The Villages Regional Hospital?

[joedi]

:mad:
We had the unfortunate opportunity to visit the THE VILLAGES REGIONAL HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM the other night. We went into the emergency room at 10:00 pm and finally at 4:30 am the next day we were in a room to finally see a doctor. My wife had severe head pain and sat in the waiting room for over 5.5 hours waiting to see this doctor and they did not give a dam. During this time several people came in and went into the area were doctors see patients. I asked the person at registration about this and she stated I could not say your last name so I skipped you, they go in order of registration and of course we were last because they could not say last name, that is why people were seen not us. VERY POOR RUN EMERGENCY ROOM! VERY DIRTY EMERGENCY ROOM, DUST, DIRT, FLOORS WITH BLOOD ON IT, POOR SEATING, VERY COLD, MY WIFE GOT SICK AND WAS VOMITING IN A BUCKET THEY GAVE US IN THE WAITING ROOM, NO ONE CAME TO SEE HOW SHE WAS. HOPE THERE IS NOT A NEXT TIME, BUT IF THERE IS WE WILL TRAVEL TO LEESBURG OR OCALA IT WOULD BE WORTH THE TRIP TO BEEN SEEN BY A PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE AND HOSPITAL. Never been in a emergency room that was so dirty and very UNPROFESSIONAL!

[billethkid]

Here is where to send a copy of your complaint:

Board of directors | Central Florida Health Alliance | Leesburg, Florida (http://www.cfhalliance.org/about-board.html)

Don Hahnfelts address here in TV:

1793 Hartford Path
The Villages, FL
32162

[graciegirl]

:mad:
We had the unfortunate opportunity to visit the THE VILLAGES REGIONAL HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM the other night. We went into the emergency room at 10:00 pm and finally at 4:30 am the next day we were in a room to finally see a doctor. My wife had severe head pain and sat in the waiting room for over 5.5 hours waiting to see this doctor and they did not give a dam. During this time several people came in and went into the area were doctors see patients. I asked the person at registration about this and she stated I could not say your last name so I skipped you, they go in order of registration and of course we were last because they could not say last name, that is why people were seen not us. VERY POOR RUN EMERGENCY ROOM! VERY DIRTY EMERGENCY ROOM, DUST, DIRT, FLOORS WITH BLOOD ON IT, POOR SEATING, VERY COLD, MY WIFE GOT SICK AND WAS VOMITING IN A BUCKET THEY GAVE US IN THE WAITING ROOM, NO ONE CAME TO SEE HOW SHE WAS. HOPE THERE IS NOT A NEXT TIME, BUT IF THERE IS WE WILL TRAVEL TO LEESBURG OR OCALA IT WOULD BE WORTH THE TRIP TO BEEN SEEN BY A PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE AND HOSPITAL. Never been in a emergency room that was so dirty and very UNPROFESSIONAL!

Your other post said you were overcharged by the water company and your water meter fell apart. You have not had good things happen.

[jebartle]

Yipsters!.... I assume a hospital administrator knows this story!...If not, they should... I can only hope that this is not the norm! Sure hope your wife is OK.



:mad:
We had the unfortunate opportunity to visit the THE VILLAGES REGIONAL HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM the other night. We went into the emergency room at 10:00 pm and finally at 4:30 am the next day we were in a room to finally see a doctor. My wife had severe head pain and sat in the waiting room for over 5.5 hours waiting to see this doctor and they did not give a dam. During this time several people came in and went into the area were doctors see patients. I asked the person at registration about this and she stated I could not say your last name so I skipped you, they go in order of registration and of course we were last because they could not say last name, that is why people were seen not us. VERY POOR RUN EMERGENCY ROOM! VERY DIRTY EMERGENCY ROOM, DUST, DIRT, FLOORS WITH BLOOD ON IT, POOR SEATING, VERY COLD, MY WIFE GOT SICK AND WAS VOMITING IN A BUCKET THEY GAVE US IN THE WAITING ROOM, NO ONE CAME TO SEE HOW SHE WAS. HOPE THERE IS NOT A NEXT TIME, BUT IF THERE IS WE WILL TRAVEL TO LEESBURG OR OCALA IT WOULD BE WORTH THE TRIP TO BEEN SEEN BY A PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE AND HOSPITAL. Never been in a emergency room that was so dirty and very UNPROFESSIONAL!

[Brendanyc]

I arrived in TV two weeks ago... BTW We are thrilled to be frogs!!!..however, we did have to take our mom to the Villages Hospital ER. Our wait was 5 hours but we had not arrived until 2am. All I can say is that they are terribly understaffed. The nurse in the ER took blood in front of everyone and then had linen duty in between. I do agree that the hospital was not clean and looked worn. I was surprised by this because the outside looks pristine. We are very satisfied with the care that she is getting with TV health system. Her initial visit with her doctor at the Pinellas office was 90 minutes. They were thorough and have called our home to ensure that her recommended follow up care is taking place. Unfortunately, I do agree if that we are in need of an ER in the future we will either go to Leesburg or Ocala, however, in emergency situations time often is of the essence. I have read that the hospital is redoing their ER. That's great..but... if it continues to remain poorly understaffed residents will be greeted by a pristine ER with the same underlying problems.

[red tail]

I have had occasion to use the villages hospital twice for family members in the past year and the experience was as good as it gets! when people complain about the food, the condition of the floor etc etc etc I take the complaints with a grain of salt. there are those that can not be satisfied with anything. I would not hesitate to take my loved ones to our hospital.

[gomoho]

Don't expect much better at Leesburg. My 95 year old mother was taken by ambulance to the emergency room with stomach pain and vomiting blood. It was almost 24 hours before she was taken to a room and even then the left hand didn't know what the right hand was doing because the computers between the ER and the floors aren't connected.

[NotGolfer]

We've had the "opportunity" as the OP states to experience TVRH 2X in our nearly 6 yrs here. Our experience wasn't like this person's in that we felt un-cared for. To be sure they do triage the patients. Our 1st visit was an emergency ruptured disc that eventually ended with surgery. That said however we came in on a Sunday night (late) on a holiday weekend. The surgeon was incommunacado until Tuesday but care was definately given throughout. Our most recent visit definately hit during "high season" and the ER was over-run with sick people. The EMT's said that that time of year ALL the ER's would be this way. We can't express enough how kind everyone was, the care we got in a crisis situation was very good. I would give TVRH five stars!! Just another opinion..........

[laceylady]

The Ocala Regional Medical Center has billboards on I-75 and throughout Ocala announcing the current wait time in their ER. It is usually under 10 min. Yes, this is a trauma hospital but you can go there for other things too. My very sick husband has had surgeries, or ER visits in ORMC, Leesburg, TVRH and Munroe Hospital. By FAR, THE BEST IS ORMC. Last summer the ambulance wanted to take him to TVRH because it was "closest". Having just spent two weeks with him there as an impatient, I begged for somewhere else. They took him to ORMC at 4 am on a Sunday morning. They worked wonders. It is a 40 minute drive there on I75 as opposed to 30 minutes to TVRH from our house. Best 10 minutes we ever "wasted".

[Brendanyc]

I have had occasion to use the villages hospital twice for family members in the past year and the experience was as good as it gets! when people complain about the food, the condition of the floor etc etc etc I take the complaints with a grain of salt. there are those that can not be satisfied with anything. I would not hesitate to take my loved ones to our hospital.

If I duplicate my response I apologize as I was booted offline. I am pleased to hear that you had a positive experience, however, ER and triage care is different to that on medical floors. I have had the good fortune to be from NYC where the majority of our hospitals are teaching institutions. This predicates the necessity for quality instruction and care. My concern was not the quality of food.. we can provide our own... (and have done so in NYC hospitals where it was stinky), however, Did I mention that the ER nurse disposed of contaminated needles in the general garbage? I left that out not to be too critical.. Oh by the way.. I know I didn't mention that my mom was released with her IV in and I had to remove it myself at home. We have all had different experiences in service and care no matter what the institution, however, my concern is that my observations were taken "with a grain of salt". Knowledge is power.

[Brendanyc]

The Villages has NOTHING to do with how the hospital is run. The building is owned by the Morses and leased by the hospital company who runs it. I have frequently said that I don't think Florida is a winner when it comes to medical care. I am used to Cincinnati that has some fine teaching hospitals, the second best Childrens Hospital in the country and believe me, I am very familiar with good medical care.

AND she's a HE. AND read his other post. Then...

Get off me.

Gracie.. I have seen your posts and totally agree with you. Often times people see TV or "morse" and say they are not doing their jobs. This enterprise is large... in fact it is grandiose.. lol everyone needs to take a deep breath.. look at service. reflect on the depth and breath of it given the population and then set their expectations. They need to set their non-negotiables, as well as, their expectation (whether reasonable or not). Everyone is entitled to quality of care. :wave:

[CFrance]

I think every situation complained about needs to be evaluated by one's own personal "radar" as to whether or not the OP is a complainer. And I am glad for the people who point out who owns what and recognize the need to put the blame where it is due, and not automatically on the developer. If that's straddling the line between the nay sayers and the yay sayers, so be it. But that is how I feel.

From reading the many posts about TVRH ER department, I have come to the conclusion (my own radar at work) that it is flawed. I'm happy to know that ORMC is only ten minutes further. But how... by siren? Or how, because it is 30-35 minutes to TVRH from Tamarind Grove in my car. We can get from our house to Ocala's town square in 45 min. I don't know where the hospital is, though, to be able to judge the "40 minute" statement.

PS: Our doctor says the best time to arrive at TVRH ER (if you have that luxury) is early morning, around 8 or 9.

[sunnyatlast]

The Ocala Regional Medical Center has billboards on I-75 and throughout Ocala announcing the current wait time in their ER. It is usually under 10 min. Yes, this is a trauma hospital but you can go there for other things too. My very sick husband has had surgeries, or ER visits in ORMC, Leesburg, TVRH and Munroe Hospital. By FAR, THE BEST IS ORMC. Last summer the ambulance wanted to take him to TVRH because it was "closest". Having just spent two weeks with him there as an impatient, I begged for somewhere else. They took him to ORMC at 4 am on a Sunday morning. They worked wonders. It is a 40 minute drive there on I75 as opposed to 30 minutes to TVRH from our house. Best 10 minutes we ever "wasted".

Highway billboards announcing conveniently short ER wait times…...like it's McDonalds or Burger King and you want your burgers, fries and big gulp drinks in 3 minutes or less, no waiting. What a farce it is when ER's do that!

Those fantasy wait times posted usually have fine print saying it means you "will be seen" by a "clinician" in 10 minutes, which could be a medical assistant taking your vital signs and then you wait while super-sick and complicated patients have every critical possible malady ruled out, are treated, and then wait hours more in the ER bed/room for a bed upstairs to be admitted.

And ORMC E.R.: :ohdear: :ohdear: :ohdear:

.

[Bonny]

I have been in the VRH 3 times for a couple of serious problems. Yes, the wait in the ER was long as it is everywhere !
Maybe I'm one of the lucky ones that all 3 times I have had excellent care.
I worked in one of the largest hospitals in Michigan in the 70's. Long waits in the ER. Some complaints, some praise.

I have been admitted to 3 different hospitals since I have lived here for surgeries. No matter what hospital you go to, there can be problems. Almost all have ER staffing problems

A friend of mine took her very sick child to Ocala to Munroe Regional this past weekend. She did several postings on facebook about how sick her daughter was and they weren't finding anything. She said awful care. Some suggested she take her to Shands and she did. They found the problem.

Below is just a little of what my friend said after being at MRMC..
****************
Wow! So after a long night at mrmc...they checked her for everything..they said she's fine. Bring her to shands and they find ......... Annnnnd mrmc couldn't see that???? .I will never step foot into mrmc again!

[cavalier65]

According to Consumer Reports/Union of the four hospitals in our area, The Villages Hospital has the lowest safety score among other low ratings. The two in Ocala and Orlando Regional are rated higher. If we listen to the local propaganda through the Daily Sun, etc., one would think that The Villages Hospital is second to none let alone last in the area.

Are we getting the best local care or do we have to travel?:spoken:

[MoeVonB61]

The BEST hospital overall in the this Area is South Lake Hospital in Clermont, FL. They are owned 49% by ORMC, Orlando Regional Medical Center a Level One trauma center.....OH and BTW....I will give you all a little hint. If you go to the ER alone/without your Spouse you will be attended to much faster than if you came together....

[dbussone]

The BEST hospital overall in the this Area is South Lake Hospital in Clermont, FL. They are owned 49% by ORMC, Orlando Regional Medical Center a Level One trauma center.....OH and BTW....I will give you all a little hint. If you go to the ER alone/without your Spouse you will be attended to much faster than if you came together....


All of the overall ratings are worthless. If you have a specific problem you should be looking at the data for that service.

[Hancle704]

Wife was brought to TVRH ER by ambulance at 9:30 PM recently. Elevated BP and complaining of same symptoms of congestive heart failure that she had experienced in past. She was left on a gurney in a hallway in the ER. Tests were ordered and about midnight she was brought to a ER room. More tests were ordered and a doctor came in and before she said much she said she had to take a call. At 2:30 AM I started asking when the doctor would return. At 4:30 AM a nurse came in and stated my wife had CHF and was being admitted. She then suggested that I could leave. It wasn't until noon that my wife was finally brought to a room. She spent several days on 4th floor in observation room before being discharged and sent to a skilled nursing facility for continued treatment. During her stay in the hospital I noticed that there are several corridors in hospital that have all empty rooms. I have now been told that while the hospital has been expanded they have not added staff adequate to meet demand and the result is that folks spend longer periods in the ER and because of that, many folks spend added time in the waiting room. She was seen by cardiologist and internist in the ER while waiting to be sent to a room. As far as I know the ER doctor never returned to see my wife but ordered tests. My disappointment about the hospital is now based on reality that all the expansion has not improved the long ER waits because there does not seem to be enough staff to handle the volume of patients waiting to be admitted.

I agree with other posts that the entire ER department is in real need of a makeover and at a minimum, a good cleaning because it is starting to look like some of the third world hospitals we seen on TV news.

[rjn5656]

our experience with a neighbor last week was lacking to say the least. I will consider other hospitals if and when needed.

[Beachdad]

Will be trying ORMC next time we need a hospital.

[Beachdad]

Sometimes Lake County doesn't have enough ambulances, either. Pretty scary to not have an ambulance available at all for over five minutes! Happened at least 4 times, between October and February.

[graciegirl]

Sometimes Lake County doesn't have enough ambulances, either. Pretty scary to not have an ambulance available at all for over five minutes! Happened at least 4 times, between October and February.

I am sorry to hear this and I am also skeptical.

I

[zonerboy]

I thought the multi-million dollar expansion project was supposed to solve the problem of extraordinary long ER waits at The Villages Regional Hospital?
Oh well.....perhaps it isn't complete yet....
But then again, you can build as many exam/treatment rooms as you want but if you don't adequately staff them, the problem will remain. So what's the problem with obtaining sufficient staff. Well the main problem is that you have to pay them. And where does the money come from to pay these medical professionals? It comes from third party payers for services rendered, such as Medicare and private health insurance companies operating under Obamacare. Since The Villages is an over 55 community with a population of over 100,000 there is a very high percentage of Medicare patients here. And Medicare compensation is notoriously low compared to private insurance. And Obamacare only makes the compensation situation worse.
So don't blame the developer for your long wait. Blame your government.

[Brendanyc]

I thought the multi-million dollar expansion project was supposed to solve the problem of extraordinary long ER waits at The Villages Regional Hospital?
Oh well.....perhaps it isn't complete yet....
But then again, you can build as many exam/treatment rooms as you want but if you don't adequately staff them, the problem will remain. So what's the problem with obtaining sufficient staff. Well the main problem is that you have to pay them. And where does the money come from to pay these medical professionals? It comes from third party payers for services rendered, such as Medicare and private health insurance companies operating under Obamacare. Since The Villages is an over 55 community with a population of over 100,000 there is a very high percentage of Medicare patients here. And Medicare compensation is notoriously low compared to private insurance. And Obamacare only makes the compensation situation worse.
So don't blame the developer for your long wait. Blame your government.

:wave: I do agree with you that if one does not hire adequate staff the problem will remain. You asked "what is the problem with obtaining adequate staff?" I would prefer to keep politics out of this but you mention Obamacare. When you think about it... those individuals (specifically the working poor because we know that an individual could certainly be non-low income but be without medical care) that have bought into Obamacare are now actually claimed under a billable insurance company. It should be known that the ER department constitutes one of the biggest economic strains for a hospital virtually above all other departments due to the fact that in a public hospital one can not refuse medical care. Prior to Obamacare, the non insured working poor would be treated in the ER, billed, and then it was up to the ER to pursue payment which in many cases was not forthcoming thus draining the economic viability of the institution.
I am knew to TV but I refuse to buy into the ideology that a medical institution in such an economically viable community can not function properly. My question is why isn't the rest of the hospital's billable services not covering the smooth functioning of the ER? I don't have the answer to that but I think it is a viable question.
Another point I would like to bring up is that many of the doctors that visit admitted patients do not take a plethora of insurance plans. I have recently retired to TV but I am part of a "cadillac" insurance plan from NYC (I am not yet age eligible to apply for medicare.) My plan is accepted by virtually every doctor in every teaching hospital in NYC (Columbia Presbyterian, Sloan Kettering, Mt. Sinai) and yet it is not accepted here. I think we need to educate our doctors on insurance plans that do pay a higher percentage than medicare, medicaid and other Obamacare insurance companies. I'm good with carrying medicare patients as I will be one in the years to come, but I am not OK with doctors not accepting plans that could assist in carrying other services provided by Medicare and Obamicare because they just never thought to ask. I do not want to continue to pay out of service rates for doctors that would be glad to participate in a plan that they have no knowledge of... we are all transplants with different insurances and well... stories. :wave::wave::wave:

[Bogie Shooter]

I thought the multi-million dollar expansion project was supposed to solve the problem of extraordinary long ER waits at The Villages Regional Hospital?
Oh well.....perhaps it isn't complete yet....
But then again, you can build as many exam/treatment rooms as you want but if you don't adequately staff them, the problem will remain. So what's the problem with obtaining sufficient staff. Well the main problem is that you have to pay them. And where does the money come from to pay these medical professionals? It comes from third party payers for services rendered, such as Medicare and private health insurance companies operating under Obamacare. Since The Villages is an over 55 community with a population of over 100,000 there is a very high percentage of Medicare patients here. And Medicare compensation is notoriously low compared to private insurance. And Obamacare only makes the compensation situation worse.
So don't blame the developer for your long wait. Blame your government.
Probably neither one...............

[CFrance]

:wave: I do agree with you that if one does not hire adequate staff the problem will remain. You asked "what is the problem with obtaining adequate staff?" I would prefer to keep politics out of this but you mention Obamacare. When you think about it... those individuals (specifically the working poor because we know that an individual could certainly be non-low income but be without medical care) that have bought into Obamacare are now actually claimed under a billable insurance company. It should be known that the ER department constitutes one of the biggest economic strains for a hospital virtually above all other departments due to the fact that in a public hospital one can not refuse medical care. Prior to Obamacare, the non insured working poor would be treated in the ER, billed, and then it was up to the ER to pursue payment which in many cases was not forthcoming thus draining the economic viability of the institution.
I am knew to TV but I refuse to buy into the ideology that a medical institution in such an economically viable community can not function properly. My question is why isn't the rest of the hospital's billable services not covering the smooth functioning of the ER? I don't have the answer to that but I think it is a viable question.
Another point I would like to bring up is that many of the doctors that visit admitted patients do not take a plethora of insurance plans. I have recently retired to TV but I am part of a "cadillac" insurance plan from NYC (I am not yet age eligible to apply for medicare.) My plan is accepted by virtually every doctor in every teaching hospital in NYC (Columbia Presbyterian, Sloan Kettering, Mt. Sinai) and yet it is not accepted here. I think we need to educate our doctors on insurance plans that do pay a higher percentage than medicare, medicaid and other Obamacare insurance companies. I'm good with carrying medicare patients as I will be one in the years to come, but I am not OK with doctors not accepting plans that could assist in carrying other services provided by Medicare and Obamicare because they just never thought to ask. I do not want to continue to pay out of service rates for doctors that would be glad to participate in a plan that they have no knowledge of... we are all transplants with different insurances and well... stories. :wave::wave::wave:
THANK YOU for that explanation. It's very well thought-out and not driven by a particular political bent.

[gap2415]

This is a retirement community. Most emergency and other healthcare is used in the last few years of life. Some say why prolong with expensive healthcare people of late retirement age. Adequate healthcare goes way beyond this issue. It's about pain, suffering, real and normal fear and expectations of adequate and compassionate care. In THIS community with such a high number of elderly, we should be screaming for the best emergency healthcare possible. Perhaps we need sponsors, volunteers and fundraising to boost it but most of all we need talented leadership from the top down. We need to be heard.

[blueash]

Another point I would like to bring up is that many of the doctors that visit admitted patients do not take a plethora of insurance plans. I have recently retired to TV but I am part of a "cadillac" insurance plan from NYC (I am not yet age eligible to apply for medicare.) My plan is accepted by virtually every doctor in every teaching hospital in NYC (Columbia Presbyterian, Sloan Kettering, Mt. Sinai) and yet it is not accepted here. I think we need to educate our doctors on insurance plans that do pay a higher percentage than medicare, medicaid and other Obamacare insurance companies. I'm good with carrying medicare patients as I will be one in the years to come, but I am not OK with doctors not accepting plans that could assist in carrying other services provided by Medicare and Obamicare because they just never thought to ask. I do not want to continue to pay out of service rates for doctors that would be glad to participate in a plan that they have no knowledge of... we are all transplants with different insurances and well... stories.

Simple answer to complex question, but

1. Doctors in areas outside of where the insurance company provides services may not be eligible to join as an in network doctor.

2. Each carrier has its own complex rules for management, formulary, network of labs and consultants, thick contract, rules for claims submissions and appeals, emails, program updates that the doctor must read to stay in compliance. Why would a doctor spend the time and money to join a network when there will be so few patients with that insurance? The tiny incremental increase in patients seen is simply not worth work involved in being accepted then following all that particular carrier's rules. Some would suggest we should go to single national health insurance as an option to get beyond this problem.

[sunnyatlast]

Y'all are conjecturing about understaffing by everyone BUT the contracted corporation that runs the ER at both The Villages and Leesburg Regional hospitals.

And then there are the CEOs and CFOs who pay them!

Job openings in The Villages and Leesburg ERs:
CareerMD | View Listing (http://www.careermd.com/physicians/viewlisting.aspx?ListingID=288986041)

And then see how many are needed by just a few other FL hospitals….
http://www.careermd.com/physicians/careerfairs/employersnapshot.aspx?pid=244447007

You can blame and condemn the "evil, rich" developers all you want, but the developers are not the executive board members who contract, oversee and pay for this mess managed by Central Florida Health Alliance Board:

Board of directors | Central Florida Health Alliance | Leesburg, Florida (http://cfhalliance.org/about-board.html)

.

[graciegirl]

Simple answer to complex question, but

1. Doctors in areas outside of where the insurance company provides services may not be eligible to join as an in network doctor.

2. Each carrier has its own complex rules for management, formulary, network of labs and consultants, thick contract, rules for claims submissions and appeals, emails, program updates that the doctor must read to stay in compliance. Why would a doctor spend the time and money to join a network when there will be so few patients with that insurance? The tiny incremental increase in patients seen is simply not worth work involved in being accepted then following all that particular carrier's rules. Some would suggest we should go to single national health insurance as an option to get beyond this problem.

I can say this. It isn't any of the doctors I know who are suggesting that.

[sunnyatlast]

Simple answer to complex question, but

1. Doctors in areas outside of where the insurance company provides services...

.....Some would suggest we should go to single national health insurance as an option to get beyond this problem.

A "single national health insurance" that treats every person in the nation as this system does?

A fatal wait: Veterans languish and die on a VA hospital's secret list

At least 40 U.S. veterans died waiting for appointments at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care system, many of whom were placed on a secret waiting list.

The secret list was part of an elaborate scheme designed by Veterans Affairs managers in Phoenix who were trying to hide that 1,400 to 1,600 sick veterans were forced to wait months to see a doctor, according to a recently retired top VA doctor and several high-level sources.

For six months, CNN has been reporting......"

A fatal wait: Veterans languish and die on a VA hospital's secret list - CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/23/health/veterans-dying-health-care-delays/)

[dbussone]

A "single national health insurance" that treats every person in the nation as this system does?

A fatal wait: Veterans languish and die on a VA hospital's secret list

At least 40 U.S. veterans died waiting for appointments at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care system, many of whom were placed on a secret waiting list.

The secret list was part of an elaborate scheme designed by Veterans Affairs managers in Phoenix who were trying to hide that 1,400 to 1,600 sick veterans were forced to wait months to see a doctor, according to a recently retired top VA doctor and several high-level sources.

For six months, CNN has been reporting......"

A fatal wait: Veterans languish and die on a VA hospital's secret list - CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/23/health/veterans-dying-health-care-delays/)

Sunny - I must agree with you and underscore your point. The last thing we need is a single national health insurance. In addition to it's painful inability to care for our wounded warriors, just imagine what the government could do with control of 17% of the economy given what they've done to Social Security and Medicare.

[cavalier65]

If I understand you correctly, all ratings of products and services are worthless. Hmm...

[CFrance]

If I understand you correctly, all ratings of products and services are worthless. Hmm...
Please, would you quote the post you are replying to? Whose post suggested that all ratings of products and services are worthless?

Oftentimes a post or two slips in between yours and the person you are replying to, so quoting the post is very helpful.

[cavalier65]

According to Consumer Reports/Union of the four hospitals in our area, The Villages Hospital has the lowest safety score among other low ratings. The two in Ocala and Orlando Regional are rated higher. If we listen to the local propaganda through the Daily Sun, etc., one would think that The Villages Hospital is second to none let alone last in the area.

[tekcormn]

I went went thru pretty much the same thing as JOEDI. I agree with everything he said.
It is the worst hospital I have ever been in. They ended up amputating two of my toes
and I was there 6 days. I will never go there again. I will try Ocala ORMC for emergency care. Are they open 24/7.
I also need a regular Dr in internal medicine. I am near Lake Sumter Landing. Can anyone recommend soneone. I just moved here.

[sunnyatlast]

I went went thru pretty much the same thing as JOEDI. I agree with everything he said.
It is the worst hospital I have ever been in. They ended up amputating two of my toes
and I was there 6 days. I will never go there again. I will try Ocala ORMC for emergency care. Are they open 24/7.
I also need a regular Dr in internal medicine. I am near Lake Sumter Landing. Can anyone recommend soneone. I just moved here.

Keep on driving another 30 miles north of Ocala, to University of Florida Shands Medical Center in Gainesville.

https://ufhealth.org/emergency-room-trauma-center

OR, go to Mayo in Jacksonville for such conditions that would call for toe amputation (or not)!!!!!!

Don't mess around with the small, non-teaching hospitals for such things!

And another thing: the thread started about the Emercency Dept. at TVRH, not about an individual doctor/surgeon who recommended toe amputation….. (never mind the fact that the average housewife could probably conclude accurately that gangrene often warrants amputations).

The ER at The Villages is badly needed here, so don't make the accusations/criticism any worse than they already are. There are good, skilled nurses and doctors working there but their hands are often tied by, and they have to put up with, Administration that looks only at $$, not patient care.

[blueash]

A "single national health insurance" that treats every person in the nation as this system does?

A fatal wait: Veterans languish and die on a VA hospital's secret list

At least 40 U.S. veterans died waiting for appointments at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care system, many of whom were placed on a secret waiting list.

The secret list was part of an elaborate scheme designed by Veterans Affairs managers in Phoenix who were trying to hide that 1,400 to 1,600 sick veterans were forced to wait months to see a doctor, according to a recently retired top VA doctor and several high-level sources.

For six months, CNN has been reporting......"

A fatal wait: Veterans languish and die on a VA hospital's secret list - CNN.com (http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/23/health/veterans-dying-health-care-delays/)

Just FYI there is a difference between a health insurance and a health care network. The VA is a provider for persons with a particular health insurance. Medicare is a basic insurance program within which there are options for insurance add ons. What happened in the VA in Arizona was terrible and fortunately came to light thanks to some brave whistle blowers. What happened at the VA is neither an argument for or against single payer.

[BobandMary]

I'm sorry for your experiences. We had one event during a visit and were so grateful for their professionalism and care.

[hulahips]

Unfortunately this can be the norm. As someone who has experienced the hospital more than the average person here with 2 parents living here I spent more than 5 hours in the emergency room many times over the past 2 years. With the population here we definitely need another hospital but don't know if that is in the plan. Sorry for your experience. Wish I had more confidence in what is to come

[Steve & Deanna]

The waits in ERs are usually long but to not be in a pristine area breeds infections. At our location up north, I've found heart patients are tended to ASAP speaking from experience. Unfortunately, seems that's one health care facility that needs to clean up their act.

[lambchop285]

i had the same experience - I waited 7-1/2 hours to get into a room and i think i actually got better in that time - then they had the nerve to charge me $4700.00 for a blood test and an ultrasound.....

[KeepingItReal]

i had the same experience - I waited 7-1/2 hours to get into a room and i think i actually got better in that time - then they had the nerve to charge me $4700.00 for a blood test and an ultrasound.....


You got off really cheap, wife's bill was nearly $12K for a shot to relieve kidney stone. MRI alone was nearly $6K. Total time elapsed was about 4:30 PM until 11 PM. Got bills from doctors and others that were never even there and hospital couldn't even tell us who they were.

Had we not had insurance that greatly reduced the allowed charges we would have had to pay the full amount.

[john1953]

I like the Villages Hospital but the ER is sad.My wife was having major issues and went to the ER and was told all the beds are full and the wait would be 8 hours.You freaking kidding me.We walked right out and went to uegent care in sumter landing and saw a doctor in 5 minutes.My wife is doing awesome.

[Simonsays]

Thanks much for this info. Owensboro, Ky is looking better all the time--immaculate hospital, wonderful docs (mostly). But the weather leaves much to be desired.
Guess Ocala sounds like the only other option if we stay. Any suggestions for Ocala internal med docs?

[sunnyatlast]

I like the Villages Hospital but the ER is sad.My wife was having major issues and went to the ER and was told all the beds are full and the wait would be 8 hours.You freaking kidding me.We walked right out and went to uegent care in sumter landing and saw a doctor in 5 minutes.My wife is doing awesome.

To be fair.....

Consider the patients IN those ER beds that were all full. They are most likely to be over age 75-80 with carloads of internal medicine complexities to diagnose and rule out, which takes a lot of time and testing, with 3 or 4 organ systems wearing out fast and failing.

They were in the ER beds and not your wife, because they were vastly sicker and true "emergencies". The emergency dept. of a hospital is not a walk-in Minute Clinic that could be staffed by a single nurse practitioner, family practice dr, etc. All specialties are on deck 24 hours a day for the ER, one of the big reasons ER is so expensive to provide and operate.

The fact that she could "walk right out" and go to the urgent care center indicates she was triaged accordingly. Yes, mistakes and human error sometimes cause erroneous triaging of patients. But all there are human and have to go with their years of education, training, observant eye/mind, etc., AND with their hands often tied by administrative boondoggling between other departments which the ER clinicians have to depend on to get things done.

[NYGUY]

To be fair.....

Consider the patients IN those ER beds that were all full. They are most likely to be over age 75-80 with carloads of internal medicine complexities to diagnose and rule out, which takes a lot of time and testing, with 3 or 4 organ systems wearing out fast and failing.

They were in the ER beds and not your wife, because they were vastly sicker and true "emergencies". The emergency dept. of a hospital is not a walk-in Minute Clinic that could be staffed by a single nurse practitioner, family practice dr, etc. All specialties are on deck 24 hours a day for the ER, one of the big reasons ER is so expensive to provide and operate.

The fact that she could "walk right out" and go to the urgent care center indicates she was triaged accordingly. Yes, mistakes and human error sometimes cause erroneous triaging of patients. But all there are human and have to go with their years of education, training, observant eye/mind, etc., AND with their hands often tied by administrative boondoggling between other departments which the ER clinicians have to depend on to get things done.

Sounds like a fair assessment!!

[Barefoot]

To be fair.....

Consider the patients IN those ER beds that were all full. They are most likely to be over age 75-80 with carloads of internal medicine complexities to diagnose and rule out, which takes a lot of time and testing, with 3 or 4 organ systems wearing out fast and failing.

They were in the ER beds and not your wife, because they were vastly sicker and true "emergencies". The emergency dept. of a hospital is not a walk-in Minute Clinic that could be staffed by a single nurse practitioner, family practice dr, etc. All specialties are on deck 24 hours a day for the ER, one of the big reasons ER is so expensive to provide and operate.

The fact that she could "walk right out" and go to the urgent care center indicates she was triaged accordingly. Yes, mistakes and human error sometimes cause erroneous triaging of patients. But all there are human and have to go with their years of education, training, observant eye/mind, etc., AND with their hands often tied by administrative boondoggling between other departments which the ER clinicians have to depend on to get things done.

Great post. :thumbup:

[john1953]

First off you have NO idea what issues my wife was going threw.She was VERY sick.We both walked out with me helping her because we could not take the chance on staying 8 hours waiting to see a doctor.Your post really was all guess work.And you guessed wrong.Waiting in an ER for 8 hours is dead wrong.

[Challenger]

I like the Villages Hospital but the ER is sad.My wife was having major issues and went to the ER and was told all the beds are full and the wait would be 8 hours.You freaking kidding me.We walked right out and went to uegent care in sumter landing and saw a doctor in 5 minutes.My wife is doing awesome.

Sounds like the Triage system worked perfectly to me."We walked right out and went to urgent care in Sumter Landing and saw a doctor in 5 minutes"

"My wife is doing awesome"

A quick and efficient system of care that worked as it was designed.

[Quietman]

According to Consumer Reports/Union of the four hospitals in our area, The Villages Hospital has the lowest safety score among other low ratings. The two in Ocala and Orlando Regional are rated higher. If we listen to the local propaganda through the Daily Sun, etc., one would think that The Villages Hospital is second to none let alone last in the area.

Could you point me in the right direction for Consumer Report ratings. I am very interested in reading it but couldn't find it my issues.

[Trish Crocker]

I have been in the VRH 3 times for a couple of serious problems. Yes, the wait in the ER was long as it is everywhere !
Maybe I'm one of the lucky ones that all 3 times I have had excellent care.
I worked in one of the largest hospitals in Michigan in the 70's. Long waits in the ER. Some complaints, some praise.

I have been admitted to 3 different hospitals since I have lived here for surgeries. No matter what hospital you go to, there can be problems. Almost all have ER staffing problems

A friend of mine took her very sick child to Ocala to Munroe Regional this past weekend. She did several postings on facebook about how sick her daughter was and they weren't finding anything. She said awful care. Some suggested she take her to Shands and she did. They found the problem.

Below is just a little of what my friend said after being at MRMC..
****************
Wow! So after a long night at mrmc...they checked her for everything..they said she's fine. Bring her to shands and they find ......... Annnnnd mrmc couldn't see that???? .I will never step foot into mrmc again!

Just totally being curious...what hospital were you with in Michigan??

[Shirleevee]

First off you have NO idea what issues my wife was going threw.She was VERY sick.We both walked out with me helping her because we could not take the chance on staying 8 hours waiting to see a doctor.Your post really was all guess work.And you guessed wrong.Waiting in an ER for 8 hours is dead wrong.

As a life long New Yorker 4-8 hr. waits are the rule unless you have chest pain!

[trichard]

I have an acquaintance who was seen in The Villages Hospital ER. He waited for hours until he was seen and eventually admitted to the hospital for adominal pain. After two days he was told he needed an appendectomy. He decided to check himself out to go to an Ocala hospital where his physician had staff privileges. He was diagnosed with the flu. He was discharged to rest at home where he fully recovered. He has had no problems since and still has his appendix!

[Matzy]

After reading all the comments I had to think about myself when I was in the ER July 2014 at a Sunday afternoon. I went in the hospital because I had a pain in my left shoulder, within 30 min. 2 doctors saw me and I was under full observation. Check after check, looking for a possible heart attack, I had to stay overnight to be sure that all was fine. I can't complain at all about the service, I think something must be wrong with me.

[dbussone]

After reading all the comments I had to think about myself when I was in the ER July 2014 at a Sunday afternoon. I went in the hospital because I had a pain in my left shoulder, within 30 min. 2 doctors saw me and I was under full observation. Check after check, looking for a possible heart attack, I had to stay overnight to be sure that all was fine. I can't complain at all about the service, I think something must be wrong with me.

All hospital ERs triage when they are busy. More often than not they get it right. I know that is not very comforting, but if you have a loved one who needs to be prioritized you will understand if you talk with the staff. I've been to TVRH ER twice with my wife. They took much longer to see her than I would like, but there were ambulances waiting outside to offload patients for hours. This speaks to me about the physician group in the ER, not the nurse staffing.

[Lauren Sweeny]

I waited 5 hours in hallway at TV regional hospital emergency , after a vehicular accident. Most of the time I was on a back board and neckbrace. Volunteers were kind , but also clueless about not raising my head to sip water. " No ! Stop! " I had to halt one from being too helpful . All in all my experience led me to never go there again if at all possible

[DigitalGranny]

I don't want to bore you with our tale of woe, but if you can safely be transported farther than TV Hospital, my advice is don't go there! We won't make the mistake again, unless it's just to get stabilized --and then you might be better off with good paramedics transporting you to a better place!

[57ChevyFI]

For all of the visitors of The Villages Regional Hospital ER--

If you were told the "WAIT TIME" is too long and you end up going to an URGENT CARE, treated and sent home--YOU HAD NO MEDICAL EMERGENCY IN THE FIRST PLACE

If you were "lying on a backboard" and in a collar and even asking for water-I am SO CONFUSED of the concern for lying flat while drinking--the backboard/collar are for TRAUMA or rule out trauma patients -not for people who haven't "had anything to drink/eat all day" and come to the ER with the notion the nurses and volunteers have become the wait staff at a hotel.

Wait time is LONG during SEASON. 100,000+ people for a 24 bed ER? And you are mad at the STAFF?? Why not support the staff and hospital? Yes, it needs to make changes-yes they are working to build larger hospital-but NO they will never be able to keep up and yes another Hospital is needed.

Unless you are having a Heart Attack, Stroke, Short of Breath, Head Trauma, or Unresponsive, Not Breathing or Have NO PULSE --you are not a priority. :censored::censored:

The following are people who can wait in the waiting room safely-until a room is ready for you, unless your presentation to the nurse is critical, all of these patients would wait in most ERs.
Saying your dying because you are having pain from a KIDNEY STONE is NOT a medical emergency. Vomiting in a waiting room-is NOT a medical emergency unless you are vomiting blood and even then has to be SIGNIFICANT amounts. -Blood tinged vomit is NOT a person that is seen right away, even if you take COUMADIN. Having a urinary catheter that you sat at home 8 hours clogged is NOT a medical emergency that means you are the next patient to come back in the ER after waiting 5 minutes. Your dental abscess NO, you sciatica pain NO, your chronic back pain NO, your red spot on your leg for two weeks NO, your abdominal pain NO-especially if your vital signs are better than the NURSE signing you in. Nose Bleed-NO even if on blood thinners, Laceration-NO, unless you have peripheral pulse missing or possible loss of limb, Dizzy-NO, Blood Sugar uncontrolled Type 2 NO, Abscess from shooting up street drugs into your veins NO. Blood in your stools NO, blood in your urine NO. Your constipation x 2 days NO. Not to mention all the minor common sense things people come to all ERs for- cough, rash, runny nose, child well checks, dressing changes because home health nurse didn't come to the house, simple bruising from falls, twisted ankle, insect bite, scabies..

Stable patients that call 911 to get the hospital quicker-and have their family arrive in the waiting room before the ambulance--may end up in the waiting room themselves. Triage is done at all hospitals at the front waiting room an the "truck" entrance. If you are stable in either area-in the Waiting Room you go.

For all the people who continue to say they would drive past the closest hospital in a MEDICAL EMERGENCY-well, you are probably not even experiencing a REAL emergency or you wouldn't be able to make that decision clearly-but good luck. Door to balloon time is trying to be 60 minutes for Heart Attack patients-meaning once you arrive in most ERs you are in the OR within 60 minutes-including calling in OR team at night for best results for saving any heart damage.

I think The Villages need a URGENT CARE 24/7 however--- There is a URGENT CARE inside the VILLAGES REGIONAL HOSPITAL OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 8am-8pm. Went there recently and was treated and discharged in less than 1 hour.

[rubicon]

For all of the visitors of The Villages Regional Hospital ER--

If you were told the "WAIT TIME" is too long and you end up going to an URGENT CARE, treated and sent home--YOU HAD NO MEDICAL EMERGENCY IN THE FIRST PLACE

If you were "lying on a backboard" and in a collar and even asking for water-I am SO CONFUSED of the concern for lying flat while drinking--the backboard/collar are for TRAUMA or rule out trauma patients -not for people who haven't "had anything to drink/eat all day" and come to the ER with the notion the nurses and volunteers have become the wait staff at a hotel.

Wait time is LONG during SEASON. 100,000+ people for a 24 bed ER? And you are mad at the STAFF?? Why not support the staff and hospital? Yes, it needs to make changes-yes they are working to build larger hospital-but NO they will never be able to keep up and yes another Hospital is needed.

Unless you are having a Heart Attack, Stroke, Short of Breath, Head Trauma, or Unresponsive, Not Breathing or Have NO PULSE --you are not a priority. :censored::censored:

The following are people who can wait in the waiting room safely-until a room is ready for you, unless your presentation to the nurse is critical, all of these patients would wait in most ERs.
Saying your dying because you are having pain from a KIDNEY STONE is NOT a medical emergency. Vomiting in a waiting room-is NOT a medical emergency unless you are vomiting blood and even then has to be SIGNIFICANT amounts. -Blood tinged vomit is NOT a person that is seen right away, even if you take COUMADIN. Having a urinary catheter that you sat at home 8 hours clogged is NOT a medical emergency that means you are the next patient to come back in the ER after waiting 5 minutes. Your dental abscess NO, you sciatica pain NO, your chronic back pain NO, your red spot on your leg for two weeks NO, your abdominal pain NO-especially if your vital signs are better than the NURSE signing you in. Nose Bleed-NO even if on blood thinners, Laceration-NO, unless you have peripheral pulse missing or possible loss of limb, Dizzy-NO, Blood Sugar uncontrolled Type 2 NO, Abscess from shooting up street drugs into your veins NO. Blood in your stools NO, blood in your urine NO. Your constipation x 2 days NO. Not to mention all the minor common sense things people come to all ERs for- cough, rash, runny nose, child well checks, dressing changes because home health nurse didn't come to the house, simple bruising from falls, twisted ankle, insect bite, scabies..

Stable patients that call 911 to get the hospital quicker-and have their family arrive in the waiting room before the ambulance--may end up in the waiting room themselves. Triage is done at all hospitals at the front waiting room an the "truck" entrance. If you are stable in either area-in the Waiting Room you go.

For all the people who continue to say they would drive past the closest hospital in a MEDICAL EMERGENCY-well, you are probably not even experiencing a REAL emergency or you wouldn't be able to make that decision clearly-but good luck. Door to balloon time is trying to be 60 minutes for Heart Attack patients-meaning once you arrive in most ERs you are in the OR within 60 minutes-including calling in OR team at night for best results for saving any heart damage.

I think The Villages need a URGENT CARE 24/7 however--- There is a URGENT CARE inside the VILLAGES REGIONAL HOSPITAL OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 8am-8pm. Went there recently and was treated and discharged in less than 1 hour.

Dear 57 Chev: Your kidding right? While I agree that people ought to give more thought as to whether they need an ER or Urgent Care the fact remains that continual testimony by many residents points to the need for improvements. And by the way all Urgent Cares are not equal. I learned that the hard way

Some posters talk about what is happening at other ER's which gives some indication that the medical community is failing and I believe the medical community, not only because of their failures, but because government and insurance companies are sticking their noses in where they don't belong
But people who live here will making comparisons with ER's in other states which is understandable but because residents rely on The Villages Hospital's ER that should be their focus

My wife and I have doctors who have privileges at Ocala because our past experience personally and with people we know here has been positive.
Make no mistake I have learned the hard way that medical people anywhere and with the best reputations within the country or the state are quite capable of making mistakes. Its the human experience. On the other hand i have been a recepient of some of the best medical people have to offer

I am glad people are speaking up and complaining because it will cause TVRH to continue to improve.

Personal Best Regards:

[Lauren Sweeny]

In my case ,Yes I was in a Neck collar on a backboard having been in a car accident and transported by ambulance. Yes I went directly to emergency. I was naturally upset and overwhelmed waiting for treatment by a triage doctor.
After a few hours I did need something to drink and repeatedly ask if it was ok.
I do not know ( and still do not know) what is standard procedure for a case like mine. I do know a volunteer should not be trying to lift my head or raise the gurney! That was my comment on the emergency room here.
Folks , please do not hurt other people's feelings when writing your opinion. It
is not kind or compassionate to make a judgement when you are unaware of the details or medical needs of an individual ( one who is experiencing a life threatening situation to boot) I would gladly have let you step in my shoes at the time .

[CFrance]

Perhaps we need someone to publish a booklet on what is an emergency situation and what is not, because apparently none of us knows.