years TV and Florida have adequate facilities. We have some horror stories right here in NJ regarding ER care but it is sporadic. I hope I am not being to naive. :dontknow:

[Russ_Boston]

'Top 100' hospitals is very subjective but this list from US News and World Reports lists 5 in FLA:

http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/best-hospitals/hosp_alph.htm

[chuckinca]

'Top 100' hospitals is very subjective but this list from US News and World Reports lists 5 in FLA:

http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/best-hospitals/hosp_alph.htm







Didn't see any Kaiser Hospitals on that list!

[gfmucci]

Florida does not have any center that the national medical community can give accolades to.
* This is not true...

Three examples:

Shands (University of Florida), 2 hours north: http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/best-hospitals/directory/hospital.php?id=6390283

and

Cleveland Clinic, Weston, FL (4 hours SE):* http://www.clevelandclinic.org/florida/

and

Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville (3 hours NE):* http://www.mayoclinic.org/jacksonville/

[Hyacinth Bucket]

I recently went to one of the local monthly clubs here in TV. One man came up and stated his experience at the local TV hospital and how long he had to wait, and how long others in the waiting room were waiting.

Some of the people in the waiting room appeared to have serious illnesses and/or injuries and were waiting hours and hours. Needless to say he was extremely upset by this situation.

Response from audience was interesting though - the majority of the people appeared not to want to hear what he had to say. True the forum of the club was not discussing hospital care or lack of it.

He suggested that if you need to go to the ER here in TV - call 911 and you will not have hours to wait to be seen.

HB

[redwitch]

From my personal experience last November, I waited less than 20 minutes to see the ER nurse, was in an ER room (the last one available -- while the waiting room only had 3 people, the ER itself was packed) within 30 minutes and ready for surgery within 1 hour (including having a CAT scan and preliminary blood work in). So, I'd say the TVRMC ER did a very good job in my case (removal of gall bladder).

Chuck, hope you were kidding about seeing a Kaiser Hospital on a good list. rofl

[nitehawk]

In Feb i put a staple in my hand from a powerful staple gun, went to ER in TV and waited no more then 15 min to see doctor - examined and given tetanus shot and antibiotic - total time 1 hour and on my way out was apologized to for taking so long as they said it took time to find the tetanus medicine

[Sidney Lanier]

This is not to say (or even intimate) that Talk Host's friend didn't have to wait 14 hours to be seen, but as brought up by another poster, the important question is 'Why?' There are those whose nature is to focus on the negative horror stories that do indeed happen but (1) may be quite rare and (2) may have reason based on the 'Why?' question. Then there are the rest of us who simply tend to focus on the positive, which doesn't mean we're in denial but rather just have a different personality or view of life. I guess I'm commenting more on personal point of view and individual human nature than I am on the quality of medical care available here in and around TV....

[Russ_Boston]

Well said - Nice to hear that.

[Jim007]

The following comes from the US News Hospital Rankings for 2007
I don't think anybody has anything to worry about.

2007 US News Hospital Rankings in the U.S.
Rating Specialty Name of Hospital

Cancer
16 H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Fl
45 Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, Fl
Heart
35 Shands at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Fl
Respiratory
Disorders
20 Shands at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Fl
35 Flagler Hospital, Saint Augustine, Fl
Neurology &
Neurosurgery
36 Flagler Hospital, Saint Augustine, Fl
Urology
32 Shands at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Fl
Gynecology
25 Tampa General Hospital, Tampa, Fl
46 Shands at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Fl
Rheumatology
21 Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Fl
Kidney Disease
32 University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital Miami, Fl
39 Shands at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Fl
Digestive Disorders
32 University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital Miami, Fl
43 Baptist Medical Center, Jacksonville, Fl
44 Flagler Hospital, Saint Augustine, Fl
Geriatrics
26 Shands at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Fl
33 Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, Fl
47 Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, Fl
Endocrinology
39 Florida Hospital, Orlando, Fl
Ophthalmology
1 University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital Miami, Fl
Ear, nose, and throat
17 University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital Miami, Fl
22 Shands at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Fl
42 H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Fl
45 Tampa General Hospital, Tampa, Fl
Orthopedics
24 Tampa General Hospital, Tampa, Fl

[Sidney Lanier]

Thanks, Fullrob; I don't think we have anything to worry about in terms of quality medical care for very specific issues here in Florida in general. In terms of local care, I suspect that for emergencies and the like, the hospitals in the immediate area around TV are no better or worse that the small hospitals that are available to us in NYS's Mid-Hudson Valley (one of which mis-typed my wife's blood type, causing a potential disaster in the Third World country where she needed a transfusion many years ago and THERE THEY picked up on the error...)!