My Villages Hospital Review

[angiefox10]

I went to The Villages ER on Saturday February 7th, 2015 with chest pains. (FYI my heart and total health is GREAT!) They immediately took me to a room and hooked me up to monitors and placed a nitro patch on my chest.

My husband made it clear several times he wanted me to see his cardiologist at the Citrus Group. I’m throwing that in now, all will become clear.

I laid on a gurney for hours in the ER waiting for a room. I hadn’t had much to eat or drink before that so my husband asked if they could get me some food or water. I don’t know what the response was… but I didn’t receive food or water. He finally found a vending machine and purchased some water for me. The only thing in the vending machines to eat was junk, and I don’t eat junk. (I am a Beachbody Coach and have gotten to enjoy healthy food.) My husband asked again and again for something for me to eat. Finally they brought me a dry tasteless turkey and cheese sandwich and grapes. I was hungry… I ate! I entered the ER at 3:00 PM and made it to a room at 10:30. At one point I had asked if they could move me closer to the machines, I was hooked up to, as I was tangled up in the cords. They said that wasn’t possible and walked out. I told the nurse I had a horrible headache. She said it was from the Nitro and walked away… When she came back in, I asked if I could get something for the pain, she said she would get me something and walked out. 30 minutes later, she came back in, I asked about the meds for pain and she said she told another nurse to bring them… Didn’t I get them yet??? She went back out and got the meds and when she came back, she moved the Nitro from my chest to my ankle. She said that would move it away from my head and stop the headache.

They told me they would take blood three times to see if I was, or had had a heart attack. The lady taking the blood told me there are people who have been in the ER for up to 3 days and didn’t get a room! OH wow….. I wasn’t on a bed, but a gurney! Not comfortable!

I sent my husband home to take care of our pets who needed meds and to be fed and told him I would let him know when I was in a room.

At 9:20 someone came in and told me he was taking me to my room. This gentleman left….. at 9:40 a nurse came in and told me I had a room… hmmmm I was told I had a room 20 minutes ago…. At 10:03… I was finally in a room. The nurse there took my patch off so the headache went away.

The nurse said I was scheduled for a stress test for the next day, did I want to eat something. I said yes. He brought me the dry turkey cheese sandwich again and Ginger Ale. I tried eating it. I just couldn’t! I took the bread off and tried eating the cheese and turkey. I could only eat one bite of that. I don’t drink carbonated drinks and I don’t drink sugar so I drank some of the water. By that time I was so exhausted, I fell asleep.

The next day the PA came in and told me they were going to do a Stress Test on me. Asked if I could walk the treadmill. I told him I could…. I explained I was a Beachbody Coach and did extensive workouts. He didn’t know what I was talking about and didn’t seem to want to look it up. It might had given them an indicator of my health… but… Whatever…. So, it was decided that I would walk the treadmill. When I was taken down for the Stress Test they laid me on a gurney and said they were doing a chemical test instead of walking the treadmill. I was very agitated about this. I didn’t want anything else put in my system and told them this. I also told them the Dr. and specifically said I would be walking the treadmill. They ignored my request and never called the Dr. to find out what he wanted. They just went ahead and did the chemical test. BTW, the Dr. was in the hospital and they were aware of it.

When I got back up to my room, the Doctor came in and he asked if there was a reason I couldn’t walk the test. When I told him what happened, he was surprised and clearly didn’t order that. I would like to add that this was not the doctor we had requested, but in fact a hospital doctor.
The nurse asked me if I was hungry. I of course was. She brought me that dry turkey and cheese sandwich and ginger ale. *sigh* I just couldn’t! It was that bad! I handed it back to her. This was 5:00PM the next day and I wasn’t THAT hungry! And, I’m still not drinking sugar!

They brought me my first meal. Meatloaf. Well, I guess low sodium is no taste. Seriously??? They don’t know how to put some flavor in food without salt? It wasn’t like ground beef. It was like a thick pate’. The massed potatoes were fake. The green beans were canned and overcooked. White bread and fake butter with 1% milk. Trust me when I say hospital food is not healthy! I didn’t eat the white bread, fake butter or colored water!

That evening I was hungry and asked if they had anything to snack on. The nurse brought me saltines and ginger ale. Saltines???? I can’t have salt on my food but salt and sugar for a snack is ok??? I of course refused. She asked if I was diabetic and told me she could bring me ice cream. I guess fruit in the hospital is out of the question.

Now… I notice they are still taking blood. I questioned the blood letting and the lady said they were checking to see if some levels were elevated. I asked if they didn’t find that out in 3 tests.. She said yes. I told her to check on it as they had gone WAY past the three tests! She went ahead and took my blood and said she would ask the nurse when she was through. Huh??? Wouldn’t you ask the nurse first???

Next an internist came in and asked me the same questions everyone else had asked me. Clearly NO ONE had even looked at my chart! After answering all the questions, she informed me the problem was that I didn’t know how to breathe deeply! She wanted me to do some sort of therapy. A therapy that would include taking steroids. I told her breathing deeply wasn’t the problem… I knew how to breathe deep. I was a Beachbody coach… It’s part of the job! She didn’t know what that meant nor did she care.

The internist sent in a Pulmonary Doctor. He made it to my room later that evening. He had read my chart! I think he was the only one. He asked questions according to my chart. He looked up Beachbody. He checked my body and listened to me. He told me I had pulled a muscle in my chest. It was causing me pain as I wasn’t letting it relax. He gave me sound instructions and he LISTENED to me. He sat down and talked to me. He said I certainly didn’t need to learn how to breathe deeply.

The food in the hospital is probably the most unhealthy I’ve seen. A diet of that food for very long will kill you. So much so… One of the nurses told us she won’t eat it.

I never saw anyone from Citrus group. I’m not even sure is they wrote it down even though my husband made it clear several times I should see them.

Most of the staff didn’t listen to me. Scary when you are telling them not to do a treatment that you know you aren’t supposed to have and they do it anyway. Once I was checked into the hospital, I no longer had a say of what happened to my body. I found the experience scary. I would do everything in my power to never go back there!!!!


Lest you think I have never been in a Hospital. Not true. At 63, I have been in hospitals, my husband and my children have been in hospitals. This was the scary bad!!!

[dbussone]

Your care was abominable. The fact that they kept doing things without asking, listening, or explaining is even worse. Everyone who becomes a patient needs a vocal advocate to act on the patient's behalf. My wife is an RN and I worked in healthcare for 40 years. I apologize for the way you were treated. Please communicate your story to administration. If they don't know what happened they can't fix it for the next patient.

[lanabanana73]

Good grief! That was BAD.....really bad. As an RN who works in a small community hospital, I can say with assurity that some hospitals really do have good food (ours is amazing!) and have staff that listens and gives good care. My goodness, that was just awful. So sorry. I have heard bad things about health care in FL in general, and I expect to be working as an RN there sometime. I sure hope I can make a difference!

[applesoffh]

Sorry to read of your terrible experience. That's awful! I was taken by ambulance to THRH in late March and had wonderful care during the two days I was there.

[The Buckeyes]

Totally Unacceptable!!!!!

[CFrance]

I suggest putting this whole thing you have posted into business letter form, and file a complaint with the hospital and any state agency available. You will get a brush-off call or letter from the hospital's HR department (what happened to me at a hospital up north), but a complaint with a state agency will at least be registered. Unfortunately, I don't know what agency. Perhaps others can suggest one.

[jflynn1]

I went to The Villages ER on Saturday February 7th, 2015 with chest pains. (FYI my heart and total health is GREAT!) They immediately took me to a room and hooked me up to monitors and placed a nitro patch on my chest.

My husband made it clear several times he wanted me to see his cardiologist at the Citrus Group. I’m throwing that in now, all will become clear.

I laid on a gurney for hours in the ER waiting for a room. I hadn’t had much to eat or drink before that so my husband asked if they could get me some food or water. I don’t know what the response was… but I didn’t receive food or water. He finally found a vending machine and purchased some water for me. The only thing in the vending machines to eat was junk, and I don’t eat junk. (I am a Beachbody Coach and have gotten to enjoy healthy food.) My husband asked again and again for something for me to eat. Finally they brought me a dry tasteless turkey and cheese sandwich and grapes. I was hungry… I ate! I entered the ER at 3:00 PM and made it to a room at 10:30. At one point I had asked if they could move me closer to the machines, I was hooked up to, as I was tangled up in the cords. They said that wasn’t possible and walked out. I told the nurse I had a horrible headache. She said it was from the Nitro and walked away… When she came back in, I asked if I could get something for the pain, she said she would get me something and walked out. 30 minutes later, she came back in, I asked about the meds for pain and she said she told another nurse to bring them… Didn’t I get them yet??? She went back out and got the meds and when she came back, she moved the Nitro from my chest to my ankle. She said that would move it away from my head and stop the headache.

They told me they would take blood three times to see if I was, or had had a heart attack. The lady taking the blood told me there are people who have been in the ER for up to 3 days and didn’t get a room! OH wow….. I wasn’t on a bed, but a gurney! Not comfortable!

I sent my husband home to take care of our pets who needed meds and to be fed and told him I would let him know when I was in a room.

At 9:20 someone came in and told me he was taking me to my room. This gentleman left….. at 9:40 a nurse came in and told me I had a room… hmmmm I was told I had a room 20 minutes ago…. At 10:03… I was finally in a room. The nurse there took my patch off so the headache went away.

The nurse said I was scheduled for a stress test for the next day, did I want to eat something. I said yes. He brought me the dry turkey cheese sandwich again and Ginger Ale. I tried eating it. I just couldn’t! I took the bread off and tried eating the cheese and turkey. I could only eat one bite of that. I don’t drink carbonated drinks and I don’t drink sugar so I drank some of the water. By that time I was so exhausted, I fell asleep.

The next day the PA came in and told me they were going to do a Stress Test on me. Asked if I could walk the treadmill. I told him I could…. I explained I was a Beachbody Coach and did extensive workouts. He didn’t know what I was talking about and didn’t seem to want to look it up. It might had given them an indicator of my health… but… Whatever…. So, it was decided that I would walk the treadmill. When I was taken down for the Stress Test they laid me on a gurney and said they were doing a chemical test instead of walking the treadmill. I was very agitated about this. I didn’t want anything else put in my system and told them this. I also told them the Dr. and specifically said I would be walking the treadmill. They ignored my request and never called the Dr. to find out what he wanted. They just went ahead and did the chemical test. BTW, the Dr. was in the hospital and they were aware of it.

When I got back up to my room, the Doctor came in and he asked if there was a reason I couldn’t walk the test. When I told him what happened, he was surprised and clearly didn’t order that. I would like to add that this was not the doctor we had requested, but in fact a hospital doctor.
The nurse asked me if I was hungry. I of course was. She brought me that dry turkey and cheese sandwich and ginger ale. *sigh* I just couldn’t! It was that bad! I handed it back to her. This was 5:00PM the next day and I wasn’t THAT hungry! And, I’m still not drinking sugar!

They brought me my first meal. Meatloaf. Well, I guess low sodium is no taste. Seriously??? They don’t know how to put some flavor in food without salt? It wasn’t like ground beef. It was like a thick pate’. The massed potatoes were fake. The green beans were canned and overcooked. White bread and fake butter with 1% milk. Trust me when I say hospital food is not healthy! I didn’t eat the white bread, fake butter or colored water!

That evening I was hungry and asked if they had anything to snack on. The nurse brought me saltines and ginger ale. Saltines???? I can’t have salt on my food but salt and sugar for a snack is ok??? I of course refused. She asked if I was diabetic and told me she could bring me ice cream. I guess fruit in the hospital is out of the question.

Now… I notice they are still taking blood. I questioned the blood letting and the lady said they were checking to see if some levels were elevated. I asked if they didn’t find that out in 3 tests.. She said yes. I told her to check on it as they had gone WAY past the three tests! She went ahead and took my blood and said she would ask the nurse when she was through. Huh??? Wouldn’t you ask the nurse first???

Next an internist came in and asked me the same questions everyone else had asked me. Clearly NO ONE had even looked at my chart! After answering all the questions, she informed me the problem was that I didn’t know how to breathe deeply! She wanted me to do some sort of therapy. A therapy that would include taking steroids. I told her breathing deeply wasn’t the problem… I knew how to breathe deep. I was a Beachbody coach… It’s part of the job! She didn’t know what that meant nor did she care.

The internist sent in a Pulmonary Doctor. He made it to my room later that evening. He had read my chart! I think he was the only one. He asked questions according to my chart. He looked up Beachbody. He checked my body and listened to me. He told me I had pulled a muscle in my chest. It was causing me pain as I wasn’t letting it relax. He gave me sound instructions and he LISTENED to me. He sat down and talked to me. He said I certainly didn’t need to learn how to breathe deeply.

The food in the hospital is probably the most unhealthy I’ve seen. A diet of that food for very long will kill you. So much so… One of the nurses told us she won’t eat it.

I never saw anyone from Citrus group. I’m not even sure is they wrote it down even though my husband made it clear several times I should see them.

Most of the staff didn’t listen to me. Scary when you are telling them not to do a treatment that you know you aren’t supposed to have and they do it anyway. Once I was checked into the hospital, I no longer had a say of what happened to my body. I found the experience scary. I would do everything in my power to never go back there!!!!


Lest you think I have never been in a Hospital. Not true. At 63, I have been in hospitals, my husband and my children have been in hospitals. This was the scary bad!!!




I would suggest you contact Don Hahnfeldt, he is on the Board, The Chairman I believe, of Central Florida Health Alliance, Owners of The Villages Hospital a Villages Resident and also The Chainman for the Sumter County Commissioners. He recently announced that he would be seeking Marlene O’Toooles position as a State Representative I believe he can be contacted at Don.Hahnfeldt@sumtercountyfl.gov (352)-689-4400. Hopefully he is much more than just a politician. I am sure he can be of assistance and respond to your concerns

[delima2000]

After hearing your story I think I want to go to munroe hospital in ocala. My brother was just there for not feeling good. Took him right in got all of the attention and come to find out he was having a massive heart attack. They wasted no time got him into surgery. Stayed two days and said the food was great and all of the rooms are private. I was in the villages hospital for surgery and stayed two days and the food was terrible and I was in a room with another person that kept me awake with all of her groaning and the communications between the staff and the doctors were ok but could have been better.

[bargee]

Have you filed this complaint with TVRH administration and the State Board of Health?If not why not?

[gomoho]

Have you filed this complaint with TVRH administration and the State Board of Health?If not why not?

Give her a break - she just got home.

[angiefox10]

Give her a break - she just got home.


Awe Thanks gomoho... I appreciate your support. As you know, this isn't my first rodeo...

Of course I plan to send this to the hospital AND some of the people on the board. That was the reason I took the time to write it all out.

However, while writing it, I decided to share it in three different sites. Interesting the responses I'm getting. Some think it's about bad tasting food when it's about unhealthy over processed food. Some think it's about rude people. No one was rude. Most just agreed and told of their own scary experiences in the hospital. Some want to tell of how the hospital saved their lives... Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in a while.

Most of the people who responded from the health care profession told of other hospitals to go to... BTW.. The number one choice for health care professionals in The Villages... Ocala!

[PTennismom0202]

The federal government has begun to report data on hospital performance, although it's very challenging to differentiate them on a statistically significant level and most consumers don't make use of the data. Small differences are important. You may be interested in The Villages Hospital poor performance on patient experience (aka patient satisfaction). Hospital Compare Quality of Care Profile Page (http://www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/profile.html#profTab=1&ID=100290&Distn=3.9&dist=50&loc=32162&lat=28.9121162&lng=-81.986206&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1) If you look further on hospital.gov you'll see that the patient's time in the ER is much higher than average.

[graciegirl]

The federal government has begun to report data on hospital performance, although it's very challenging to differentiate them on a statistically significant level and most consumers don't make use of the data. Small differences are important. You may be interested in The Villages Hospital poor performance on patient experience (aka patient satisfaction). Hospital Compare Quality of Care Profile Page (http://www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/profile.html#profTab=1&ID=100290&Distn=3.9&dist=50&loc=32162&lat=28.9121162&lng=-81.986206&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1) If you look further on hospital.gov you'll see that the patient's time in the ER is much higher than average.


I look at that part, this way.

We have a lot of older people with a great deal more health problems here in The Villages than a place with a general population.

AND I must further add that soon the new addition to the hospital will be opened and hopefully alleviate some crowding in the emergency area that seems to happen every year at high season.

The other issues of not healthy food etc, of course will not be made better by the Morses building a nice big building.

[Madelaine Amee]

Awe Thanks gomoho... I appreciate your support. As you know, this isn't my first rodeo...

Of course I plan to send this to the hospital AND some of the people on the board. That was the reason I took the time to write it all out.

However, while writing it, I decided to share it in three different sites. Interesting the responses I'm getting. Some think it's about bad tasting food when it's about unhealthy over processed food. Some think it's about rude people. No one was rude. Most just agreed and told of their own scary experiences in the hospital. Some want to tell of how the hospital saved their lives... Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in a while.

Most of the people who responded from the health care profession told of other hospitals to go to... BTW.. The number one choice for health care professionals in The Villages... Ocala!

That comment was unnecessary. Both my husband and I have had excellent results from TV hospital and have (so far) no complaints. However, as far as the food is concerned, my husband did not like the food and I was told to bring him in fruit and yoghurt, which I did. When I was in I ordered fruit and yoghurt from their menu - no problem with that. Plus, the last thing I worried about in the hospital was food .............. but, then, that's just me!

[justjim]

My wife had a "bad Experence" this summer in a Central Illinois hospital that I had a "good Experence" five years ago. The big difference----caring, competent and professional nursing staff that I had five years ago and the opposite for her stay. Also, it appeared to me that the nurses station was always busy working at their computers rather than providing "care" for the patients. Perhaps new required government paper work?

I could go on and on about her hospital stay but suffice it to say that it was much less than what one would call adequate and it was a "good thing" that I was there to help. And the costs were outrageous!

Bottom line----I'm guessing it's not just The Village Hospital but there are "hospital issues" everywhere.

[Bogie Shooter]

I have never heard of anyone who was in the hospital and said the food was good...............

[red tail]

reminds me of airline complaints. never mind the fact that they delivered you in a safe timely manner. just complain about the food or the lack of it.

[downeaster]

Some posters should read OP's post again. Her complaint about the food was only a minor part of the overall problem.

Sometimes I think some people pick through a post and select some point they can use to chastise the poster.

I agree with jflynn1. I am sure the TVRH board would like to hear about this.

[Didiwinbob]

Contact "Risk Management"

[angiefox10]

Some posters should read OP's post again. Her complaint about the food was only a minor part of the overall problem.

Sometimes I think some people pick through a post and select some point they can use to chastise the poster.

I agree with jflynn1. I am sure the TVRH board would like to hear about this.

You are correct...I'm fascinated by the focus on the food.

Food in a health care facility that is so bad people won't eat it... Or so unhealthy people won't eat is not good for healing. As I stated before... I have spent much time in hospitals for myself and with family.

Regardless... It WAS a small part of the post. Thank you for pointing that out.

That being said... I have posted in two other places for The Villages and the stories are much the same as mine.

Furthermore... I'm pretty good with anyone who feels that it's a great hospital..... going there.

[Villager Joyce]

I didn't understand how a person could have a nuclear stress test against his/her will. Hunger and the dried out turkey and cheese sandwich was mentioned by the OP more than once -- putting some emphasis on food. The OP mentioned her occupation more than once in the post and to multiple people in the hospital. I looked up the occupation. Whatever.

[angiefox10]

I didn't understand how a person could have a nuclear stress test against his/her will. Hunger and the dried out turkey and cheese sandwich was mentioned by the OP more than once -- putting some emphasis on food. The OP mentioned her occupation more than once in the post and to multiple people in the hospital. I looked up the occupation. Whatever.

Yes... I did mention my "occupation" lifestyle several times. I mentioned it to the doctors several times as well. It speaks to my health and fitness. YOU looked it up. Too bad they didn't! They would have known more about my health and my lungs had they taken a minute and looked it up.


I also mentioned the food... If the food that is supposed to be edible isn't, and what you can eat is unhealthy... You won't heal.

As I said.. this isn't my first rodeo... While the few will rip this apart.. .I am aware that there are others reading it... who get it!

[obxgal]

I just don't understand why you just didn't come out and say your a health and fitness coach. Not everyone know about the "Beachbody" fad. To me that would have been more of a delay, because they had no clue as to what you were talking about.

[Eastwind53]

My experience at the Village Hospital was not much better, I suggest eveyone who goes to the hospital get a copy of their medical record while there. You will be surprised as to the inaccuracies. I filed a complaint 4 months ago with the CEO and I am still waiting for a complete response. But, I am sure many other people have had good care? If I need to get emergency treatment again I will be going to Munroe Hospital. My experience in the past has always been great there.

[angiefox10]

I just don't understand why you just didn't come out and say your a health and fitness coach. Not everyone know about the "Beachbody" fad. To me that would have been more of a delay, because they had no clue as to what you were talking about.


Or I could just say I am a Beachbody coach... since that is what I am.

[angiefox10]

My experience at the Village Hospital was not much better, I suggest eveyone who goes to the hospital get a copy of their medical record while there. You will be surprised as to the inaccuracies. I filed a complaint 4 months ago with the CEO and I am still waiting for a complete response. But, I am sure many other people have had good care? If I need to get emergency treatment again I will be going to Munroe Hospital. My experience in the past has always been great there.


I posted this same review on two other sites... The stories are scary to say the least. Another hospital everyone is raving about is Shand. I'm not sure where it is... but I will check it out!

The conversation on the other sites is much different than this one.

I've also heard Waterman is good.

Where is Munroe Hospital?

[obxgal]

Shand is in Gainsville. I've also heard good reviews on it.

[laceylady]

I have the same negative opinion of TVRH as the OP based on the care given to my husband this past summer. When I had to call 911 because my husband had a massive brain bleed 12 hours after discharge from TVRH, I begged the EMTs to take him anywhere but TVRH. They took him to Ocala Regional Medical Center where the care, doctors, nurses and other staff were AMAZING! We continue to go there three times a week for therapy. This hospital is right across the street from Munroe. Many of the docs there were trained at Shands. I did not file a complaint with anyone, because my priority was and still is taking care of my very sick husband. A complaint is not going to get him back to where he was before dealing with TVRH.

[Bonanza]

Your hospital experience is frightening and in my mind, a red flag for the way the hospital is run.

I would opt to go to Ocala or even Leesberg unless it was life threatening and time was of the esssence.

BTW -- Shands Hospital has an excellent reputation and is a real hospital, compared to what we have here.

[graciegirl]

Your hospital experience is frightening and in my mind, a red flag for the way the hospital is run.

I would opt to go to Ocala or even Leesberg unless it was life threatening and time was of the esssence.

BTW -- Shands Hospital has an excellent reputation and is a real hospital, compared to what we have here.


Shands is part of the University of Florida School of Medicine and so it is a teaching hospital that is well staffed and run and it is in Gainesville which I think is an hour away..

Only the building is owned by The Villages here. It is rented to a group that runs hospitals and it does not have what a large teaching hospital has to offer for sure.

Even the most superior hospital would be put to the test by having the population swell in the months of January, February and March.

However, I am pretty sure asking for one's own doctor to come to the hospital for an emergency may not be realistic in this day and age.

Telling a hospital staff member that you are healthy is not realistic without your latest health records. They have a responsibility to conduct blood tests and other monitoring tests when you are admitted.

I am guessing that the chemical injected that the OP didn't want was Thalium and the test was a nuclear test to see how the blood was dispersed into the heart muscle at rest and while moving. It is an important diagnostic test if a person is suspected of having cardiac issues.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007201.htm

[CFrance]

Shands is part of the University of Florida School of Medicine and so it is a teaching hospital that is well staffed and run and it is in Gainesville which I think is an hour away..

Only the building is owned by The Villages here. It is rented to a group that runs hospitals and it does not have what a large teaching hospital has to offer for sure.

Even the most superior hospital would be put to the test by having the population swell in the months of January, February and March.

However, I am pretty sure asking for one's own doctor to come to the hospital for an emergency may not be realistic in this day and age.

Telling a hospital staff member that you are healthy is not realistic without your latest health records. They have a responsibility to conduct blood tests and other monitoring tests when you are admitted.

And many hospitals are switching to a system where they have " in house" doctors, so you may not even be allowed to see your own doctor while in the hospital because they don't make hospital visits any more.

I do believe, though, that just about every area of FL swells in the winter months, and some hospitals are equipped to handle it better.

Lots of people who are very fit and eat and exercise right turn up with heart issues. Just because OP said she was in the weight & health field should not have caused them to disregard the testing. However, it is odd that the doctor ordered one test and the nurses decided to do a different one. That seems illogical or illegal, and I wonder if there's some information the OP doesn't know about or hasn't included here regarding this change in testing.

[dbussone]

And many hospitals are switching to a system where they have " in house" doctors, so you may not even be allowed to see your own doctor while in the hospital because they don't make hospital visits any more.

I do believe, though, that just about every area of FL swells in the winter months, and some hospitals are equipped to handle it better.

Lots of people who are very fit and eat and exercise right turn up with heart issues. Just because OP said she was in the weight & health field should not have caused them to disregard the testing. However, it is odd that the doctor ordered one test and the nurses decided to do a different one. That seems illogical or illegal, and I wonder if there's some information the OP doesn't know about or hasn't included here regarding this change in testing.

CF - To counter the Hospitalist trend, Medicare is providing financial incentives for your primary care physician to oversee your hospital care. My physician does this. However, he or she must have privileges as a medical staff member.

A couple of additional points: 1) a hospital cannot force a particular physician on you & 2) it is your right as a patient to select the physicians who care for you. Having said this, in an emergency situation you most likely will be cared for by the specialist on call (cardiologist, etc.) if you present to the ER.

[HimandMe]

Good care in a hospital is a reflection from the top management down. Yes, people are run off their feet in season, but that doesn't mean not listening closely to the patient. As a patient, you need to be proactive about your care and often have someone with you that can speak up. A clinically trained chaplain of which I think their are two there can act as an advocate for the patient when necessary.
Hospital food is often tasteless but usually healthy at least.
In a place like TV, where almost everyone is older, good hospital and healthcare should be number one on our list. Our mother is in her mid 90s and I would hate to think she might go through this after decades of good care...not to mention careless behavior that might hasten her demise.
Send the letters. People who have had real issues with care here need to have it documented. It doesn't help anyone if you quietly suffer.

[CFrance]

CF - To counter the Hospitalist trend, Medicare is providing financial incentives for your primary care physician to oversee your hospital care. My physician does this. However, he or she must have privileges as a medical staff member.

A couple of additional points: 1) a hospital cannot force a particular physician on you & 2) it is your right as a patient to select the physicians who care for you. Having said this, in an emergency situation you most likely will be cared for by the specialist on call (cardiologist, etc.) if you present to the ER.
DB, is there still such a thing as a patient advocate in every hospital? Sometimes even knowing your rights still can't make them be upheld. There are lots of ways around that, such as the hospital personnel saying things like I don't know the answer, The doctor who ordered that is not here right now, We'll have to See, etc. A person in the emergency room doesn't necessarily have the stamina to stand up for himself. It used to be you could ask for a patient advocate, at least in my former area of the country.

Just wondering, for future reference. I seem to remember you have experience with hospitals.

[dbussone]

DB, is there still such a thing as a patient advocate in every hospital? Sometimes even knowing your rights still can't make them be upheld. There are lots of ways around that, such as the hospital personnel saying things like I don't know the answer, The doctor who ordered that is not here right now, We'll have to See, etc. A person in the emergency room doesn't necessarily have the stamina to stand up for himself. It used to be you could ask for a patient advocate, at least in my former area of the country.

Just wondering, for future reference. I seem to remember you have experience with hospitals.

Yes. Most hospitals have patient advocates, and you should feel free to request one with whom you could speak. I would also be comfortable asking to speak to a nursing supervisor (director) or case manager.

[asianthree]

If you re waiting for a bed because the house is full, you are waiting for someone to be healthy enough to go home, or someone to die. Either way there needs to be room at the inn.

[lamplighter]

The more advocates to choose from the better.

[Bonanza]

Shands is part of the University of Florida School of Medicine and so it is a teaching hospital that is well staffed and run and it is in Gainesville which I think is an hour away..

Only the building is owned by The Villages here. It is rented to a group that runs hospitals and it does not have what a large teaching hospital has to offer for sure.

Even the most superior hospital would be put to the test by having the population swell in the months of January, February and March.

However, I am pretty sure asking for one's own doctor to come to the hospital for an emergency may not be realistic in this day and age.

Telling a hospital staff member that you are healthy is not realistic without your latest health records. They have a responsibility to conduct blood tests and other monitoring tests when you are admitted.

I am guessing that the chemical injected that the OP didn't want was Thalium and the test was a nuclear test to see how the blood was dispersed into the heart muscle at rest and while moving. It is an important diagnostic test if a person is suspected of having cardiac issues.

Nuclear stress test: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007201.htm)

I agree with all your points but would like to say that most areas of Florida (and any warm weather resort or area) have a tremendous growth in population during "season." In other areas of Florida where I have lived, the hospitals were prepared to handle the increase in population and did it well. I know this (unfortunately) from a few different hosital experiences, and that goes for their emergency room care, as well.

I know that there are groups that run hospitals. But I wonder if the cost of running the hospital here (including rent to the developer?), is too expensive, and is reflected in not having or being able to get enough staff or even the best personnel on staff???

[shcisamax]

Yes. Most hospitals have patient advocates, and you should feel free to request one with whom you could speak. I would also be comfortable asking to speak to a nursing supervisor (director) or case manager.

When we were in TVH, I went up to the nurses station to ask for a patient advocate and a nurse told me he was a patient advocate and that they were all patient advocates. I had to then say very deliberately, "No I want THE patient advocate."

Usually there is a patient advocate and above that person is risk manager. When we were there last summer, the same person was doing both jobs while waiting for them to hire someone for one of the jobs. I asked, "How long she had been doing both jobs." She told me about eight years.

In terms of the swelling during season, I would think a hospital in a non retirement area would be a less stressed system. I would head for Shands. Even Munroe is probably less stressed than TVH which is smack dab in the middle of over 120,000 health sensitive seniors.

[salpal]

I had a very similar experience. When I was told I was going to be on a gurney and in the hallway of ER for the next 15 hours, I left the hospital. The ER had at least 15 people lining the hallways on gurneys. I was near the nurse's station and could hear the almost panic in their voices...it was very crowded and understaffed. I signed a wavier and left the hospital. I'll be seeing my new cardiologist very soon but if I have to go to a hospital it will not be TVRH.

[Avista]

When I fractured my ankle, it was Feb. I was taken to ER at TVH. True, I had to wait hours for a room. But the rest of the story is I had a room in the ER. The ortho surgeon visited me there. I had XRays. Nurses took really good care of me. I had a TV. It wasn't bad at all, and eventually I got a room. Was not a bad experience.

[graciegirl]

Friends were just moving in when she went into a terrible and unexplained allergic reaction that was causing her to have trouble breathing. He drove her to the hospital, not thinking or not knowing that EMS was available for immediate help and transport.

They immediately treated her and intubed her and saved her life and their expert care for a couple of weeks afterward was excellent. In fact she chose her hospitalist for her PCP.

We visited frequently when she was in a drug induced coma and she was tenderly cared for.

I am so glad that it had a happy ending.

[sunnyatlast]

I had a very similar experience. When I was told I was going to be on a gurney and in the hallway of ER for the next 15 hours, I left the hospital. The ER had at least 15 people lining the hallways on gurneys. I was near the nurse's station and could hear the almost panic in their voices...it was very crowded and understaffed. I signed a wavier and left the hospital. I'll be seeing my new cardiologist very soon but if I have to go to a hospital it will not be TVRH.

I agree, but there's one thing I'd do differently. Since you mention you'll be seeing your new cardiologist, if it was chest pain or other signs of a cardiac arrest that made you go to the ER, it would be better to leave in an ambulance than by car, for another hospital in the area. Yes, call an ambulance to get you out of the place where you are not being seen for life threatening symptoms and are held in a hallway like a billable item.

And, remember that it is administration--not the front lines nurses and doctors--who schedule or don't schedule heavy enough staffing for the beds upstairs that ARE empty, but are not staffed, to make that administrator's departmental budget look nice and cost effective--at meetings where no patient nor front lines nurse or doctor can speak to the B.S. that is being presented!


.

[rn1tv]

I don't think filing a complaint will do any good. I had a cisternogram that when bad. I tried to get answers from the "patient advocate," the person in charge of Risk Management, and even the CEO of the hospital, but no one would respond. I think the hospital thinks if you ignore a problem, it will go away. Sad to say, I worked for the hospital as an RN for 8 years and still cannot get answers. They just don't care as long as they are making an income. This is so disappointing as I took my patient care very seriously; only wish everyone else did. I'm embarrassed to say I was once worked there and was very proud to tell people I did. No more, patient treatment, in my opinion, is extremely poor.

[angiefox10]

I am truly happy for the people who have gone to The Villages Hospital and gotten good care.

I'm not sure, as someone pointed out, that the people posting actually read my letter as much as they picked bits and pieces and dissected them. If it was just one thing that was the problem... Hey.... You would be right. But having a staff not listening to the patient is scary to me.

Since then, I have been back to The Villages hospital with my niece... There were again issues that I won't belabor you with here. Mostly they were under staffed. BTW... are you people aware that if the hospital can't handle the incoming patients, they can divert them to another hospital? There are other hospitals to divert to in this area.

I digress.....

She was transported to Shands Hospital. We met her there. What a difference. Young cutting edge doctors, cutting edge equipment, and teams working for her care at 10:30 at night... Surgery was scheduled this morning and it went well. If I have to go to the hospital... I will take the chance to go to Shands for my care! Impressive!!!!!

"The faculty from the UF College of Medicine includes nationally and internationally recognized physicians whose expertise is supported by intensive research activities. Shands' affiliation with the UF Health Science Center allows patients to benefit from the latest medical knowledge and technology."

https://ufhealth.org/shands-university-florida

UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, FL - US News Best Hospitals (http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/fl/shands-at-the-university-of-florida-6390283)

The Villages Hospital

Villages Regional Hospital - The Villages, FL | Yelp (http://www.yelp.com/biz/villages-regional-hospital-the-villages)

The Villages Regional Hospital in The Villages, FL - US News Best Hospitals (http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/area/fl/the-villages-health-system-6390102)

For those of you who love The Villages Hospital... That's GREAT! Continue to go there. I wish you well.....

[blueash]

I am a fan of teaching hospitals. One small, very small, consideration with Shands, which they will not be telling you is that under a recent law passed in Florida there is a very low malpractice cap on any error made there. One certainly hopes no errors would ever be made but they do happen.

[blueash]

Here is some information, one respected well balanced source, on when is a stress test needed, and nuclear vs exercise.
Choosing Wisely | Stress tests for chest pain (http://www.choosingwisely.org/doctor-patient-lists/stress-tests-for-chest-pain/)

To the OP, as you have suggested that your being fit should have gone into the decision making process, I would respectfully disagree. You presented with acute chest pain. Your past ability to exercise did not preclude your having a significant cardiac event at the time of this hospitalization. Had they said, "Well, she is Beachbody Coach so we don't have to evaluate her heart, she must be fine." that would have been terrible care.

As to who ordered what test, I can't tell from your posting. You said you were seen by a PA, and then said a doctor ordered your test. A PA is not a doctor and despite your telling the PA you wanted a treadmill, if the MD the previous evening had ordered a nuclear test, that order would still apply. I don't know what your blood work showed or whether there might have been some concerns on your baseline EKG that they may not have even mentioned to you as they can be non-specific.

You can be 100% certain that some technologist in the cardiac lab did not make the decision of what stress test you would receive. They were following an order from someone. And as someone else posted, if you objected to having the test it is completely within your rights to decline it. At worst this will result in someone coming to explain to you the pros and cons and that if you die from an MI on the ride home they told you to have the test (CYA informed consent).

[angiefox10]

Here is some information, one respected well balanced source, on when is a stress test needed, and nuclear vs exercise.
Choosing Wisely | Stress tests for chest pain (http://www.choosingwisely.org/doctor-patient-lists/stress-tests-for-chest-pain/)

To the OP, as you have suggested that your being fit should have gone into the decision making process, I would respectfully disagree. You presented with acute chest pain. Your past ability to exercise did not preclude your having a significant cardiac event at the time of this hospitalization. Had they said, "Well, she is Beachbody Coach so we don't have to evaluate her heart, she must be fine." that would have been terrible care.

As to who ordered what test, I can't tell from your posting. You said you were seen by a PA, and then said a doctor ordered your test. A PA is not a doctor and despite your telling the PA you wanted a treadmill, if the MD the previous evening had ordered a nuclear test, that order would still apply. I don't know what your blood work showed or whether there might have been some concerns on your baseline EKG that they may not have even mentioned to you as they can be non-specific.

You can be 100% certain that some technologist in the cardiac lab did not make the decision of what stress test you would receive. They were following an order from someone. And as someone else posted, if you objected to having the test it is completely within your rights to decline it. At worst this will result in someone coming to explain to you the pros and cons and that if you die from an MI on the ride home they told you to have the test (CYA informed consent).

Both the PA and the Doctor were clear they wanted a walking stress test. I explained that to the techs and was ignored. I asked them to contact the doctor before they did the test... They went ahead and did the test. When the doctor came in after the test he was clearly displeased.

Now... lets go on the premiss that someone wrote the wrong order and they were simply following orders. That brings us to the fact that the wrong orders had been written. Compound that with the fact that no one would check with the doctor when I told them it was not right... second mistake!!!!!

As to all other testing... All were perfect! NO heart problems of any kind. Blood test were excellent as well as the EKG..

[dbussone]

I am a fan of teaching hospitals. One small, very small, consideration with Shands, which they will not be telling you is that under a recent law passed in Florida there is a very low malpractice cap on any error made there. One certainly hopes no errors would ever be made but they do happen.


The same is true of many hospitals, especially public hospitals, that receive legislative relief or very limited malpractice caps.

[blueash]

The same is true of many hospitals, especially public hospitals, that receive legislative relief or very limited malpractice caps.

It is not at all common and the situation with Shands in Gainesville and Jacksonville as well at Jackson Memorial in Miami, as far as I know, is unique to our state. The cap of 200,000 amazingly is not for public hospitals but rather for private hospitals that also are teaching hospitals. However the protections do not cover all the teaching hospitals in Florida. Additionally this seems to be the only law anywhere that includes a cap on your economic loss, not just non-economic loss. This is important. Non economic things are pain, suffering, scars, disfigurement, loss of companionship. Economic are.. they took out your good kidney not your bad one. Now you can't work, lifetime of dialysis, lots of $$ meds and doctor visits 200K is gone in no time. No other state has caps on economic losses.
State Limits on Medical Malpractice Awards | LegalMatch Law Library (http://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/state-limits-on-medical-malpractice-awards.html)

[villagerjack]

A muscle pull? Bad food?

[MoeVonB61]

Everything everybody has typed to you is great and you should follow through on all the suggestions......I also, however, have no idea what you mean by "Beachbody Coach" and I can ASSURE you a health care worker having to spend an extra 3 minutes to look it up would detract from another patient's care..............In addition, IF YOU HAD TO HAVE SURGERY/ANESTHESIA, giving you food would be even more harmful. HOWEVER, nobody should be comparing treatment in the past to todays' health care moving towards socialized medicine. With the deficit reduction act and SO MANY CUTS to reimbursements, health care workers have to do a lot more with less resources/help....HERE'S the fact that you never hear on the Sales Bus Tour. ACHA, The Agency for Health Care Administration turned down the application to build another hospital on Route 44 in Wildwood......The Villages Hospital WILL HAVE only a total of 323 beds and there are approximately 110,000 Seniors 50+ living in the Villages..........that means, there will not even be enough beds to house 1% of the population here....... a population that uses healthcare 3X more than younger generation.......We are also in high season (Jan, Feb, March, April) and all the seasonal renters choose to go to this hospital (they don't know any better).
GIST: Ask to be released (even if it's an AMA) and follow through on your instincts.........I am sure your Caretakers were trying to do 5x more than what they normally do out of season......

[rn1tv]

Just FYI to those that might need it but contacting risk management did me no good Peggy Grey is the manager and Penny Bennet is the rep. I believe the phone number is 751-8008.

[kissmelatr]

I spent 3 days in the TVRH and I had no problem....I had A-fib and took me in right way. I too spend 30 hours in the emergeny room on a bed as hard as a rock. That is my only complaint . Other then that I had a very good experience.....Was very please....

[57ChevyFI]

I went to The Villages ER on Saturday February 7th, 2015 with chest pains. (FYI my heart and total health is GREAT!) They immediately took me to a room and hooked me up to monitors and placed a nitro patch on my chest.

My husband made it clear several times he wanted me to see his cardiologist at the Citrus Group. I’m throwing that in now, all will become clear.

I laid on a gurney for hours in the ER waiting for a room. I hadn’t had much to eat or drink before that so my husband asked if they could get me some food or water. I don’t know what the response was… but I didn’t receive food or water. He finally found a vending machine and purchased some water for me. The only thing in the vending machines to eat was junk, and I don’t eat junk. (I am a Beachbody Coach and have gotten to enjoy healthy food.) My husband asked again and again for something for me to eat. Finally they brought me a dry tasteless turkey and cheese sandwich and grapes. I was hungry… I ate! I entered the ER at 3:00 PM and made it to a room at 10:30. At one point I had asked if they could move me closer to the machines, I was hooked up to, as I was tangled up in the cords. They said that wasn’t possible and walked out. I told the nurse I had a horrible headache. She said it was from the Nitro and walked away… When she came back in, I asked if I could get something for the pain, she said she would get me something and walked out. 30 minutes later, she came back in, I asked about the meds for pain and she said she told another nurse to bring them… Didn’t I get them yet??? She went back out and got the meds and when she came back, she moved the Nitro from my chest to my ankle. She said that would move it away from my head and stop the headache.

They told me they would take blood three times to see if I was, or had had a heart attack. The lady taking the blood told me there are people who have been in the ER for up to 3 days and didn’t get a room! OH wow….. I wasn’t on a bed, but a gurney! Not comfortable!

I sent my husband home to take care of our pets who needed meds and to be fed and told him I would let him know when I was in a room.

At 9:20 someone came in and told me he was taking me to my room. This gentleman left….. at 9:40 a nurse came in and told me I had a room… hmmmm I was told I had a room 20 minutes ago…. At 10:03… I was finally in a room. The nurse there took my patch off so the headache went away.

The nurse said I was scheduled for a stress test for the next day, did I want to eat something. I said yes. He brought me the dry turkey cheese sandwich again and Ginger Ale. I tried eating it. I just couldn’t! I took the bread off and tried eating the cheese and turkey. I could only eat one bite of that. I don’t drink carbonated drinks and I don’t drink sugar so I drank some of the water. By that time I was so exhausted, I fell asleep.

The next day the PA came in and told me they were going to do a Stress Test on me. Asked if I could walk the treadmill. I told him I could…. I explained I was a Beachbody Coach and did extensive workouts. He didn’t know what I was talking about and didn’t seem to want to look it up. It might had given them an indicator of my health… but… Whatever…. So, it was decided that I would walk the treadmill. When I was taken down for the Stress Test they laid me on a gurney and said they were doing a chemical test instead of walking the treadmill. I was very agitated about this. I didn’t want anything else put in my system and told them this. I also told them the Dr. and specifically said I would be walking the treadmill. They ignored my request and never called the Dr. to find out what he wanted. They just went ahead and did the chemical test. BTW, the Dr. was in the hospital and they were aware of it.

When I got back up to my room, the Doctor came in and he asked if there was a reason I couldn’t walk the test. When I told him what happened, he was surprised and clearly didn’t order that. I would like to add that this was not the doctor we had requested, but in fact a hospital doctor.
The nurse asked me if I was hungry. I of course was. She brought me that dry turkey and cheese sandwich and ginger ale. *sigh* I just couldn’t! It was that bad! I handed it back to her. This was 5:00PM the next day and I wasn’t THAT hungry! And, I’m still not drinking sugar!

They brought me my first meal. Meatloaf. Well, I guess low sodium is no taste. Seriously??? They don’t know how to put some flavor in food without salt? It wasn’t like ground beef. It was like a thick pate’. The massed potatoes were fake. The green beans were canned and overcooked. White bread and fake butter with 1% milk. Trust me when I say hospital food is not healthy! I didn’t eat the white bread, fake butter or colored water!

That evening I was hungry and asked if they had anything to snack on. The nurse brought me saltines and ginger ale. Saltines???? I can’t have salt on my food but salt and sugar for a snack is ok??? I of course refused. She asked if I was diabetic and told me she could bring me ice cream. I guess fruit in the hospital is out of the question.

Now… I notice they are still taking blood. I questioned the blood letting and the lady said they were checking to see if some levels were elevated. I asked if they didn’t find that out in 3 tests.. She said yes. I told her to check on it as they had gone WAY past the three tests! She went ahead and took my blood and said she would ask the nurse when she was through. Huh??? Wouldn’t you ask the nurse first???

Next an internist came in and asked me the same questions everyone else had asked me. Clearly NO ONE had even looked at my chart! After answering all the questions, she informed me the problem was that I didn’t know how to breathe deeply! She wanted me to do some sort of therapy. A therapy that would include taking steroids. I told her breathing deeply wasn’t the problem… I knew how to breathe deep. I was a Beachbody coach… It’s part of the job! She didn’t know what that meant nor did she care.

The internist sent in a Pulmonary Doctor. He made it to my room later that evening. He had read my chart! I think he was the only one. He asked questions according to my chart. He looked up Beachbody. He checked my body and listened to me. He told me I had pulled a muscle in my chest. It was causing me pain as I wasn’t letting it relax. He gave me sound instructions and he LISTENED to me. He sat down and talked to me. He said I certainly didn’t need to learn how to breathe deeply.

The food in the hospital is probably the most unhealthy I’ve seen. A diet of that food for very long will kill you. So much so… One of the nurses told us she won’t eat it.

I never saw anyone from Citrus group. I’m not even sure is they wrote it down even though my husband made it clear several times I should see them.

Most of the staff didn’t listen to me. Scary when you are telling them not to do a treatment that you know you aren’t supposed to have and they do it anyway. Once I was checked into the hospital, I no longer had a say of what happened to my body. I found the experience scary. I would do everything in my power to never go back there!!!!


Lest you think I have never been in a Hospital. Not true. At 63, I have been in hospitals, my husband and my children have been in hospitals. This was the scary bad!!!




Sadly, I apologize for your experience. However, I would like to tell you that with the experience I have with several hospitals-maybe I can assist you from things on the other end of the spectrum.

They immediately took you somewhere to hook you up to a monitor--GREAT, you GOT IMMEDIATE care for CHEST PAIN. Nitro on your chest wall, one of the first lines of defense for potential heart damage. Great-side effect is headache.

Gurney- yes, that is what is in ALL Emergency Rooms. Sorry, with holding ER patients for days because the SNOW BIRD season is here and the beds are full with patients. The new addition should open this month- however, ER will not be expanded until Fall 2016. You will stay on a gurney while in the ER.

Hungry? Hmm, you are having CHEST PAIN--you should be NPO (nothing to eat or drink) until ALL results are in-in case you are having a heart attack. Sorry, EKG is not the only indicator of heart attack. Lab work and yes, they do three sets of cardiac enzymes and then routine lab work as well- to see if maybe your WBCs changed as well from the baseline.

Waiting for pain medication? Might had to get a MD to write the order, then pull the medication. Along with take care of 4 other patients- maybe a critical patient? Approx 30 minutes is appropriate.

9:20 you were informed you have a room- GREAT!! You are a lucky one that didn't have to spend the night a busy ER. The nurse then has to call the floor nurse and give report. In hopes that the nurse on the floor is available that first call to take report. Then, need to find someone to take you upstairs that can monitor your heart as you travel-usually a nurse or paramedic. Remember the same thing going on with you may be happening with the other 4 patients the nurse is just settling in or giving discharge instructions too at the same time. Or, just maybe they had another loved one come in without a heart beat or breathing on their own--CODE BLUE--usually 3 nurses, Respiratory Therapy and MD with paramedic. There is no CODE BLUE team in any ER--it is the staff already there helping others just like you.

Dietary concerns- Valid, maybe education to the nurse that offered saltines! Along with sandwich (yuck)! Grapes, sounded good....

Stress Test- I would research that further request copy of your records and orders, etc. You were awake right? Not under anesthesia- you can certainly question anything and tell them no without doctor clarification. That should not have happened to you and I am sorry that it did.

I am sorry you feel you would do everything not to go there again. Seems you have concerns- but certainly not life threatening and you received PROMPT treatment in the ER regarding your chief complaint of CHEST PAIN. Which is ruled out CARDIAC first- just thought you should know what usually goes on in any given ER and reading your post--you might have not been able to see what was going on behind the scenes.

TVRH will never be able to handle the stress of the continued growth of THE VILLAGES. Look at all the people in The Villages- do you know that ER is only 24 rooms with hallway beds? Yes, 24 rooms. So- 100,000 people, I think approx 260 beds--when the hospital is full, there is no rooms for the patients being admitted to go upstairs (or off a gurney). You sit and wait, receive the same care as if in a room--without the private room and with all the chaos of the ER on any given night during snowbird season. I am sure you are aware of 1/3 of the patients who use the hospital as an urgent care and child care clinic.

The Villages need a 24 hour Urgent Care near Brownwood/Wildwood Area. That would assist in the overflow of patients with the ER. I also think that another hospital would benefit this aging population.

You can certainly choose another facility for your continued emergency care- however, it might be more than the food that you complain about next time. Each visit, nurse, MD are different. Good luck and best wishes for quick recovery.

[dbussone]

Well said 57Chevy. A knowledgeable individual making a response that should be understandable to most. We are fortunate to have a number of posters who have a medical background.

[Challenger]

See post #55 -57ChevyFI-

Best response that I have seen on TOTV for issues at "Our Hospital".
Thankfully from one who has a clear working knowledge of ERs and can write with skill and clarity.

[TNLAKEPANDA]

One would think that the medical and hospital services in a place like the Villages would be top notch and second to none! I have heard nothing but bad things about this hospital. We will go to Leesburg or Ocala should we need a hospital.

[graciegirl]

Sadly, I apologize for your experience. However, I would like to tell you that with the experience I have with several hospitals-maybe I can assist you from things on the other end of the spectrum.

They immediately took you somewhere to hook you up to a monitor--GREAT, you GOT IMMEDIATE care for CHEST PAIN. Nitro on your chest wall, one of the first lines of defense for potential heart damage. Great-side effect is headache.

Gurney- yes, that is what is in ALL Emergency Rooms. Sorry, with holding ER patients for days because the SNOW BIRD season is here and the beds are full with patients. The new addition should open this month- however, ER will not be expanded until Fall 2016. You will stay on a gurney while in the ER.

Hungry? Hmm, you are having CHEST PAIN--you should be NPO (nothing to eat or drink) until ALL results are in-in case you are having a heart attack. Sorry, EKG is not the only indicator of heart attack. Lab work and yes, they do three sets of cardiac enzymes and then routine lab work as well- to see if maybe your WBCs changed as well from the baseline.

Waiting for pain medication? Might had to get a MD to write the order, then pull the medication. Along with take care of 4 other patients- maybe a critical patient? Approx 30 minutes is appropriate.

9:20 you were informed you have a room- GREAT!! You are a lucky one that didn't have to spend the night a busy ER. The nurse then has to call the floor nurse and give report. In hopes that the nurse on the floor is available that first call to take report. Then, need to find someone to take you upstairs that can monitor your heart as you travel-usually a nurse or paramedic. Remember the same thing going on with you may be happening with the other 4 patients the nurse is just settling in or giving discharge instructions too at the same time. Or, just maybe they had another loved one come in without a heart beat or breathing on their own--CODE BLUE--usually 3 nurses, Respiratory Therapy and MD with paramedic. There is no CODE BLUE team in any ER--it is the staff already there helping others just like you.

Dietary concerns- Valid, maybe education to the nurse that offered saltines! Along with sandwich (yuck)! Grapes, sounded good....

Stress Test- I would research that further request copy of your records and orders, etc. You were awake right? Not under anesthesia- you can certainly question anything and tell them no without doctor clarification. That should not have happened to you and I am sorry that it did.

I am sorry you feel you would do everything not to go there again. Seems you have concerns- but certainly not life threatening and you received PROMPT treatment in the ER regarding your chief complaint of CHEST PAIN. Which is ruled out CARDIAC first- just thought you should know what usually goes on in any given ER and reading your post--you might have not been able to see what was going on behind the scenes.

TVRH will never be able to handle the stress of the continued growth of THE VILLAGES. Look at all the people in The Villages- do you know that ER is only 24 rooms with hallway beds? Yes, 24 rooms. So- 100,000 people, I think approx 260 beds--when the hospital is full, there is no rooms for the patients being admitted to go upstairs (or off a gurney). You sit and wait, receive the same care as if in a room--without the private room and with all the chaos of the ER on any given night during snowbird season. I am sure you are aware of 1/3 of the patients who use the hospital as an urgent care and child care clinic.

The Villages need a 24 hour Urgent Care near Brownwood/Wildwood Area. That would assist in the overflow of patients with the ER. I also think that another hospital would benefit this aging population.

You can certainly choose another facility for your continued emergency care- however, it might be more than the food that you complain about next time. Each visit, nurse, MD are different. Good luck and best wishes for quick recovery.


Excellent post. Thank you.

[dbussone]

One would think that the medical and hospital services in a place like the Villages would be top notch and second to none! I have heard nothing but bad things about this hospital. We will go to Leesburg or Ocala should we need a hospital.

Leesburg has a really good hospital, particularly for Orthopaedics and Cardiology/Cardiac Surgery. The cardiac surgery program is ranked 3rd in a state with a number of really good programs. You should also know that TV Hospital and Leesburg are part of a system called Central FL Health Alliance, so they have the same management...and same physicians for the most part. I have watched the healthcare industry grow here in central FL for the past 25 years. It has come a long way, both in facilities and physicians, as well as the quality of care. Sure, it has room to go, but for most everything I would stay here for my care. I am very pleased with the physicians I personally have here, and am really picky having worked with physicians for more than 40 years.

I would also note that it is uncommonly difficult to manage the swings in patient volume that occur when Season brings another 25-30K people to our community. I've not been happy on one or two occasions with TVRH myself. But I've contacted administration to let them know. They can't fix a problem unless they know it exists. And I believe they are genuinely interested in fixing things. It is in their best interest to do so, as well as in our interests.

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by: Angiefox10

(FYI my heart and total health is GREAT!)

Angie, that's great, I'm glad to hear it! Would it therefore be safe to assume you have normal blood pressure(without medication)? No shortness of breath while working out? No fatigue while doing household chores or exercising? Wouldn't these be the type of questions they would ask before ordering a stress test?

Are they ordering tests routinely in every instance so as to make more money off of Medicare? Could this be Medicare fraud? We had a thread on Medicare fraud and I think it was agreed by many that it often involves ordering too many unnecessary tests.

Perhaps you should report it as a possible fraud.

[CFrance]

Angie, that's great, I'm glad to hear it! Would it therefore be safe to assume you have normal blood pressure(without medication)? No shortness of breath while working out? No fatigue while doing household chores or exercising? Wouldn't these be the type of questions they would ask before ordering a stress test?

Are they ordering tests routinely in every instance so as to make more money off of Medicare? Could this be Medicare fraud? We had a thread on Medicare fraud and I think it was agreed by many that it often involves ordering too many unnecessary tests.

Perhaps you should report it as a possible fraud.
She had chest pains! If they didn't order tests it would be fraud all right--better known as quackery.

Lots of people with good blood pressure, no shortness of breath while working out, no fatigue, good weight, etc., suffer heart attacks. I personally know two such people who died of heart attacks, one while jogging. And countless others I've read about down through the years.

[gomoho]

I wonder if anyone has ever died on a gurney in the hallway of the ER at TVRH?

[Villages PL]

She had chest pains! If they didn't order tests it would be fraud all right--better known as quackery.

I'm just going by what she said, "....my heart and total health is great!

Lots of people with good blood pressure, no shortness of breath while working out, no fatigue, good weight, etc., suffer heart attacks. I personally know two such people who died of heart attacks, one while jogging. And countless others I've read about down through the years.

I think you may be somewhat misinformed. For one thing, I don't believe this happened while jogging. And I doubt you know "countless others" who have had the same thing happen.

When I went to the hospital several years ago, the emergency room doctor told me I wasn't having a heart attack. How did he know without any testing? Only two things were used: blood pressure and stethoscope plus a few questions.

My prediction: Emotions often trump reason, just wait and see.

[CFrance]

I'm just going by what she said, "....my heart and total health is great!



I think you may be somewhat misinformed. For one thing, I don't believe this happened while jogging. And I doubt you know "countless others" who have had the same thing happen.

When I went to the hospital several years ago, the emergency room doctor told me I wasn't having a heart attack. How did he know without any testing? Only two things were used: blood pressure and stethoscope plus a few questions.

Emotions often trump reason, just wait and see.
Are you calling me a liar? I knew the woman's 27-year-old son, and he was found dead on the jogging path, while jogging. The autopsy listed cause of death as a heart attack.

The other person I knew personally was an athlete who dropped dead while taking a shower at home. he was 40. Same autopsy results.

The countless others were people in news reports during our 25 years in West Michigan.

You have no clue know what I know; we don't even know each other. So please don't try to tell me.

[Villages PL]

Are you calling me a liar? I knew the woman's 27-year-old son, and he was found dead on the jogging path, while jogging. The autopsy listed cause of death as a heart attack.

My point was: I don't think the OP got chest pains from jogging.

The other person I knew personally was an athlete who dropped dead while taking a shower at home. he was 40. Same autopsy results.

But he wasn't in a hospital emergency room being examined by a doctor.

The countless others were people in news reports during our 25 years in West Michigan.

Were they in the emergency room of a hospital being examined? This is what we are talking about. We are talking about whether or not a doctor can tell if a stress test is needed.

[CFrance]

I was referring to your statement that hospitals doing tests on seemingly healthy people who show up in the emergency room with chest pains are engaging in medical fraud.

[Fred McNickle]

New to the Villages. Where is a good place to go when needing medical care? Obviously not The Villages ER. Are there other ERs in the vicinity?

[dbussone]

New to the Villages. Where is a good place to go when needing medical care? Obviously not The Villages ER. Are there other ERs in the vicinity?

Leesburg hospital has an ER, and there are several in Ocala. TVRH is overwhelmed during season so it's not that busy out of season and is being expanded. There are also several urgent care centers in and around TV.

[angiefox10]

Thank you for your response. Either you didn't read what I had to say or I wasn't clear.

Sadly, I apologize for your experience. However, I would like to tell you that with the experience I have with several hospitals-maybe I can assist you from things on the other end of the spectrum.

They immediately took you somewhere to hook you up to a monitor--GREAT, you GOT IMMEDIATE care for CHEST PAIN. Nitro on your chest wall, one of the first lines of defense for potential heart damage. Great-side effect is headache.

Gurney- yes, that is what is in ALL Emergency Rooms. Sorry, with holding ER patients for days because the SNOW BIRD season is here and the beds are full with patients. The new addition should open this month- however, ER will not be expanded until Fall 2016. You will stay on a gurney while in the ER.

The new addition not being open is not my problem... My problem is I am a patient needing care. If you don't have enough room at the hospital to handle the people divert those that can wait.. I could have been one of those patients. Taking patents when you don't have the staff to handle them is careless with everyone's care

I was also told that with the expansion, there is no reason to believe it will be staffed any better.

Hungry? Hmm, you are having CHEST PAIN--you should be NPO (nothing to eat or drink) until ALL results are in-in case you are having a heart attack. Sorry, EKG is not the only indicator of heart attack. Lab work and yes, they do three sets of cardiac enzymes and then routine lab work as well- to see if maybe your WBCs changed as well from the baseline.

I was not NPO... That was one of the questions. My husband was directed to a vending machine for junk food for me to eat.

Waiting for pain medication? Might had to get a MD to write the order, then pull the medication. Along with take care of 4 other patients- maybe a critical patient? Approx 30 minutes is appropriate.

I thought I made it clear the nurse directed another nurse to bring the pain meds. The 30 minutes was from the first request to the second request.. not until I received the meds.

9:20 you were informed you have a room- GREAT!! You are a lucky one that didn't have to spend the night a busy ER. The nurse then has to call the floor nurse and give report. In hopes that the nurse on the floor is available that first call to take report. Then, need to find someone to take you upstairs that can monitor your heart as you travel-usually a nurse or paramedic. Remember the same thing going on with you may be happening with the other 4 patients the nurse is just settling in or giving discharge instructions too at the same time. Or, just maybe they had another loved one come in without a heart beat or breathing on their own--CODE BLUE--usually 3 nurses, Respiratory Therapy and MD with paramedic. There is no CODE BLUE team in any ER--it is the staff already there helping others just like you.

My concern was when a tech told me they have people in the ER for three days on a gurney waiting for a room. Maybe in the hospitals you work in, that's normal, not in the hospitals I've been in it's not.

And from what you are saying.. The Villages Hospital is clearly not staffed for the influx of the season. Shame on them.

Dietary concerns- Valid, maybe education to the nurse that offered saltines! Along with sandwich (yuck)! Grapes, sounded good....

None of the food being served was healthy or edible. No one in the hospital that I questioned had eaten it and one nurse told me most of the employees bring their own lunch as to not have to eat the food there.

Stress Test- I would research that further request copy of your records and orders, etc. You were awake right? Not under anesthesia- you can certainly question anything and tell them no without doctor clarification. That should not have happened to you and I am sorry that it did.

Our family cardiac doctor was very concerned that I didn't walk the treadmill. He was also concerned that he wasn't called in to see me. I won't go into that but he wasn't surprised either. That's something he will have to take up with the hospital. And... no... when I said no to the test.. it was done anyway... as when I said no the blood tests the doctor forgot to cancel. Not good.....

I am sorry you feel you would do everything not to go there again. Seems you have concerns- but certainly not life threatening and you received PROMPT treatment in the ER regarding your chief complaint of CHEST PAIN. Which is ruled out CARDIAC first- just thought you should know what usually goes on in any given ER and reading your post--you might have not been able to see what was going on behind the scenes.

Interesting.... I was there and you appear to know what was going on behind the scenes. In fact.. I was told the people being brought in that evening were there because of the flu.

TVRH will never be able to handle the stress of the continued growth of THE VILLAGES. Look at all the people in The Villages- do you know that ER is only 24 rooms with hallway beds? Yes, 24 rooms. So- 100,000 people, I think approx 260 beds--when the hospital is full, there is no rooms for the patients being admitted to go upstairs (or off a gurney). You sit and wait, receive the same care as if in a room--without the private room and with all the chaos of the ER on any given night during snowbird season. I am sure you are aware of 1/3 of the patients who use the hospital as an urgent care and child care clinic.

Again... the hospital should divert when they become too full. That's what most hospitals do.

The Villages need a 24 hour Urgent Care near Brownwood/Wildwood Area. That would assist in the overflow of patients with the ER. I also think that another hospital would benefit this aging population.

You can certainly choose another facility for your continued emergency care- however, it might be more than the food that you complain about next time. Each visit, nurse, MD are different. Good luck and best wishes for quick recovery.

Since writing this... I have talked to people who work at the hospital who have also been patients. They have expressed that they also would not go back. I stand in good company.

I expect The Villages Hospital to have better care than what I received.

As I said before...If you are happy with this hospital... you can continue to go there. This is written for others who have a problem to understand they are not the only one and they do have choices. I didn't know about all of this until I had the misfortune to go there.

Just so everyone is aware.. Yes, I did send this to the hospital and am told I have to forward the letter to Oakbrook Terrace, IL. hmmmm

As I said before, since my stay at The Villages Hospital, I was with another patient who went to Shands Hospital. If you look at the care, organization, and processes there.. it's night and day difference than the care, organization and processes at The Villages Hospital.

[angiefox10]

Leesburg has a really good hospital, particularly for Orthopaedics and Cardiology/Cardiac Surgery. The cardiac surgery program is ranked 3rd in a state with a number of really good programs. You should also know that TV Hospital and Leesburg are part of a system called Central FL Health Alliance, so they have the same management...and same physicians for the most part. I have watched the healthcare industry grow here in central FL for the past 25 years. It has come a long way, both in facilities and physicians, as well as the quality of care. Sure, it has room to go, but for most everything I would stay here for my care. I am very pleased with the physicians I personally have here, and am really picky having worked with physicians for more than 40 years.

I would also note that it is uncommonly difficult to manage the swings in patient volume that occur when Season brings another 25-30K people to our community. I've not been happy on one or two occasions with TVRH myself. But I've contacted administration to let them know. They can't fix a problem unless they know it exists. And I believe they are genuinely interested in fixing things. It is in their best interest to do so, as well as in our interests.

I have a girlfriend who is a nurse at Leesburg who says that while they are the part of Central FL Health Alliance, and have the same management they are not the same.

[angiefox10]

Here is some information, one respected well balanced source, on when is a stress test needed, and nuclear vs exercise.
Choosing Wisely | Stress tests for chest pain (http://www.choosingwisely.org/doctor-patient-lists/stress-tests-for-chest-pain/)

To the OP, as you have suggested that your being fit should have gone into the decision making process, I would respectfully disagree. You presented with acute chest pain. Your past ability to exercise did not preclude your having a significant cardiac event at the time of this hospitalization. Had they said, "Well, she is Beachbody Coach so we don't have to evaluate her heart, she must be fine." that would have been terrible care.

As to who ordered what test, I can't tell from your posting. You said you were seen by a PA, and then said a doctor ordered your test. A PA is not a doctor and despite your telling the PA you wanted a treadmill, if the MD the previous evening had ordered a nuclear test, that order would still apply. I don't know what your blood work showed or whether there might have been some concerns on your baseline EKG that they may not have even mentioned to you as they can be non-specific.

To clarify, the PA decided I should do the treadmill test... The doctor later agreed that he wanted it and questioned why I didn't take the treadmill test.

You can be 100% certain that some technologist in the cardiac lab did not make the decision of what stress test you would receive. They were following an order from someone. And as someone else posted, if you objected to having the test it is completely within your rights to decline it. At worst this will result in someone coming to explain to you the pros and cons and that if you die from an MI on the ride home they told you to have the test (CYA informed consent).

Something that was missed in my letter. The right hand in the hospital didn't know what the left hand was doing. I found it very scary. It was so bad I felt that if someone came in to have their left leg amputated... they would most likely remove the right one. It was BAD!!!!

The people posting here are assuming the staff at the hospital knew what they were doing. It was clear to me.. they didn't!!!

I was told they are over worked and understaffed!

[angiefox10]

You know.... I don't think I have written anything bad about any company.. In fact... I have gone out of my way to live by the adage "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all"

My health and my family's health is important to me. My doctors and my hospital is important to me. I wrote this.. I believe my first (if not, one of few) bad reviews because it was important to me and I thought it might be important to someone else.

Clearly I was wrong.

Just consider... Maybe... just maybe...I might know what I'm talking about.

Have a great day.