TV Regional Hospital

[billethkid]

Based on what I have heard and read the last couple of years, I have change my emergency information that is here at the house.....in case hospitalization/cardiac/stroke care is required
take me to Leesburg Regional hospital.
They have all the newest cardiac/stroke equipment there.

Plus the horror stories I have heard from friends and neighbors about the wait in TV ER....even if your head is being carried in separately ( :joke:).

And of course the Property Owners Association Bulletin is always full of stories.
Like everything else, I am sure it is not all true.....but enough of it is and that's enough for me....the real deciding factor though is the better cardiac/stroke capability of LRMC.

My wife had her breast cancer surgery done there and one could not ask for better skills/patient care and family friendly.

What do you know? Hear? Think?

BTK

[Talk Host]

Here is my personal experience from two weeks ago.

My wife was injured in a bicycle accident two weeks ago Sunday. A broken arm and multiple abrasions. We went to the ER at 7:30 Sunday evening and spent 5 tearful, painful hours in the waiting room. Then once we were called to the back, it was another 3 hours. We went home at 4 a.m.

There was no attempt on the part of the staff to keep those of us in the waiting room informed about a time line. Once we were in the back, I complained to a nurse about the agonizing wait. She agreed with me, apologized all over herself and said it was a direct result of a staff shortage.

I asked, that if there is a staff shortage now, what will happen when the new floors open.
She shrugged her shoulders.

If an individual had left Kennedy airport in New York when we arrived at the ER, they would have been on the ground in London when we went home.

Folks, this is a beautiful, modern medical facility. Our experience in the ER was not pleasant. I am told the story is pretty much the same all over the country.

[rdmills]

Since January of this year I have taken my wife and Father-in-law to The Villages hospital both two times. We used the emergency room all four times. On each occasion we were treated well and respectfully. During that same time period I had to take my wife and father-in-law to Lesburg via the emergency room. He was admitted quickly but with the room shortage stayed in the emergency room most of a 24 hour period. The service at Leesburg was just great. While I was at The Villages hospital I spoke with an EMT who told me that all hospitals were either on divert or close to it on most days. That included hospitals in Marion, Lake and Sumter counties. We must remember there is a great influx of people in the late fall early spring time and everything fills up.

As to the POA they get on an issue and whip it forever. They need to sit back and take a look in the mirror.

[redwitch]

I've found TVRMH ER to be very quick. When I had my emergency gall bladder surgery, I was in the ER for less than one hour and on the operating table in less than 3 hours. Not really sure of exact times -- I was too miserable to care.

I had to take my friend in last week for what turned out to be a panic attack. We were in the ER for less than 2 hours.

I guess it depends on the time of day, etc. I know my two visits to the ER here are the shortest amount of times I've ever had to wait at any ER in the past.

[Peggy D]

Having worked in the health field for over 20 years I can tell you it is no picnicworking in any ER. It all boils down to STAFFING. Health care isn't about the patient anymore, it's a business.

To compare TVRH to Leesberg Medical Center is like comparing apples to oranges. They don't give the same level of care. Not all hospitals are on the same level. Be thankful
Leesberg is so close to give you the high level care that is needed in some cases.

This was a major factor in considering moving to TV.

Where we live now there is only one hospital that is about 25 miles from our home. With that, and giving the response time from EMT's, how long do you think it will be before we are seen in the ER in a major emergency?

Consider yourself lucky.

Just my opinion.

[Russ_Boston]

I had an interview/tour of TVRH last week (RN position). I specifically asked about bad press related to ER waits. The admin (former ER nurse) said that there are absolutely times when the wait is unbearable for injuries/illnesses that can wait. Like any ER they need to do triage based on severity of injury/illness while keeping the staffing in mind. She said that they often have to be in divert mode due to the number of people in the chairs. Some of the onus falls to the patient - if you have a sore throat or other minor illness - use urgent care or wait to see your primary or just wait until the ER doc can see you.

I'm surprised that a broken arm was triaged so low but I wasn't there to see the severity of it. There is also no excuse for poor communication. Perhaps they could have radioed Leesburg (A sister CFHA hospital) to check on ER wait times.

Also the new floors are open. The old second floor has been closed to retrofit it to the same look as the new floors (3-5).

[Frangyomory]

If you go by ambulance, you will have no choice. They are going to bring you to the closest hospital.

I used the ER at TVRH twice. I was in and out. I take coumadin and my ear was bleeding for 24 hours. I went in at 8 am after a sleepless night at home. They took me right in and I was out in an hour. Had to go back the next day to ensure bleeding had stopped and again, I was in and out in an hour.

Guess the plan has to be that you only get sick during the quiet hours for the hospital!!!

While I haven't seen it here, back in Virginia I found that many of the uninsured used the ER instead of a doctor because they knew they would get treated quickly and for free. This is what really hurts the effectiveness of an ER. But, as I said, I have not seen that here.

In any event, my insurance plan only covers Munroe Regional Hospital so I guess I'll have to die on the way!!! LOL!!!! :bigthumbsup: God bless those PPOs.

[billethkid]

Regarding choice of hospitals to be taken to by ambulance....

From close to home experience by our neighbors , here in TV you can request to be taken to a given hospital.

On the emergency sheet that one makes available for emergency care when they arrive at your door, it asks which hospital you prefer to be taken to.

Our family doctor has told us to ask to be taken to the hospital of your choice.

BTK

[Peggy D]

Regarding choice of hospitals to be taken to by ambulance....

From close to home experience by our neighbors , here in TV you can request to be taken to a given hospital.

On the emergency sheet that one makes available for emergency care when they arrive at your door, it asks which hospital you prefer to be taken to.

Our family doctor has told us to ask to be taken to the hospital of your choice.

BTK



Okay as long as the hospital of your choice is not on devert.

Fran is right, too many abuse the ER. This is the major cause of delays besides staffing.

[fotomanSM]

The info in your message is good to know. I am considering a move to TV, Hospital and ER accommodations will be of prime importance to me....fotoman




Having worked in the health field for over 20 years I can tell you it is no picnicworking in any ER. It all boils down to STAFFING. Health care isn't about the patient anymore, it's a business.

To compare TVRH to Leesberg Medical Center is like comparing apples to oranges. They don't give the same level of care. Not all hospitals are on the same level. Be thankful
Leesberg is so close to give you the high level care that is needed in some cases.

This was a major factor in considering moving to TV.

Where we live now there is only one hospital that is about 25 miles from our home. With that, and giving the response time from EMT's, how long do you think it will be before we are seen in the ER in a major emergency?

Consider yourself lucky.

Just my opinion.

[Avista]

6 weeks ago I broke my ankle at 6am in my back yard. EMS came, and they were wonderful. They stayed with me in the ER until I was assigned to a nurse. The ER room was very nice. It was really a room, not an enclosed curtain area. I had cable TV to watch and was given good care. Later I was admitted and spent 5 days in the hospital. Had surgery on day 3. I have absolutely no complaints of my care either in the ER or the hospital. Everyone was very kind. By the way, I"m a retired RN.

[Peggy D]

6 weeks ago I broke my ankle at 6am in my back yard. EMS came, and they were wonderful. They stayed with me in the ER until I was assigned to a nurse. The ER room was very nice. It was really a room, not an enclosed curtain area. I had cable TV to watch and was given good care. Later I was admitted and spent 5 days in the hospital. Had surgery on day 3. I have absolutely no complaints of my care either in the ER or the hospital. Everyone was very kind. By the way, I"m a retired RN.


Avista,

Sorry to hear about your "accident" Hope the ankle is healing nicely.

[Villages Kahuna]

I only used the TVRH ER once myself. My problem was skin infection that was not responding to treatment. I was referred to the ER by my physician. There was only one doctor active that Sunday afternoon. The wait was a couple of hours, but once I was seen the treatment was very good. I say that in the context of having lived in Chicago and having ready access to several trauma centers and a couple of the best teaching hospitals in the country.

I don't think we should forget how quickly the population of this area is growing and how the local infrastructure is struggling to keep up. The Villages sold 274 homes in March, a few more than that in May, and the pace of sales continues. At the community average of 1.9 people per household, that's a population increase of over 500 people per month! That's more than 6,000 people per year. Heck, my suburban village on Chicago's north shore only had a population of 2,200!

TVRH just cut the ribbon on a beautiful addition that more than doubled the size of the hospital. I've read that the hospital employs several people whose full-time job is to recruit new doctors and staff for the hospital. They are certainly not in a simple "wait for applications to come in" mode.

Will enough medical professionals move to our area to satisfy the needs of The Villages and the surrounding area? That's almost a certainty. It'll be easier once The Villages is built out and the population stabilizes. Recruiting and attracting qualified medical professionals is a bit more complicated than opening a restaurant or hardware store.

So I might ask whether we might be edging on unreasonable impatience? We should expect good service for sure. The POA should keep the spotlight of transparency on the issue, so long as they do it responsibly. But I don't think it's reasonable to expect that all parts of the infrastructure serving a rapidly growing population can be expected to maintain desired levels of service throughout the growth process.

Hopefully, none of us gets sick enough to have to experience the delays being experienced by some. But in the parlance of the day...shouldn't we all "chill" just a bit regarding the hard-working folks at TVRH? My guess is that they're working just about as hard as they can on this problem.

[Muncle]

:agree: :agree: :agree: :agree:

I really hate it when people put those silly "I agree" icons after a good post, but I had to do it for Kahuna's note. Sir, you are right on the button in your evaluation of where we are in the evolution of TV. People forget that a very short time ago, there was no Lake Sumter or anything on 2 lane CR466. And just a few years ago, there was no medical complex at all, nor even a Spanish Springs. There really was nothing west of 441. I seem to remember reading something about Mr. Morse and Mr. Schwartz pulling a whole lot of strings and making a whole lot of enemies just to get a hospital authorized for TV. Like you say, Kahuna, folks just have to remember that this isn't an established city like "back home" but a developing, evolving community. Chill out and watch (and help) it grow.

[njgranny]

I've taken the attitude that you if have a long wait in the ER, it means they're very busy, and you're not as sick as the other people there. The last several times my husband has gone to our local ER, it's been for breathing and/or heart related problems. He's always taken right in and treated quickly ahead of others.

However, that can't have been pleasant for the woman who had the broken arm.

I think Kahuna's post nailed it.

Jan

[villages07]

Kahuna,

Welcome back...another well-thought-out post.

When I tell people about the Villages, I am proud to say that the community/developer is great about building amenities and facilities (and shopping) in advance of demand. Very unlike other communities.

But, I tell them, that the medical care seems to be lagging behind the demand. Medical providers and facilities continue to grow and expand here but not seemingly as fast as the population. That is probably one of the very, very few negatives I can come up with about life in TV.

Long waits for less traumatic problems do seem to be a sporadic issue at TVRH. I read that their new leadership is evaluating the need for a 24 hr urgent care center to handle these lesser emergencies. There are urgent care providers (the one in Lake Sumter Landing gets good ratings)....perhaps their existence is not that well advertised?

[Russ_Boston]

Kahuna, as usual, nailed it.

I meet with a recruiter last week at TVRH for an RN position. How many other hospitals would have spent the time to talk with this guy:

hasn't even finished his college work
won't be taking the RN boards until next year (never mind passing it)
still owns a home in MA that would need to sell
has no home in TV (yet)

Yet they gave me an hour of their time to talk about the hospital and why i should work there. She gave me a tour of the entire building (beautiful new rooms on the new floors) and has already answered some follow up e-mail questions.

I can only imagine how they must wine and dine new physician's!

Give them time and your patience and together with the sister hospital in Leesburg we'll develop quality care for all of the 100,000 eventual residents of the Villages and surrounding areas.

[Talk Host]

I agree that we can "chill" if we are waiting for a restaurant, gas station, or barber shop to mature and work out the growning pains. Emergency care is another thing. I guess I could "chill" if I had a skin emergency. But when my wife is crying in pain with a broken arm, even the advice from the "higher authority" rings hollow.

[Russ_Boston]

TH - Just wondering:

At any time during the wait did you call (or have TRVH call) Leesburg to see if their ER could take you? It's only about a 15-20 min. ride from TRVH.

And who exactly is the 'higher authority' you are referring to? Certainly you aren't disrespecting a fellow TOTVer are you?

[nONIE]

Russ,

Have I ever told you how much I admire you for the Career ahead of you you have chosen? I know I have thought it a gazillion times but I thought it was time to tell you.
can I ask you what motivated you?

[Talk Host]

TH - Just wondering:

At any time during the wait did you call (or have TRVH call) Leesburg to see if their ER could take you? It's only about a 15-20 min. ride from TRVH.

And who exactly is the 'higher authority' you are referring to? Certainly you aren't disrespecting a fellow TOTVer are you?


The dilemma is always, are you the next one that they are going to call? Or, if you go to another ER will you be starting the clock all over again, with another 6 hour wait?

What's this about "disrespecting a TOTV member? There are lot's of "higher authorities" around us. Recognizing a "higher authority" is showing respect, not disrespect. :dontknow: There are lot's of "higher authorities" around us. If an individual wants to believe that such a reference is about him, that's his prerogative.

After some thought, I am going to change that to "greater authority."

[Russ_Boston]

Thanks Nonie,

In fear of hijacking the thread, I'll keep my answer simple:

I can't sit still!! If i keep doing the same mind numbing job that I've been doing for 30 years I'll go crazy. Why nursing? I like helping people and CARE is at the center of any nurses skill set. Also nursing allows me to flexible in my location should (when) I decide to move out of MA.

[whartonjelly]

What village is the closest to the Regional Hospital. I am an RN who wants to continue working. I am one minute from my hospital now. My husband will not be working. He deserves his retirement. Staffing is an issue everywhere. There are Nurses now that graduate and cannot find a job. The hospitals dont staff well by choice.

[chuckinca]

Northeast area is closest to the The Villages Regional (half a dozen or so older villages)(no new homes)(around a ten minute drive - and golf cart accessible)

Far South area is closest to Leesburg Regional (half a dozen or so newer villages)(only area with new homes)(about a 20 minute drive - not golf cart accessible)

.

[starflyte1]

Hacienda East is about 5 min from the Village Hospital. It is one of the first villages, but we love living so close to our doctors, vet, groomer, shopping, square, restaurants and, well, you get the picture. All by golf cart.

[mac9]

Staffing at TVRH is really bad. I recently spent 8 days there with pneumonia. The nurses mostly work 12 hour shifts. I had the same night nurse for 7 of the 8 nights that I was there. Yes, she was working 12 hour shifts. The difference in her approach by the 6th night was unbelievable. She went from being caring and concerned to an absolute grump! This woman had worked 84 hours of the 168 hours in one week! She said that the money was great for working those hours, but I question the hospital administration in allowing that many hours to be scheduled for one person in a week. How could she possibly be at the top of her game by the end of the week? I am married to a retired RN who said that the hospital would rather pay her the overtime than hire more staff as it was more economical for them to be paying benefits to just one person.
Before anyone asks, I don't think that my particular care was compromised as I was alert and aware of what my needs were and made sure that I utilized the nurse's services as little as possible except for changing my IV"S. But I wonder what it was like for someone who could not express their needs as I could and needed more assistance than I did.

[nkrifats]

Staffing at TVRH is really bad. I recently spent 8 days there with pneumonia. The nurses mostly work 12 hour shifts. I had the same night nurse for 7 of the 8 nights that I was there. Yes, she was working 12 hour shifts. The difference in her approach by the 6th night was unbelievable. She went from being caring and concerned to an absolute grump! This woman had worked 84 hours of the 168 hours in one week! She said that the money was great for working those hours, but I question the hospital administration in allowing that many hours to be scheduled for one person in a week. How could she possibly be at the top of her game by the end of the week? I am married to a retired RN who said that the hospital would rather pay her the overtime than hire more staff as it was more economical for them to be paying benefits to just one person.
Before anyone asks, I don't think that my particular care was compromised as I was alert and aware of what my needs were and made sure that I utilized the nurse's services as little as possible except for changing my IV"S. But I wonder what it was like for someone who could not express their needs as I could and needed more assistance than I did.

Seems to be the norm a lot of hospitals. I did 15 days in RI Hospital in providence and it was the same for hours for the nurses. I had great care but those are long hours and there were days they still was there after 12 hours doing paper work.

[whartonjelly]

I have worked 31 days straight before. All on a MedSurg unit.

[graciegirl]

Whartonjelly! I thought you were here already!! Any village with a Spanish sounding name puts you close to the hospital.

You sound like a dedicated nurse. Good for you.

Yesterday, I continued with some tests at Lake Imaging. Still another tech who was experienced and kind guided the machines taking pictures.

We took our grandson to the hospital for an asthma attack last year and he was treated expertly and kindly.

So far we G's are liking what we see.

[whartonjelly]

I have worked in many areas of Nursing. Although I have spent my last years in Labor and Delivery and Newborn Nursery, I will be willing to work where I am needed. We are getting the house ready for the market and have high hopes of moving by next year. Then I must get a Florida Nursing License. So many things to thinks about. Thanks to all for the Info!!

[schotzyb]

Seems to be the norm a lot of hospitals. I did 15 days in RI Hospital in providence and it was the same for hours for the nurses. I had great care but those are long hours and there were days they still was there after 12 hours doing paper work.

My wife works at the hospital here in The Villages and you are absolutely correct about the paper work. Her hours are 7a-7p and many nights she doesn't get home till 9pm or later and we only live 15 minutes from the hospital.

[LuvItHere]

Just another perspective - My RN friends up north chose to work three 12-hour shifts per week, which counts for 40 hours. I think hospitals started offering that option years back in order to attract nurses. I can't imagine them working more than four 12-hr shifts in a week. They are wiped out with 3.

I've heard excellent reports on neighbors' ER care here at TVRH. Several have said "the doctor could not have been better". Same thing about Leesburg. The physicians are board certified in Emergency Medicine, I've read. That is key.

I've read recently that another TVRH hospital is being built in the southern end by 466A and Buena Vista. That should relieve some of the congestion in the present ER. Older patients in the ER are often very complex--multiple systems failing, and it takes a long time to work them up. I'd go to an urgent care center if it's something minor.

[cmfjr]

You are correct in that hospitals start offering 12 hour shifts several years ago. In Milwaukee they started about 20+ years ago. However, there are hospitals that have a 7 day on 7 day off with each day being 12 hours. Many of the staffers get bored after 3-4 days off and work for temp help agencies picking up additional shifts. There have been several quality studies that indicate there is no reduction in service, care and or quality with the entended shifts.

[whartonjelly]

That is comforting.