Villages Hospital ER worst I’ve ever been to.

[ScottS]

I recently had the misfortune of having to use the Villages ER. Absolute worst experience of my life. We arrived at apx 5:15 pm. We were treated extremely rudely by the elderly gentleman registering patients. We first had to ask if that was the line, as there really was no formal line. His tone and customer service were appalling. And yes he was a paid employee and not a volunteer. We then were directed to the billing person, who was also untrained and very rude. She asked for my insurance information. I handed her the workman’s comp form which had all the info needed. She handed it back and said she needed my insurance card. After pointing out this was a workman’s comp claim and this was not going on my personal insurance, she snatched the papers back out of my hand and complained that she did not know how to file a workman’s comp claim. My wife quickly took me to a seat as she could tell I was about to snap. So 2 hours later we are taken back to get an X-ray on my injured right knee. After completing the X-rays we are taken back to the waiting room. After 3 more hours apx 11:00, the ER doctor makes an appearance, he starts sitting with the 8 or 9 people in the waiting room and discussing all of their medical issues right there in the waiting room amongst everyone there. They use to have this thing called Hipaa, apparently that doesn’t exist here in the Villages. By midnight it was finally my turn to have my medical issues discussed aloud in front of everyone. He diagnosed me with a bad knee sprain, ordered me some pain killers, a knee brace and crutches. At 1:30 my wife was tired of waiting and went to check on the above items. 3 times I was asked my height. 3 times they were told 5’9”. They brought out crutches and a knee brace that the lowest adjustment was for someone 6’2”. At 2 am I stormed out the front door with nothing that fit, and no pain meds as all the pharmacy’s are closed and they don’t give medications out at that ER. What a joke! Turns out, after going to a real doctor the next day, that I had a completely torn in half ACL. NOT A BAD SPRAIN! If anyone knows of a good lawyer I would love their name, as hipaa laws were broken, the misdiagnosis without out even doing an MRI was reckless. I even asked him why they weren’t doing an MRI, to which he responded we don’t do those here. What??? Are you kidding me? So after being there for about nine hours, we were worse off than when we got there, and the sad part is they will still get paid.

[vintageogauge]

Welcome to the club, most people will only visit there once and thankfully there are other choices now as not that long ago that was the only game in town. We had a terrible life threatening experience there and will never go back.

[Bjeanj]

For all our sakes, I hope you send this same information to the CEO of the hospital, also to whoever is in charge of running the emergency room.

[DavidCovid]

I very sorry about your recent experiences at the ER, but in my humble opinion, your case is not representative of the hard working and dedicated employees at the local emergency rooms. Additionally, I question the diagnosis you claim of a Grade III torn in half ACL which was missed diagnosis and that you just "stormed out the front door without any pain medication" when you where not treated quick enough. Sounds fishy to me and I call BS.

BTW - If you where completely honest, then I apologize. I suggest that you stop with the keyboard warrior stuff and seek legal action against the medical facility. It sucks that so many people talk trash about The Villages ER and never take any constructive action in correcting the problem so it doesn't happen again to the next poor guy seeking medical help.

[Nucky]

In November I spent 7 1/2 hours in the ER at the veterinarian. Sorry I meant the Villages ER. At that point, people were just doing their own thing. No masks, masks worn incorrectly, and normally I would have said something but I was too lumped up to argue with anyone.
It was really terrible.

The Doctor was a worn-out, beat-up clown. Not blaming him. Blaming management. I got no real assistance until I passed through the ER experience about a total of 20 hours after I arrived. This is the bad part.

Once I got to the room and for the next five days, I got the best care I ever received in any hospital anywhere. Everyone was exceptional.

I only had one small problem. While operating I absorbed a very bad infection. The operation was smooth other than the infection. I'm still battling with it. Would I go back? Depends on what the issue was at the time I needed help.

No lawyer. Not yet.

I have no chip on my shoulder but regret not standing up for myself like I normally would have with the masks.

[Villageswimmer]

In November I spent 7 1/2 hours in the ER at the veterinarian. Sorry I meant the Villages ER. At that point, people were just doing their own thing. No masks, masks worn incorrectly, and normally I would have said something but I was too lumped up to argue with anyone.
It was really terrible.

The Doctor was a worn-out, beat-up clown. Not blaming him. Blaming management. I got no real assistance until I passed through the ER experience about a total of 20 hours after I arrived. This is the bad part.

Once I got to the room and for the next five days, I got the best care I ever received in any hospital anywhere. Everyone was exceptional.

I only had one small problem. While operating I absorbed a very bad infection. The operation was smooth other than the infection. I'm still battling with it. Would I go back? Depends on what the issue was at the time I needed help.

No lawyer. Not yet.

I have no chip on my shoulder but regret not standing up for myself like I normally would have with the masks.


Sorry to hear of your experience. A “very bad infection” is not a “small problem”. No offense, but I think you may be misjudging care quality if you came away with this infection. I wish you a speedy recovery.

[Jayhawk]

The Doctor was a worn-out, beat-up clown. Not blaming him. Blaming management. I got no real assistance until I passed through the ER experience about a total of 20 hours after I arrived. This is the bad part.

Once I got to the room and for the next five days, I got the best care I ever received in any hospital anywhere. Everyone was exceptional.



Let me help you understand.

The Doctor was worn out because for the last 18 hours he was listening to one after another cranky patients complain about their hangnail or their headache or their sore throat or the scratch on their arm. Yeah, I'm sure there was the occasional real need but much of the Village ER traffic is old people who aren't happy unless they are miserable.

Once you got past that, the knuckleheads are gone and you are left with folks that needed to be admitted with real problems.

It's a damn shame what the health care workers and volunteers put up with to try and appease the entitled.

[villagetinker]

For future reference, there is a stand alone fully staffed ER on 466a just West of Buena Vista, between myself, my wife and a close friend this has been used 4 times all with excellent service and excellent results. This will always be my first choice if I need after hours care.

[asianthree]

Did your workman’s camp insurance send you to a specific facility. Most of the time most facilities will not treat you without proper paperwork, much less order a MRI.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Next time, OP, don't go to the emergency room for a non-emergency situation. You should've gone to Urgent Care.

[Mleeja]

For future reference, there is a stand alone fully staffed ER on 466a just West of Buena Vista, between myself, my wife and a close friend this has been used 4 times all with excellent service and excellent results. This will always be my first choice if I need after hours care.

There is also a fully staffed ER on Hwy 441 by Stonecrest. I would think anyone who is familiar with The Villages Hospital ER would select one of these locations.

I have only been to The Villages Hospital ER once and had very good service. Of course I arrived about 5:30 am. Had my kidney stone diagnosed and home by 7:00 am.

In the future, unless it is a heart attack, I will probably suggest going to the ER on 441.

[Villagesshopper]

Unfortunately, I visit that ER in the height of Covid last August. My experience was completely the opposite, a professional group of folks Who really cared how I felt. They were kind patient and courteous, thank you so much for your expert treatment. I can’t thank you enough you got me better and out the door within three days. It’s now UF Health, I hope folks don’t think your Experience will be the same for them if They need to go there because they were awesome for me.

[Nucky]

Sorry to hear of your experience. A “very bad infection” is not a “small problem”. No offense, but I think you may be misjudging care quality if you came away with this infection. I wish you a speedy recovery.

Thanks for reminding me. The first bill I received when I got home was for about $800 for the Sterilization of the utensils used in the Operating Room. They also misspelled my last name about twenty times on communication that was mailed from the hospital.

Other than the infection the rest of the crew upstairs was very good, excellent I would say. I was just trying to illustrate the difference between the ER and the main hospital. Trust me I know the infection is a damn shame. I get your point though.

[kaydee]

Why any one continues to use the Villages ER is beyond my thinking. Ocala Health ER in Summerfield is the only place my husband or I will go if either of us need medical attention. Just my opinion & speaking from experience!

[thevillages2013]

I recently had the misfortune of having to use the Villages ER. Absolute worst experience of my life. We arrived at apx 5:15 pm. We were treated extremely rudely by the elderly gentleman registering patients. We first had to ask if that was the line, as there really was no formal line. His tone and customer service were appalling. And yes he was a paid employee and not a volunteer. We then were directed to the billing person, who was also untrained and very rude. She asked for my insurance information. I handed her the workman’s comp form which had all the info needed. She handed it back and said she needed my insurance card. After pointing out this was a workman’s comp claim and this was not going on my personal insurance, she snatched the papers back out of my hand and complained that she did not know how to file a workman’s comp claim. My wife quickly took me to a seat as she could tell I was about to snap. So 2 hours later we are taken back to get an X-ray on my injured right knee. After completing the X-rays we are taken back to the waiting room. After 3 more hours apx 11:00, the ER doctor makes an appearance, he starts sitting with the 8 or 9 people in the waiting room and discussing all of their medical issues right there in the waiting room amongst everyone there. They use to have this thing called Hipaa, apparently that doesn’t exist here in the Villages. By midnight it was finally my turn to have my medical issues discussed aloud in front of everyone. He diagnosed me with a bad knee sprain, ordered me some pain killers, a knee brace and crutches. At 1:30 my wife was tired of waiting and went to check on the above items. 3 times I was asked my height. 3 times they were told 5’9”. They brought out crutches and a knee brace that the lowest adjustment was for someone 6’2”. At 2 am I stormed out the front door with nothing that fit, and no pain meds as all the pharmacy’s are closed and they don’t give medications out at that ER. What a joke! Turns out, after going to a real doctor the next day, that I had a completely torn in half ACL. NOT A BAD SPRAIN! If anyone knows of a good lawyer I would love their name, as hipaa laws were broken, the misdiagnosis without out even doing an MRI was reckless. I even asked him why they weren’t doing an MRI, to which he responded we don’t do those here. What??? Are you kidding me? So after being there for about nine hours, we were worse off than when we got there, and the sad part is they will still get paid.
How did you hurt your knee? Just curious, obviously you were working

[b0bd0herty]

I very sorry about your recent experiences at the ER, but in my humble opinion, your case is not representative of the hard working and dedicated employees at the local emergency rooms. Additionally, I question the diagnosis you claim of a Grade III torn in half ACL which was missed diagnosis and that you just "stormed out the front door without any pain medication" when you where not treated quick enough. Sounds fishy to me and I call BS.

BTW - If you where completely honest, then I apologize. I suggest that you stop with the keyboard warrior stuff and seek legal action against the medical facility. It sucks that so many people talk trash about The Villages ER and never take any constructive action in correcting the problem so it doesn't happen again to the next poor guy seeking medical help.

BwaaHaaahaa

[Sandy and Ed]

Forget the Villages ER. My experience was horrendous. One doctor in an overloaded ER. I had a terrible headache that had lasted for days. I waited hours to see the doctor only to be given a spinal tap (hit a capillary), drew blood and was loaded into an ambulance and sent to Shane. After a day there, they couldn’t find what was wrong. Got home and discovered on my own that it was a food allergy.

[Rwirish]

Why did you go to the ER and not an Urgent Care? It is always comical how non medical people can always evaluate the quality and appropriateness of their care.

[Thaxxx]

I very sorry about your recent experiences at the ER, but in my humble opinion, your case is not representative of the hard working and dedicated employees at the local emergency rooms. Additionally, I question the diagnosis you claim of a Grade III torn in half ACL which was missed diagnosis and that you just "stormed out the front door without any pain medication" when you where not treated quick enough. Sounds fishy to me and I call BS.

BTW - If you where completely honest, then I apologize. I suggest that you stop with the keyboard warrior stuff and seek legal action against the medical facility. It sucks that so many people talk trash about The Villages ER and never take any constructive action in correcting the problem so it doesn't happen again to the next poor guy seeking medical help.

Is this some kind of joke?
This is the exact place this keyboard warrior should be telling his story.

[noslices1]

I had just the opposite experience at the Villages ER. I was brought in by ambulance and the people in the ER immediately took me to a partitioned area, checked me out and sent me to X-rays. Had a large kidney stone that was very painful and caused me to throw up, at home and in the ambulance. Gave me pain meds and admitted me to a room, all within an hour of arriving at the hospital. I was there four days and could not have been treated better anywhere else.

[34gunner]

We have used the Villages Hospital ER twice in the last 3 months, both times resulting in admission to the hospital. Great service in all areas.

[Girlcopper]

Let me help you understand.

The Doctor was worn out because for the last 18 hours he was listening to one after another cranky patients complain about their hangnail or their headache or their sore throat or the scratch on their arm. Yeah, I'm sure there was the occasional real need but much of the Village ER traffic is old people who aren't happy unless they are miserable.

Once you got past that, the knuckleheads are gone and you are left with folks that needed to be admitted with real problems.

It's a damn shame what the health care workers and volunteers put up with to try and appease the entitled.

Yes, so true. If care was lousy, you do have the choice of leaving. You werent having a heart attack or a life threatening injury. The ER is just a bandaid until you can get a Dr appt. You obviously needed an orthopedist so the only thing an ER Dr could do was give you pain meds until then. Ive been to the ER several times and was always treated with respect. Ive never had my medical issues blasted out in front of others. So.......

[Pdesensi]

Use Summerfield ER up 441. Very nice and staff is very attentive to your needs. It’s by Del Webb and Stone Crest.

[JMintzer]

Forget the Villages ER. My experience was horrendous. One doctor in an overloaded ER. I had a terrible headache that had lasted for days. I waited hours to see the doctor only to be given a spinal tap (hit a capillary), drew blood and was loaded into an ambulance and sent to Shane. After a day there, they couldn’t find what was wrong. Got home and discovered on my own that it was a food allergy.

You expected an ER to diagnose a food allergy?

[The Mountaineer]

I have a one-word suggestion: Ocala.

When I had a problem during one of my winters there that's where I went. 3 days in the hospital, problem solved.

The Villages' medical care, which 140,000 senior citizens at its disposal, is not what it should be. Wise people go to Ocala and do far better for it.

[Kathryn Putt]

Don't Let this stop here. See the hospital administrator and go further if you don't get satisfaction.

[Girlcopper]

Use Summerfield ER up 441. Very nice and staff is very attentive to your needs. It’s by Del Webb and Stone Crest.
Its a great ER but if admission is necessary, you are transported to only one hospital. Its up in Ocala. Dont remember the exact name. And you dont have a choice unless you decide to drive yourself and not go by ambulance

[golfing eagles]

Forget the Villages ER. My experience was horrendous. One doctor in an overloaded ER. I had a terrible headache that had lasted for days. I waited hours to see the doctor only to be given a spinal tap (hit a capillary), drew blood and was loaded into an ambulance and sent to Shane. After a day there, they couldn’t find what was wrong. Got home and discovered on my own that it was a food allergy.

Several days of a terrible headache due to a "food allergy". OK, whatever.

Now stepping back from the story, it appears that you stated you were seen at TVRH ER and had a lumbar puncture, which "hit a capillary" (Which, btw, is impossible given the diameter of capillaries and the diameter of a spinal needle). Then you were sent to Shands, which is acknowledged as a highly rated facility, presumably had a MRI or CT, some other testing and a neurology consult since you were there for "a day", but they could find out what was wrong either. So, at this point, what makes TVRH ER horrible and Shands ER great??????
But to finish your story, you went home, and while neither locally or at Shands you could be diagnosed by medical professionals and specialists, YOU diagnosed YOURSELF with "food allergies"
I will be (extremely) polite and just state I remain a bit skeptical.

Moral of the story----this is exactly why there is no American Association of Amateur Physicians

[mydavid]

Thanks for reminding me. The first bill I received when I got home was for about $800 for the Sterilization of the utensils used in the Operating Room. They also misspelled my last name about twenty times on communication that was mailed from the hospital.

Other than the infection the rest of the crew upstairs was very good, excellent I would say. I was just trying to illustrate the difference between the ER and the main hospital. Trust me I know the infection is a damn shame. I get your point though. My girl friend has been there sever times, always a slow operation. came home with infections a couple times, once had to be re-admitted for a week to clear it up.

[JMintzer]

I'm amazed at how many people use an Emergency Room for "non-emergency" care...

It only overloads the system and makes everyone wait longer.

Their are so many Urgent Care facilities around that were designed fo just such "non-emergency" care...

But no, the "I want it now" mentality takes precedent...

[bp243]

For future reference, there is a stand alone fully staffed ER on 466a just West of Buena Vista, between myself, my wife and a close friend this has been used 4 times all with excellent service and excellent results. This will always be my first choice if I need after hours care.

Plus, is it correct that if you use that ER and need to go to a hospital that it’s the one in Ocala?

[JMintzer]

My girl friend has been there sever times, always a slow operation. came home with infections a couple times, once had to be re-admitted for a week to clear it up.

Post op infections are now a fact of life. Antibiotics have been over prescribed for years because if you don't give someone a pill for their viral infection, "you didn't do anything" and you'll be trashed on TOTV... ;) And yes, the docs should stand their ground and insist they don't need anything, but they're only human...

Plus, soooo many patients never take their antibiotics properly (you're given a 10 day course for a reason), discontinuing the medications after a few days, when they "feel better"...

All of this leads to decreased antibiotic efficacy and increased infections...

[golfing eagles]

Let me help you understand.

The Doctor was worn out because for the last 18 hours he was listening to one after another cranky patients complain about their hangnail or their headache or their sore throat or the scratch on their arm. Yeah, I'm sure there was the occasional real need but much of the Village ER traffic is old people who aren't happy unless they are miserable.

Once you got past that, the knuckleheads are gone and you are left with folks that needed to be admitted with real problems.

It's a damn shame what the health care workers and volunteers put up with to try and appease the entitled.

Let me help YOU understand. That is no excuse for unprofessional behavior in the ER. Ninety percent of what they do is listen to cranky old patients complain about minor problems---it is the norm in every ER in the country and every primary care practice as well. It is not "appeasing the entitled", it is just par for the course. And if you gave most ER physicians the choice (except the "Rambos"), they would rather see a sore throat than a full cardiac arrest or a gun shot wound in the chest.

[JMintzer]

Several days of a terrible headache due to a "food allergy". OK, whatever.

Now stepping back from the story, it appears that you stated you were seen at TVRH ER and had a lumbar puncture, which "hit a capillary" (Which, btw, is impossible given the diameter of capillaries and the diameter of a spinal needle). Then you were sent to Shands, which is acknowledged as a highly rated facility, presumably had a MRI or CT, some other testing and a neurology consult since you were there for "a day", but they could find out what was wrong either. So, at this point, what makes TVRH ER horrible and Shands ER great??????
But to finish your story, you went home, and while neither locally or at Shands you could be diagnosed by medical professionals and specialists, YOU diagnosed YOURSELF with "food allergies"
I will be (extremely) polite and just state I remain a bit skeptical.

Moral of the story----this is exactly why there is no American Association of Amateur Physicians

My friend carries this coffee mug around at his office...

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71BMOkn2SxL._AC_.jpg

[eeroger]

In November I spent 7 1/2 hours in the ER at the veterinarian. Sorry I meant the Villages ER. At that point, people were just doing their own thing. No masks, masks worn incorrectly, and normally I would have said something but I was too lumped up to argue with anyone.
It was really terrible.

The Doctor was a worn-out, beat-up clown. Not blaming him. Blaming management. I got no real assistance until I passed through the ER experience about a total of 20 hours after I arrived. This is the bad part.

Once I got to the room and for the next five days, I got the best care I ever received in any hospital anywhere. Everyone was exceptional.

I only had one small problem. While operating I absorbed a very bad infection. The operation was smooth other than the infection. I'm still battling with it. Would I go back? Depends on what the issue was at the time I needed help.

No lawyer. Not yet.

I have no chip on my shoulder but regret not standing up for myself like I normally would have with the masks.

All UF Hospitals have a "C" rating for safety, while Advent Hospitals in central Florida all have "A" rating, with one exception & that is a B rating. Which would you rather use?

[JMintzer]

Yes, so true. If care was lousy, you do have the choice of leaving. You werent having a heart attack or a life threatening injury. The ER is just a bandaid until you can get a Dr appt. You obviously needed an orthopedist so the only thing an ER Dr could do was give you pain meds until then. Ive been to the ER several times and was always treated with respect. Ive never had my medical issues blasted out in front of others. So.......

Prezactly!

[riley2011]

I recently had the misfortune of having to use the Villages ER. Absolute worst experience of my life. We arrived at apx 5:15 pm. We were treated extremely rudely by the elderly gentleman registering patients. We first had to ask if that was the line, as there really was no formal line. His tone and customer service were appalling. And yes he was a paid employee and not a volunteer. We then were directed to the billing person, who was also untrained and very rude. She asked for my insurance information. I handed her the workman’s comp form which had all the info needed. She handed it back and said she needed my insurance card. After pointing out this was a workman’s comp claim and this was not going on my personal insurance, she snatched the papers back out of my hand and complained that she did not know how to file a workman’s comp claim. My wife quickly took me to a seat as she could tell I was about to snap. So 2 hours later we are taken back to get an X-ray on my injured right knee. After completing the X-rays we are taken back to the waiting room. After 3 more hours apx 11:00, the ER doctor makes an appearance, he starts sitting with the 8 or 9 people in the waiting room and discussing all of their medical issues right there in the waiting room amongst everyone there. They use to have this thing called Hipaa, apparently that doesn’t exist here in the Villages. By midnight it was finally my turn to have my medical issues discussed aloud in front of everyone. He diagnosed me with a bad knee sprain, ordered me some pain killers, a knee brace and crutches. At 1:30 my wife was tired of waiting and went to check on the above items. 3 times I was asked my height. 3 times they were told 5’9”. They brought out crutches and a knee brace that the lowest adjustment was for someone 6’2”. At 2 am I stormed out the front door with nothing that fit, and no pain meds as all the pharmacy’s are closed and they don’t give medications out at that ER. What a joke! Turns out, after going to a real doctor the next day, that I had a completely torn in half ACL. NOT A BAD SPRAIN! If anyone knows of a good lawyer I would love their name, as hipaa laws were broken, the misdiagnosis without out even doing an MRI was reckless. I even asked him why they weren’t doing an MRI, to which he responded we don’t do those here. What??? Are you kidding me? So after being there for about nine hours, we were worse off than when we got there, and the sad part is they will still get paid.

Now you know what everyone else knows. Never go to The Villages emergency room.

[golfing eagles]

My friend carries this coffee mug around at his office...

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71BMOkn2SxL._AC_.jpg

perfect!!!!

[JMintzer]

Now you know what everyone else knows. Never go to The Villages emergency room.

Unless it's an actual Emergency...

[toeser]

For future reference, there is a stand alone fully staffed ER on 466a just West of Buena Vista, between myself, my wife and a close friend this has been used 4 times all with excellent service and excellent results. This will always be my first choice if I need after hours care.

4 1/2 stars on Google versus less than 2 stars for the Villages Hospital ER.

[Bridget Staunton]

Ocala health is wonderful, I used the facility

[riley2011]

Unfortunately, I visit that ER in the height of Covid last August. My experience was completely the opposite, a professional group of folks Who really cared how I felt. They were kind patient and courteous, thank you so much for your expert treatment. I can’t thank you enough you got me better and out the door within three days. It’s now UF Health, I hope folks don’t think your Experience will be the same for them if They need to go there because they were awesome for me.

My brother went to this emergency room in February after being diagnosed with covid. He went in at 3 p.m. and left at midnight without being treated.

[JMintzer]

4 1/2 stars on Google versus less than 2 stars for the Villages Hospital ER.

It's newer and has had less time for TV complainers to trash the place... Give it time...

[MandoMan]

In November I spent 7 1/2 hours in the ER at the veterinarian. Sorry I meant the Villages ER. At that point, people were just doing their own thing. No masks, masks worn incorrectly, and normally I would have said something but I was too lumped up to argue with anyone.
It was really terrible.

The Doctor was a worn-out, beat-up clown. Not blaming him. Blaming management. I got no real assistance until I passed through the ER experience about a total of 20 hours after I arrived. This is the bad part.

Once I got to the room and for the next five days, I got the best care I ever received in any hospital anywhere. Everyone was exceptional.

I only had one small problem. While operating I absorbed a very bad infection. The operation was smooth other than the infection. I'm still battling with it. Would I go back? Depends on what the issue was at the time I needed help.

No lawyer. Not yet.

I have no chip on my shoulder but regret not standing up for myself like I normally would have with the masks.

Excess wound infections is a major reason why a hospital might not get an A rating from hospital rating agencies. No hospital here or in Ocala gets an A rating, even though the nursing care may be very good, and as I recall, wound infections is one of the reasons for all of them. Another reason is if the doctors doing certain surgeries don’t do them often enough to stay up to par. Some surgeries are done daily by certain surgeons here, so that’s good. Others aren’t. I believe the nearest A rated hospital is Advent Health Waterman. If you need an unusual surgery, you should get a great surgeon at Advent Health Orlando, though that is a gigantic hospital where it might be easy to get lost in the system, and where you may also have to wait a long time in ER because they are treating gun shot wounds and all that. Ideally, get a primary care physician at Advent Health here in The Villages who can refer you to a specialist in Orlando if necessary and get you an immediate appointment there.

[jakers]

After my husband was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, we spent plenty of time in the villages ER and in the villages hospital.
I’m sorry you had bad experiences.

I can only speak to my own experience. We had excellent care every time we were there. Realize that that ER is only so big, so if people just keep coming through the door, of course it causes added delays and stress for everyone.

If you don’t really need to be in the hospital, go to an urgent care so that the doctors at the hospital can take care of people who truly need to be there.

I am a nurse, and I had heard such negative things about the Villages Hospital, that when my husband was admitted the first time, it was my plan to have him transferred elsewhere as soon as he was able.

But guess what? I was so pleased with the compassionate and caring staff in the ER and the hospital that we ended up spending many days and weeks there.

[Freehiker]

I recently had the misfortune of having to use the Villages ER. Absolute worst experience of my life. We arrived at apx 5:15 pm. We were treated extremely rudely by the elderly gentleman registering patients. We first had to ask if that was the line, as there really was no formal line. His tone and customer service were appalling. And yes he was a paid employee and not a volunteer. We then were directed to the billing person, who was also untrained and very rude. She asked for my insurance information. I handed her the workman’s comp form which had all the info needed. She handed it back and said she needed my insurance card. After pointing out this was a workman’s comp claim and this was not going on my personal insurance, she snatched the papers back out of my hand and complained that she did not know how to file a workman’s comp claim. My wife quickly took me to a seat as she could tell I was about to snap. So 2 hours later we are taken back to get an X-ray on my injured right knee. After completing the X-rays we are taken back to the waiting room. After 3 more hours apx 11:00, the ER doctor makes an appearance, he starts sitting with the 8 or 9 people in the waiting room and discussing all of their medical issues right there in the waiting room amongst everyone there. They use to have this thing called Hipaa, apparently that doesn’t exist here in the Villages. By midnight it was finally my turn to have my medical issues discussed aloud in front of everyone. He diagnosed me with a bad knee sprain, ordered me some pain killers, a knee brace and crutches. At 1:30 my wife was tired of waiting and went to check on the above items. 3 times I was asked my height. 3 times they were told 5’9”. They brought out crutches and a knee brace that the lowest adjustment was for someone 6’2”. At 2 am I stormed out the front door with nothing that fit, and no pain meds as all the pharmacy’s are closed and they don’t give medications out at that ER. What a joke! Turns out, after going to a real doctor the next day, that I had a completely torn in half ACL. NOT A BAD SPRAIN! If anyone knows of a good lawyer I would love their name, as hipaa laws were broken, the misdiagnosis without out even doing an MRI was reckless. I even asked him why they weren’t doing an MRI, to which he responded we don’t do those here. What??? Are you kidding me? So after being there for about nine hours, we were worse off than when we got there, and the sad part is they will still get paid.

Ugh, paragraphs

[Paula]

There is also a fully staffed ER on Hwy 441 by Stonecrest. I would think anyone who is familiar with The Villages Hospital ER would select one of these locations.

I have only been to The Villages Hospital ER once and had very good service. Of course I arrived about 5:30 am. Had my kidney stone diagnosed and home by 7:00 am.

In the future, unless it is a heart attack, I will probably suggest going to the ER on 441.

The Summerfield ER (Ocala Health) is just south of Del Webb and it is the best invention ever!!! I was whisked in and was immediately treated by a team of professionals, including a medical doctor. While there, I couldn't imagine why anyone would go to The Villages hospital ER and face potential hours of wait time and misery. If you need an ER, do check this or any other free standing facility!

[Pedrocarrasco01@yahoo.com]

Why any one continues to use the Villages ER is beyond my thinking. Ocala Health ER in Summerfield is the only place my husband or I will go if either of us need medical attention. Just my opinion & speaking from experience!.
I would use the Ocala Health Emergency Room located on 441 in front of Del Webb Spruce Creek Country Club, would not use the Villages Hospital on 441, great care used couple of times very happy, had a skin cancer that my dermatologist was concerned with, she send me to Shands in Gainesville, great experience, they got all of it, tremendously happy, one thing that I found was Shands owns the Villages Hospital, I needed to take a Covid Test 2 days before surgery, since both are the same health care entity, I wanted to take the test here since I did not wanted to drive the 50 plus miles to Gainesville, I called Shands and was told “we don’t trust any testing unless is done here” so I drove and got the test then 2 days later had the procedure. When a sister company does not trust testing from another sister testing site, that is to me concerning and a good reason not to use it.
No I won’t use it unless extreme emergency.

[Travelingal702]

I'm amazed at how many people use an Emergency Room for "non-emergency" care...

It only overloads the system and makes everyone wait longer.

Their are so many Urgent Care facilities around that were designed fo just such "non-emergency" care...

But no, the "I want it now" mentality takes precedent...
By all means, go to Urgent Care. There is little, if any, wait time. If you know it's NOT an emergency (aka: Life threatening), why, OH WHY would you go to an emergency room, where you KNOW you're going to have to wait? There are so many Urgent Care facilities around, plus the newly opened facility on 466A.

[graciegirl]

Unless we are seasonal residents, we should have an established physician and not use the ER at any place for things that are NOT an emergency.

This may have been terribly painful but it was not life threatening.

[jbrown132]

Took my wife there about about five years ago and had a similar experience. Without getting into details about what was wrong with my wife, after seven hours the doctor makes his appearance explains to her what is wrong and then starts reaming her out saying she shouldn’t have come to the emergency room. At this point I had had enough and asked him if someone came to the emergency room with multiple contusions and abrasions would it take them seven hours to see a doctor. He said probably yes. I then told him if he didn’t shut his mouth he would be seeing a doctor in about seven hours. Next time if it is not life threatening go to Leesburg or Ocala.

[rmd2]

Your mistreatment and misdiagnosis is why I will not go to The Villages ER or Radiology (X-Ray) Department. They incorrectly diagnosed me with osteomyelitis (bone infection) and I was facing a bone marrow procedure as well as the possible amputation of my big toe. Fortunately I went to Shands in Gainesville where I found out the Radiologist in The Villages Hospital incorrectly read my X-Ray as osteomyelitis. I now go to Sand Lake Imaging for my X-Rays. The Radiologists who read the X-Rays there are in Orlando and in my opinion better. It's a scary world here in The Villages for decent health care.

[rmd2]

In November I spent 7 1/2 hours in the ER at the veterinarian. Sorry I meant the Villages ER. At that point, people were just doing their own thing. No masks, masks worn incorrectly, and normally I would have said something but I was too lumped up to argue with anyone.
It was really terrible.

The Doctor was a worn-out, beat-up clown. Not blaming him. Blaming management. I got no real assistance until I passed through the ER experience about a total of 20 hours after I arrived. This is the bad part.

Once I got to the room and for the next five days, I got the best care I ever received in any hospital anywhere. Everyone was exceptional.

I only had one small problem. While operating I absorbed a very bad infection. The operation was smooth other than the infection. I'm still battling with it. Would I go back? Depends on what the issue was at the time I needed help.

No lawyer. Not yet.

I have no chip on my shoulder but regret not standing up for myself like I normally would have with the masks.

You may have staph (from a dirty OR room) or MERSA you better get that taken care of pronto.

[DAVES]

I very sorry about your recent experiences at the ER, but in my humble opinion, your case is not representative of the hard working and dedicated employees at the local emergency rooms. Additionally, I question the diagnosis you claim of a Grade III torn in half ACL which was missed diagnosis and that you just "stormed out the front door without any pain medication" when you where not treated quick enough. Sounds fishy to me and I call BS.

BTW - If you where completely honest, then I apologize. I suggest that you stop with the keyboard warrior stuff and seek legal action against the medical facility. It sucks that so many people talk trash about The Villages ER and never take any constructive action in correcting the problem so it doesn't happen again to the next poor guy seeking medical help.

My two cents worth. Mark Twain said something to the effect that we do not make any progress because we lose what was. While I would be lost without my computer we have lost both privacy and good manners.

Your initial contact with any business sets the tone for the entire experience. Apparently that is what happened.

Sadly, the Villages Hospital does not have a good reputation. Turning around the hospital is difficult. Turning around the reputation is perhaps a harder job.

[graciegirl]

took my wife there about about five years ago and had a similar experience. Without getting into details about what was wrong with my wife, after seven hours the doctor makes his appearance explains to her what is wrong and then starts reaming her out saying she shouldn’t have come to the emergency room. At this point i had had enough and asked him if someone came to the emergency room with multiple contusions and abrasions would it take them seven hours to see a doctor. He said probably yes. I then told him if he didn’t shut his mouth he would be seeing a doctor in about seven hours. Next time if it is not life threatening go to leesburg or ocala.


Triage.

triage
noun [ U ]
UK /ˈtriː.ɑːʒ/ US /ˈtriː.ɑːʒ/

the process of quickly examining patients who are taken to a hospital in order to decide which ones are the most seriously ill and must be treated first:

[Notsocrates]

I recently had the misfortune of having to use the Villages ER. Absolute worst experience of my life. We arrived at apx 5:15 pm. We were treated extremely rudely by the elderly gentleman registering patients. We first had to ask if that was the line, as there really was no formal line. His tone and customer service were appalling. And yes he was a paid employee and not a volunteer. We then were directed to the billing person, who was also untrained and very rude. She asked for my insurance information. I handed her the workman’s comp form which had all the info needed. She handed it back and said she needed my insurance card. After pointing out this was a workman’s comp claim and this was not going on my personal insurance, she snatched the papers back out of my hand and complained that she did not know how to file a workman’s comp claim. My wife quickly took me to a seat as she could tell I was about to snap. So 2 hours later we are taken back to get an X-ray on my injured right knee. After completing the X-rays we are taken back to the waiting room. After 3 more hours apx 11:00, the ER doctor makes an appearance, he starts sitting with the 8 or 9 people in the waiting room and discussing all of their medical issues right there in the waiting room amongst everyone there. They use to have this thing called Hipaa, apparently that doesn’t exist here in the Villages. By midnight it was finally my turn to have my medical issues discussed aloud in front of everyone. He diagnosed me with a bad knee sprain, ordered me some pain killers, a knee brace and crutches. At 1:30 my wife was tired of waiting and went to check on the above items. 3 times I was asked my height. 3 times they were told 5’9”. They brought out crutches and a knee brace that the lowest adjustment was for someone 6’2”. At 2 am I stormed out the front door with nothing that fit, and no pain meds as all the pharmacy’s are closed and they don’t give medications out at that ER. What a joke! Turns out, after going to a real doctor the next day, that I had a completely torn in half ACL. NOT A BAD SPRAIN! If anyone knows of a good lawyer I would love their name, as hipaa laws were broken, the misdiagnosis without out even doing an MRI was reckless. I even asked him why they weren’t doing an MRI, to which he responded we don’t do those here. What??? Are you kidding me? So after being there for about nine hours, we were worse off than when we got there, and the sad part is they will still get paid.


That was very bad and should not have happened. Rather than sue, you should file a formal complaint with the FL board of medical examiners. There was 1. a violation of confidentiality and 2. negligence in not referring you to an orthopedist. A simple examination by any competent clinician can diagnose a complete ACL tear. Since you suffered no loss or injury (thankfully), there is nothing to compensate you for.
A board of medical examiners has power of medical license to affect change.

[Rr23070]

What was your attitude when you got there? I was in there this past Sunday, the care was outstanding.

[cj1040]

File a complaint letter with the hospital director.. that is the best way to bring it to their attention.

[rmd2]

I have a one-word suggestion: Ocala.

When I had a problem during one of my winters there that's where I went. 3 days in the hospital, problem solved.

The Villages' medical care, which 140,000 senior citizens at its disposal, is not what it should be. Wise people go to Ocala and do far better for it.

Quick question - Did you use the Ocala Hospital on 441 or the Ocala West on 200?

[cj1040]

Yes my daughter is an ER doctor treating everything from abusive drunks who fell down to dying people. Not an easy job. Complain to the hospital director about rude desk clerks and inefficiency you experienced

[DAVES]

.
I would use the Ocala Health Emergency Room located on 441 in front of Del Webb Spruce Creek Country Club, would not use the Villages Hospital on 441, great care used couple of times very happy, had a skin cancer that my dermatologist was concerned with, she send me to Shands in Gainesville, great experience, they got all of it, tremendously happy, one thing that I found was Shands owns the Villages Hospital, I needed to take a Covid Test 2 days before surgery, since both are the same health care entity, I wanted to take the test here since I did not wanted to drive the 50 plus miles to Gainesville, I called Shands and was told “we don’t trust any testing unless is done here” so I drove and got the test then 2 days later had the procedure. When a sister company does not trust testing from another sister testing site, that is to me concerning and a good reason not to use it.
No I won’t use it unless extreme emergency.

Medical care translates to money. The Villages most everyone is on medicare, read that as minimal money for equipment and staff. We don't trust others tests. If, we do the test we make money. If, they do the test-they make money.

On the other side of medical care, imagine all your customers are sick and it is day after day. Perhaps, the reason why when you see a doctor they seem not to care. They simply cannot function and emotionally bond with patients.

[Villages Kahuna]

I recently had the misfortune of having to use the Villages ER. Absolute worst experience of my life….
I had hoped that after UF Health bought the hospital that it would improve. The last time I looked TVRH was still rated in the lowest quality of care class in the Medicare rating system, the worst hospital within 50-60 miles of The Villages.

I had a well-known local primary care physician tell me, “…if you wake up and find yourself in The Villages Regional Hospital, call a cab!”

[Kgcetm]

I'm sorry you had this experience. You should not have.

The Villages Healthcare System (Hospitals, Emergency Rooms, et al) is without question the worst system I've experienced. I will not go there again unless blood is flowing and I can't make it to Ocala or Tavares. The quality of the support personnel is appalling.
The know little and do even less. They seem to get paid for doing a job that is a major inconvenience to them.

I've had doctors make medication decisions without consulting the admitting physician. I've had doctors I don't know, didn't ask for and didn't need examine and prescribe medications for me. And finally, we have had tests (they love their $1400 MRI) performed that we specifically directed them not to perform.

The Villages Healthcare System is a disgrace to the community in which we live and should be a consideration to those who might be thinking of living here who have acute medical issues.

The acquisition by the University of Florida is a great step in the right direction. That said, it's the people who make the decisions regarding our treatment and our health. It will take at least 10 years for UF Health to restaff our Hospitals with more competent staffing. I know there will be those who respond by saying what a wonderful experience they had at the Villages Hospital. Frankly, we should all have that experience and great many of us do not.

I would not go there unless I was going to be DOA.

[Singerlady]

I recently had the misfortune of having to use the Villages ER. Absolute worst experience of my life. We arrived at apx 5:15 pm. We were treated extremely rudely by the elderly gentleman registering patients. We first had to ask if that was the line, as there really was no formal line. His tone and customer service were appalling. And yes he was a paid employee and not a volunteer. We then were directed to the billing person, who was also untrained and very rude. She asked for my insurance information. I handed her the workman’s comp form which had all the info needed. She handed it back and said she needed my insurance card. After pointing out this was a workman’s comp claim and this was not going on my personal insurance, she snatched the papers back out of my hand and complained that she did not know how to file a workman’s comp claim. My wife quickly took me to a seat as she could tell I was about to snap. So 2 hours later we are taken back to get an X-ray on my injured right knee. After completing the X-rays we are taken back to the waiting room. After 3 more hours apx 11:00, the ER doctor makes an appearance, he starts sitting with the 8 or 9 people in the waiting room and discussing all of their medical issues right there in the waiting room amongst everyone there. They use to have this thing called Hipaa, apparently that doesn’t exist here in the Villages. By midnight it was finally my turn to have my medical issues discussed aloud in front of everyone. He diagnosed me with a bad knee sprain, ordered me some pain killers, a knee brace and crutches. At 1:30 my wife was tired of waiting and went to check on the above items. 3 times I was asked my height. 3 times they were told 5’9”. They brought out crutches and a knee brace that the lowest adjustment was for someone 6’2”. At 2 am I stormed out the front door with nothing that fit, and no pain meds as all the pharmacy’s are closed and they don’t give medications out at that ER. What a joke! Turns out, after going to a real doctor the next day, that I had a completely torn in half ACL. NOT A BAD SPRAIN! If anyone knows of a good lawyer I would love their name, as hipaa laws were broken, the misdiagnosis without out even doing an MRI was reckless. I even asked him why they weren’t doing an MRI, to which he responded we don’t do those here. What??? Are you kidding me? So after being there for about nine hours, we were worse off than when we got there, and the sad part is they will still get paid.

Sorry to hear. I was there 3 years ago for a new heart condition. Waited 5 hours! They weren’t equipped to handle the situation then and it sounds like nothing has changed. Sad and scary!

[diva1]

Let me help you understand.

The Doctor was worn out because for the last 18 hours he was listening to one after another cranky patients complain about their hangnail or their headache or their sore throat or the scratch on their arm. Yeah, I'm sure there was the occasional real need but much of the Village ER traffic is old people who aren't happy unless they are miserable.

Once you got past that, the knuckleheads are gone and you are left with folks that needed to be admitted with real problems.

It's a damn shame what the health care workers and volunteers put up with to try and appease the entitled.

You really sound like a jerk. So sick of hearing about 'entitled'. Find a new word because that one is overworked. If the doctor has been there 18 hours that is poor management. And poor care. Who wants to spend 10 hours in an emergency room? If you do that is not emergency, time sensitive, care. And who wants to spend 10 hours there for, what did you say, a hangnail or a headache or sore throat? No one! I have been to that emergency room a few times in my 25 years living in The Villages. It is nothing to be proud of.

[rsgolfer]

My experiences at TV Hospital range from rude, inconsiderate and unprofessional service to near death. This ER has been very bad for many years and no one has been able to fix it. There just are not any excuses to justify performance this poor over such a long period. My recommendation is the Advent Hospital.

[CFrance]

In November I spent 7 1/2 hours in the ER at the veterinarian. Sorry I meant the Villages ER. At that point, people were just doing their own thing. No masks, masks worn incorrectly, and normally I would have said something but I was too lumped up to argue with anyone.
It was really terrible.

The Doctor was a worn-out, beat-up clown. Not blaming him. Blaming management. I got no real assistance until I passed through the ER experience about a total of 20 hours after I arrived. This is the bad part.

Once I got to the room and for the next five days, I got the best care I ever received in any hospital anywhere. Everyone was exceptional.

I only had one small problem. While operating I absorbed a very bad infection. The operation was smooth other than the infection. I'm still battling with it. Would I go back? Depends on what the issue was at the time I needed help.

No lawyer. Not yet.

I have no chip on my shoulder but regret not standing up for myself like I normally would have with the masks.
I'm sorry about that, Nucky. I hope you get rid of the infection soon. Am I correct in remembering that infection rate is one of the reasons TVRH only got a 1 rating? Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[golfing eagles]

I'm sorry you had this experience. You should not have.

The Villages Healthcare System (Hospitals, Emergency Rooms, et al) is without question the worst system I've experienced. I will not go there again unless blood is flowing and I can't make it to Ocala or Tavares. The quality of the support personnel is appalling.
The know little and do even less. They seem to get paid for doing a job that is a major inconvenience to them.

I've had doctors make medication decisions without consulting the admitting physician. I've had doctors I don't know, didn't ask for and didn't need examine and prescribe medications for me. And finally, we have had tests (they love their $1400 MRI) performed that we specifically directed them not to perform.

The Villages Healthcare System is a disgrace to the community in which we live and should be a consideration to those who might be thinking of living here who have acute medical issues.

The acquisition by the University of Florida is a great step in the right direction. That said, it's the people who make the decisions regarding our treatment and our health. It will take at least 10 years for UF Health to restaff our Hospitals with more competent staffing. I know there will be those who respond by saying what a wonderful experience they had at the Villages Hospital. Frankly, we should all have that experience and great many of us do not.

I would not go there unless I was going to be DOA.

There is no question in my mind that the ER is the weakest link at TVRH, but your assessment is, well, pretty harsh. I've been there with my late wife, and the ER needs quite a bit of improvement. It wouldn't take 10 years, I'd be willing to bet a few friends of mine and I could straighten it out in 4 months, IF we were given dictatorial powers.

I found your 3rd paragraph quite interesting:

"I've had doctors make medication decisions without consulting the admitting physician."

Why would a board certified ER physician "consult" with the "admitting" physician on anything? You are in the ER, under his/her care, he/she is responsible and they are perfectly capable of making medical and medication decisions. The time for consultation/communication is after the patient has been stabilized/initially treated and a decision has been made to admit the patient.

" I've had doctors I don't know"

That's good, because the only patients that know every ER physician are either hypochondriacs or crackpots

"didn't ask for"

Actually, YOU DID ask for them when you showed up in their ER

"and didn't need examine and prescribe medications for me."

If you didn't need them, why were you there? And if they did not examine and treat you, what did you expect them to do? Compliment your attire?

"And finally, we have had tests performed that we specifically directed them not to perform."

Great, another patient who has more expertise than the treating physician and knows what "tests" he does and does not need. Another charter member of the American Association of Amateur Physicians.

[asiebel]

Been coming here since 2006 and it has not changed! Try the Urgent Care on 466A and The Leesburg Hospital.

[lennythenet]

I’m sorry but I just have to reply. Often times you might find someone who is rude or having a bad day, but it sounds like from your email that NO ONE did anything right that evening. The receptionist, the billing clerk, the doctor, the nursing assistant. You might want to reflect the on what the common demoninator was in this experience.

[kanoa1kale2]

Next time, OP, don't go to the emergency room for a non-emergency situation. You should've gone to Urgent Care.

How is a layman to define what is an emergency and what is not? Btw, most Urgent Care centers around here close between 5 and 7pm. There are a number of very competent ER facilities very close by.

[Villagesgal]

Unless bleeding to death, stroke or heart attack do not go to Villages hospital ER. Doctors in ER are contract doctors so are there only 1 day a week, can't find fulltime work and don't care because they will never see you again. Always have an ambulance bring you in or it could be hours till you are seen. We actually saw an elderly gentleman die in his chair while waiting. He had had a heart attack according to his son who was there with him and they had been waiting over 7 hours. We saw his son go up and beg for care for his father many times over the 6 hours we sat there. My husband was finally admitted after waiting over 7 hours. When we finally got to the back we were told to never drive in ourselves but to take an ambulance. Once in a real room, care was excellent, but their ER protocol is sloppy, no triaging of patients. It doesn't matter how many people show up that don't really need to be there, simple triaging of patients would quickly help them figure out who needs immediate care and who doesn't. It's a real shame that they can't get their ER situation improved.

[christine J Toft]

I recently had the misfortune of having to use the Villages ER. Absolute worst experience of my life. We arrived at apx 5:15 pm. We were treated extremely rudely by the elderly gentleman registering patients. We first had to ask if that was the line, as there really was no formal line. His tone and customer service were appalling. And yes he was a paid employee and not a volunteer. We then were directed to the billing person, who was also untrained and very rude. She asked for my insurance information. I handed her the workman’s comp form which had all the info needed. She handed it back and said she needed my insurance card. After pointing out this was a workman’s comp claim and this was not going on my personal insurance, she snatched the papers back out of my hand and complained that she did not know how to file a workman’s comp claim. My wife quickly took me to a seat as she could tell I was about to snap. So 2 hours later we are taken back to get an X-ray on my injured right knee. After completing the X-rays we are taken back to the waiting room. After 3 more hours apx 11:00, the ER doctor makes an appearance, he starts sitting with the 8 or 9 people in the waiting room and discussing all of their medical issues right there in the waiting room amongst everyone there. They use to have this thing called Hipaa, apparently that doesn’t exist here in the Villages. By midnight it was finally my turn to have my medical issues discussed aloud in front of everyone. He diagnosed me with a bad knee sprain, ordered me some pain killers, a knee brace and crutches. At 1:30 my wife was tired of waiting and went to check on the above items. 3 times I was asked my height. 3 times they were told 5’9”. They brought out crutches and a knee brace that the lowest adjustment was for someone 6’2”. At 2 am I stormed out the front door with nothing that fit, and no pain meds as all the pharmacy’s are closed and they don’t give medications out at that ER. What a joke! Turns out, after going to a real doctor the next day, that I had a completely torn in half ACL. NOT A BAD SPRAIN! If anyone knows of a good lawyer I would love their name, as hipaa laws were broken, the misdiagnosis without out even doing an MRI was reckless. I even asked him why they weren’t doing an MRI, to which he responded we don’t do those here. What??? Are you kidding me? So after being there for about nine hours, we were worse off than when we got there, and the sad part is they will still get paid.
I had a similar experience with my then 91 year old mother. They completely misdiagnosed her injuries after a fall. Had her moved to Ocala where they treated her properly. Go to Leesburg or Ocala if possible. It's a sad situation to have such inept people in a hospital "bragged" about.

[LuvtheVillages]

Originally Posted by villagetinker View Post
For future reference, there is a stand alone fully staffed ER on 466a just West of Buena Vista, between myself, my wife and a close friend this has been used 4 times all with excellent service and excellent results. This will always be my first choice if I need after hours care.


Plus, is it correct that if you use that ER and need to go to a hospital that it’s the one in Ocala?

Yes, that's true. They will ambulance you to their hospital in Ocala, and that's a very GOOD thing. Their care is excellent. They are well rated. Well worth the little bit of a drive. In my friend's case, she went to Marion West hospital, which is just west of the freeway. Easy drive.

[scottomjs]

Sounds A typical avoid the emergency room if you can particularly if you’re not bleeding anywhere on the body

[golfing eagles]

How is a layman to define what is an emergency and what is not? Btw, most Urgent Care centers around here close between 5 and 7pm. There are a number of very competent ER facilities very close by.

Why not?????

So far, on this thread alone, we have had laymen go home and diagnose themselves (wrongly, I'm pretty sure), laymen who know what tests they do and do not need, laymen who know ER protocol, laymen who know ER to hospitalist patient handoff protocols, laymen who know the role of the ER physician in examination and treatment, laymen who know the need for and protocols for transferring a patient to another facility (COBRA notwithstanding :1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:), and more. So why not let these AMATEUR PHYSICIANS do their own triage as to what is and is not an emergency? What could possibly go wrong????:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[golfing eagles]

Sounds A typical avoid the emergency room if you can particularly if you’re not bleeding anywhere on the body

I'd make that "bleeding profusely"

[graciegirl]

File a complaint letter with the hospital director.. that is the best way to bring it to their attention.

I always read the posts on here with a lot of skepticism. Most posters insist on remaining anonymous, so they can color their experience with any color in their crayon box. Sometimes things just sort of "scream out" as overkill. That is my reaction to this OP.

[tammy5912554@gmail.com]

Just as a side note...I was at Villages Hospital yesterday for a routine colonoscopy. It was one of the best experiences I have ever had with a medical provider. They were so kind and professional.

[golfing eagles]

I always read the posts on here with a lot of skepticism. Most posters insist on remaining anonymous, so they can color their experience with any color in their crayon box. Sometimes things just sort of "scream out" as overkill. That is my reaction to this OP.

All I can say, GG, is that I could have made a running scathing critique of what the OP posted---no triage line, billing clerks that are "untrained", "storming out" with a full thickness ACL tear, and of course lawyer hunting. At least 3/4 of it did not pass the smell test. But sometimes it isn't worth tilting at windmills.:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[Birdbathbabe]

Thank you for sharing your experience. Hope you are healing well. Good luck

[cathell62]

Unusual, I've been to the ER several times in the past with no issues. Could have been an off day for them. Your attitude could have been a contributing factor, especially when you're in pain. For everyone waiting in the waiting room to be told the results, agree that was off. Rooms must have been full as I've never had to wait other the the ER room.
Did you ever think about talking to a manager while you were there? That can usually resolve issues. If not, did you follow up call? If not, that's on you. Sounds like you didn't to your due diligence in finding out answers.
Overall, sounds like your attitude didn't help the situation, keep in mind you get the respect you give. If you have a ****y attitude, I would have given it back to you.
Hope your life goes better.


I recently had the misfortune of having to use the Villages ER. Absolute worst experience of my life. We arrived at apx 5:15 pm. We were treated extremely rudely by the elderly gentleman registering patients. We first had to ask if that was the line, as there really was no formal line. His tone and customer service were appalling. And yes he was a paid employee and not a volunteer. We then were directed to the billing person, who was also untrained and very rude. She asked for my insurance information. I handed her the workman’s comp form which had all the info needed. She handed it back and said she needed my insurance card. After pointing out this was a workman’s comp claim and this was not going on my personal insurance, she snatched the papers back out of my hand and complained that she did not know how to file a workman’s comp claim. My wife quickly took me to a seat as she could tell I was about to snap. So 2 hours later we are taken back to get an X-ray on my injured right knee. After completing the X-rays we are taken back to the waiting room. After 3 more hours apx 11:00, the ER doctor makes an appearance, he starts sitting with the 8 or 9 people in the waiting room and discussing all of their medical issues right there in the waiting room amongst everyone there. They use to have this thing called Hipaa, apparently that doesn’t exist here in the Villages. By midnight it was finally my turn to have my medical issues discussed aloud in front of everyone. He diagnosed me with a bad knee sprain, ordered me some pain killers, a knee brace and crutches. At 1:30 my wife was tired of waiting and went to check on the above items. 3 times I was asked my height. 3 times they were told 5’9”. They brought out crutches and a knee brace that the lowest adjustment was for someone 6’2”. At 2 am I stormed out the front door with nothing that fit, and no pain meds as all the pharmacy’s are closed and they don’t give medications out at that ER. What a joke! Turns out, after going to a real doctor the next day, that I had a completely torn in half ACL. NOT A BAD SPRAIN! If anyone knows of a good lawyer I would love their name, as hipaa laws were broken, the misdiagnosis without out even doing an MRI was reckless. I even asked him why they weren’t doing an MRI, to which he responded we don’t do those here. What??? Are you kidding me? So after being there for about nine hours, we were worse off than when we got there, and the sad part is they will still get paid.

[justjim]

We are very fortunate not to need the Village Hospital emergency room. I’ve read most of the Threads on this site regarding this subject over the last several years and if only HALF of the “stories” are true it’s pretty darn scary. Obviously, there is much room for improvement. We have used a couple of urgent care centers and find them to be acceptable for what they are expected to do. I would highly recommend that the OP and others who find their emergency care unacceptable, to report that to the highest possible responsible authorities. By doing so it’s possible you could save someone from pain and suffering and even their life.

[taruffi57]

How about my 91 yr. old Mother fell and split her forehead and peeled back a sizeable area of skin on her arm, and we sat in ER for 11 hrs. Finally got seen but virtually no treatment, then back there and waited another 7 hrs. the next day to be treated, I sat with her.

[PugMom]

Several days of a terrible headache due to a "food allergy". OK, whatever.

Now stepping back from the story, it appears that you stated you were seen at TVRH ER and had a lumbar puncture, which "hit a capillary" (Which, btw, is impossible given the diameter of capillaries and the diameter of a spinal needle). Then you were sent to Shands, which is acknowledged as a highly rated facility, presumably had a MRI or CT, some other testing and a neurology consult since you were there for "a day", but they could find out what was wrong either. So, at this point, what makes TVRH ER horrible and Shands ER great??????
But to finish your story, you went home, and while neither locally or at Shands you could be diagnosed by medical professionals and specialists, YOU diagnosed YOURSELF with "food allergies"
I will be (extremely) polite and just state I remain a bit skeptical.

Moral of the story----this is exactly why there is no American Association of Amateur Physicians

thank you for an informative post

[ScottS]

All I can say, GG, is that I could have made a running scathing critique of what the OP posted---no triage line, billing clerks that are "untrained", "storming out" with a full thickness ACL tear, and of course lawyer hunting. At least 3/4 of it did not pass the smell test. But sometimes it isn't worth tilting at windmills.:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:
:bigbow:Oh omnipotent one, please enlighten us all with your vast knowledge. I didn’t type every detail nor post pics of all supporting documentation. But since you feel as though you are some sort of spokesperson person for the group, I shall give your highness more details. The “triage line” consisted of people sitting in various spots as they were tired of standing, and when I say people, there were probably 2 people standing, 2 people in wheel chairs like myself, and 2 or 3 sitting in various areas. The billing clerk, admitted she had no clue how to do the billing for a workman’s comp issue, and she would just “wing it”. ( after spending several hours on the phone with the billing dept, it has now been straightened out. As far as storming out, yes that was a bit exaggerated. The young man who came in for the late shift was actually very caring. And spent his first hour handing out blankets, and talking with people to see if he could accommodate their needs somehow. When my wife approached him he was very kind and helpful. He did make an effort to retrieve the crutches and brace, as well as get the written prescription for the pain meds and something for the swelling. In his haste he grabbed all of the wrong sizes and noticed it as he was handing them to us. And offered to go get the right sizes. We thanked him but explained we were just worn out and wanted to get home, and even though that wasn’t his fault it was just kind of the straw that broke the camels back at that point. The prescription would be worthless until 8 am the next morning and they gave me zero medication in the interim. We thanked him for trying and thanked him for helping the other people left sitting alone in there. He was the only one who showed any empathy at all and willingness to help at all. Kudos to him. Unfortunately for him it was too little to late, but once again not his fault. As for the full tear ACL. It was indeed a “full rupture with very little left to connect to” The operation was Thursday and I sit here in my keyboard warrior full leg brace and cryogenic circulation machine addressing your questions. And as for the suing quip, I would never waste my time with such frivolity, to take on a hospital that is backed by Morse money would be ludicrous. So I hope the gods are now appeased and all is right with your world. For someone who wasn’t there and had zero knowledge of what actually went on, you sure seem to think you knew a lot. And I really could careless about your sniff test.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

:bigbow:Oh omnipotent one, please enlighten us all with your vast knowledge. I didn’t type every detail nor post pics of all supporting documentation. But since you feel as though you are some sort of spokesperson person for the group, I shall give your highness more details. The “triage line” consisted of people sitting in various spots as they were tired of standing, and when I say people, there were probably 2 people standing, 2 people in wheel chairs like myself, and 2 or 3 sitting in various areas. The billing clerk, admitted she had no clue how to do the billing for a workman’s comp issue, and she would just “wing it”. ( after spending several hours on the phone with the billing dept, it has now been straightened out. As far as storming out, yes that was a bit exaggerated. The young man who came in for the late shift was actually very caring. And spent his first hour handing out blankets, and talking with people to see if he could accommodate their needs somehow. When my wife approached him he was very kind and helpful. He did make an effort to retrieve the crutches and brace, as well as get the written prescription for the pain meds and something for the swelling. In his haste he grabbed all of the wrong sizes and noticed it as he was handing them to us. And offered to go get the right sizes. We thanked him but explained we were just worn out and wanted to get home, and even though that wasn’t his fault it was just kind of the straw that broke the camels back at that point. The prescription would be worthless until 8 am the next morning and they gave me zero medication in the interim. We thanked him for trying and thanked him for helping the other people left sitting alone in there. He was the only one who showed any empathy at all and willingness to help at all. Kudos to him. Unfortunately for him it was too little to late, but once again not his fault. As for the full tear ACL. It was indeed a “full rupture with very little left to connect to” The operation was Thursday and I sit here in my keyboard warrior full leg brace and cryogenic circulation machine addressing your questions. And as for the suing quip, I would never waste my time with such frivolity, to take on a hospital that is backed by Morse money would be ludicrous. So I hope the gods are now appeased and all is right with your world. For someone who wasn’t there and had zero knowledge of what actually went on, you sure seem to think you knew a lot. And I really could careless about your sniff test.

So - you admit that you made up a lot of this and left out anything positive that might refute your false claims and assertions, just so that you could prove a point that had no validity in the first place.

You got stuck waiting for a long time and had one employee who didn't seem competent. And you were frustrated, in pain, and angry. Instead of being an adult about it and following up with an omnibudsman for the hospital, you came here to vent and rant and go full-blown 12-year-old Karen on everyone.

[Gerry Hutchings]

Welcome to the club, most people will only visit there once and thankfully there are other choices now as not that long ago that was the only game in town. We had a terrible life threatening experience there and will never go back.

What are the other choices -- where are they ? Close or some travel needed. Also had a lousey experience there. Thank you for any info>

[PugMom]

So - you admit that you made up a lot of this and left out anything positive that might refute your false claims and assertions, just so that you could prove a point that had no validity in the first place.

You got stuck waiting for a long time and had one employee who didn't seem competent. And you were frustrated, in pain, and angry. Instead of being an adult about it and following up with an omnibudsman for the hospital, you came here to vent and rant and go full-blown 12-year-old Karen on everyone.

sounds like they wandered in from that 'other' forum.

[golfing eagles]

:bigbow:Oh omnipotent one, please enlighten us all with your vast knowledge. I didn’t type every detail nor post pics of all supporting documentation. But since you feel as though you are some sort of spokesperson person for the group, I shall give your highness more details. The “triage line” consisted of people sitting in various spots as they were tired of standing, and when I say people, there were probably 2 people standing, 2 people in wheel chairs like myself, and 2 or 3 sitting in various areas. The billing clerk, admitted she had no clue how to do the billing for a workman’s comp issue, and she would just “wing it”. ( after spending several hours on the phone with the billing dept, it has now been straightened out. As far as storming out, yes that was a bit exaggerated. The young man who came in for the late shift was actually very caring. And spent his first hour handing out blankets, and talking with people to see if he could accommodate their needs somehow. When my wife approached him he was very kind and helpful. He did make an effort to retrieve the crutches and brace, as well as get the written prescription for the pain meds and something for the swelling. In his haste he grabbed all of the wrong sizes and noticed it as he was handing them to us. And offered to go get the right sizes. We thanked him but explained we were just worn out and wanted to get home, and even though that wasn’t his fault it was just kind of the straw that broke the camels back at that point. The prescription would be worthless until 8 am the next morning and they gave me zero medication in the interim. We thanked him for trying and thanked him for helping the other people left sitting alone in there. He was the only one who showed any empathy at all and willingness to help at all. Kudos to him. Unfortunately for him it was too little to late, but once again not his fault. As for the full tear ACL. It was indeed a “full rupture with very little left to connect to” The operation was Thursday and I sit here in my keyboard warrior full leg brace and cryogenic circulation machine addressing your questions. And as for the suing quip, I would never waste my time with such frivolity, to take on a hospital that is backed by Morse money would be ludicrous. So I hope the gods are now appeased and all is right with your world. For someone who wasn’t there and had zero knowledge of what actually went on, you sure seem to think you knew a lot. And I really could careless about your sniff test.

First of all, and most importantly, I hope your surgery was very successful and that you have a full recovery and quickly return to full activity. That is far more important than TOTV keyboard squabbling.

Second, your revised version is much more reasonable and believable. Perhaps the billing clerk was, well, less than competent, and the triage line may have been "corrupted" by people sitting and moving away

Third, you state I seem to "know a lot" even though I wasn't there. That's because I've managed enough ERs and hospital staff, worked as a physician in enough ERs for the last 40 years that I have a pretty good idea of the spectrum of what is and is not likely. BTW, I am hardly "omnipotent", nor am I a "spokesperson for the group", I simply "callz them as I seez" them:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:, like everybody else on this forum.

And lastly, my comment to GG about your OP addressed the FACTS you put forth in your first post. I don't see where I launched any kind of personal attack on you. Can you say the same?????

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

What are the other choices -- where are they ? Close or some travel needed. Also had a lousey experience there. Thank you for any info>

Most hospital emergency rooms are not known for customer service or efficiency. Why's that?

Because 1) you're not a customer. They don't have to give you good customer service. They need to treat you like a human being, but beyond that, they have no oglibation to make you feel warm and cozy and happy and eager to return again for another visit.

2) service in an ER is not given by the order received. It's given by priority and availability of physicians to attend to the situation presented to them. Someone with a busted knee is going to sit there for awhile, if that someone is technically stable, and someone else has just come in with a heart attack. Them's the breaks, and that's what you get for going to an ER when it's not an emergency.

There are people who are at risk of losing their lives, who need to be seen first. EVERYONE ELSE has to wait.

[ScottS]

I very sorry about your recent experiences at the ER, but in my humble opinion, your case is not representative of the hard working and dedicated employees at the local emergency rooms. Additionally, I question the diagnosis you claim of a Grade III torn in half ACL which was missed diagnosis and that you just "stormed out the front door without any pain medication" when you where not treated quick enough. Sounds fishy to me and I call BS.

BTW - If you where completely honest, then I apologize. I suggest that you stop with the keyboard warrior stuff and seek legal action against the medical facility. It sucks that so many people talk trash about The Villages ER and never take any constructive action in correcting the problem so it doesn't happen again to the next poor guy seeking medical help.
What seems fishy? If I knew how to take pictures to post on a response I would. The ER dr diagnosed it as a bad sprain, but after getting an MRI, the orthopedic surgeon diagnosed it as a complete rupture of the ACL with very little left to attach it to. As far as storming out, no I didn’t kick the door down. I might have overstated “ storming out” and just said left very upset. As far as sitting there way too long, the carrot on the stick kept being dangled. First with the X-ray, then with Dr giving everyone their diagnoses right there in the waiting room in front of gad and everyone. All of these took longer than they should of, but in for a penny in for a pound. Lessen learned. The ACL operation took place at west Marion in Ocala, with outstanding care and follow up. Seeking legal action against a large Hospital that is probably backed by Morse money, would be frivolous, and I probably shouldn’t of even added that part. My mistake. They gave me a written prescription which was of no use at that time of night, and offered no pain meds while I waited for the pharmacy to open. As for going to the emergency room, this was my 3 rd time in my 57 years of needing such a facility, I thought I had done something much worse, and that it was much worse, I was unaware that there was certain protocol as to which type of facility I was suppose to go to. The workman’s comp person asked me which hospital I was closes too, and it was the Villages Hospital so that is where I went.

[golfing eagles]

Most hospital emergency rooms are not known for customer service or efficiency. Why's that?

Because 1) you're not a customer. They don't have to give you good customer service. They need to treat you like a human being, but beyond that, they have no oglibation to make you feel warm and cozy and happy and eager to return again for another visit.

2) service in an ER is not given by the order received. It's given by priority and availability of physicians to attend to the situation presented to them. Someone with a busted knee is going to sit there for awhile, if that someone is technically stable, and someone else has just come in with a heart attack. Them's the breaks, and that's what you get for going to an ER when it's not an emergency.

There are people who are at risk of losing their lives, who need to be seen first. EVERYONE ELSE has to wait.

You assume that the ordinary layperson/patient understands triage and prioritization of patient care like you and I do. When they show up in an ER, they don't see that, and frequently the most severe illnesses and injuries arrive by ambulance and come in through a different door and skip triage altogether.

I put up a sign in our ER in NY that read---"The patients are not an interruption of our work, they are the purpose of it". That being said, as you know, an ER can from ghost town to overwhelmed in about 30 seconds. And when that happens, the waiting room just backs up more and more, and then tempers flare, support staff gets frazzled and people leave PO'ed. Then, of course, they get on TOTV and the story gets, well, somewhat distorted and exaggerated, we've seen it time and again.

[ScottS]

So - you admit that you made up a lot of this and left out anything positive that might refute your false claims and assertions, just so that you could prove a point that had no validity in the first place.

You got stuck waiting for a long time and had one employee who didn't seem competent. And you were frustrated, in pain, and angry. Instead of being an adult about it and following up with an omnibudsman for the hospital, you came here to vent and rant and go full-blown 12-year-old Karen on everyone.
I see your lack of reading knowledge is as vast as your inability to comprehend. No where at all did I say I made anything up. Everything was factual and accounted for. Your inability to comprehend the English language is scary. The only thing that was embellished was the words stormed out. They should of said left angrily. That may have not hurt your feelings as much. And I’ll help you with the math. 3 people who weren’t competent. The elderly gentleman checking people in, the billing clerk, and the Er Dr. If you just use three fingers on either hand it might help you out. Now put your helmet back on and stop licking the windows.

[Rosebud1949]

I recently had the misfortune of having to use the Villages ER. Absolute worst experience of my life. We arrived at apx 5:15 pm. We were treated extremely rudely by the elderly gentleman registering patients. We first had to ask if that was the line, as there really was no formal line. His tone and customer service were appalling. And yes he was a paid employee and not a volunteer. We then were directed to the billing person, who was also untrained and very rude. She asked for my insurance information. I handed her the workman’s comp form which had all the info needed. She handed it back and said she needed my insurance card. After pointing out this was a workman’s comp claim and this was not going on my personal insurance, she snatched the papers back out of my hand and complained that she did not know how to file a workman’s comp claim. My wife quickly took me to a seat as she could tell I was about to snap. So 2 hours later we are taken back to get an X-ray on my injured right knee. After completing the X-rays we are taken back to the waiting room. After 3 more hours apx 11:00, the ER doctor makes an appearance, he starts sitting with the 8 or 9 people in the waiting room and discussing all of their medical issues right there in the waiting room amongst everyone there. They use to have this thing called Hipaa, apparently that doesn’t exist here in the Villages. By midnight it was finally my turn to have my medical issues discussed aloud in front of everyone. He diagnosed me with a bad knee sprain, ordered me some pain killers, a knee brace and crutches. At 1:30 my wife was tired of waiting and went to check on the above items. 3 times I was asked my height. 3 times they were told 5’9”. They brought out crutches and a knee brace that the lowest adjustment was for someone 6’2”. At 2 am I stormed out the front door with nothing that fit, and no pain meds as all the pharmacy’s are closed and they don’t give medications out at that ER. What a joke! Turns out, after going to a real doctor the next day, that I had a completely torn in half ACL. NOT A BAD SPRAIN! If anyone knows of a good lawyer I would love their name, as hipaa laws were broken, the misdiagnosis without out even doing an MRI was reckless. I even asked him why they weren’t doing an MRI, to which he responded we don’t do those here. What??? Are you kidding me? So after being there for about nine hours, we were worse off than when we got there, and the sad part is they will still get paid.

Having taken a neighbor to the emergency, years ago, filling out forms and waiting 2 hours to find that the clerk went off duty and DUMPED the form in the trash.

4 other folk came and and were seen and then left.. After complaining they said they had no form and we did not fill one out !!!!! NEVER EVER AGAIN will I go there unless the person I am with insists we do, but I will warn them first. The Villages have their hands in EVERY type of service here. What ever happened to real service. An old saying is very true, "jack of all trades and master of NONE:" says it all.

[ScottS]

First of all, and most importantly, I hope your surgery was very successful and that you have a full recovery and quickly return to full activity. That is far more important than TOTV keyboard squabbling.

Second, your revised version is much more reasonable and believable. Perhaps the billing clerk was, well, less than competent, and the triage line may have been "corrupted" by people sitting and moving away

Third, you state I seem to "know a lot" even though I wasn't there. That's because I've managed enough ERs and hospital staff, worked as a physician in enough ERs for the last 40 years that I have a pretty good idea of the spectrum of what is and is not likely. BTW, I am hardly "omnipotent", nor am I a "spokesperson for the group", I simply "callz them as I seez" them:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:, like everybody else on this forum.

And lastly, my comment to GG about your OP addressed the FACTS you put forth in your first post. I don't see where I launched any kind of personal attack on you. Can you say the same?????
You sir are correct, you did not, and I apologize for mine.

[golfing eagles]

What seems fishy? If I knew how to take pictures to post on a response I would. The ER dr diagnosed it as a bad sprain, but after getting an MRI, the orthopedic surgeon diagnosed it as a complete rupture of the ACL with very little left to attach it to. As far as storming out, no I didn’t kick the door down. I might have overstated “ storming out” and just said left very upset. As far as sitting there way too long, the carrot on the stick kept being dangled. First with the X-ray, then with Dr giving everyone their diagnoses right there in the waiting room in front of gad and everyone. All of these took longer than they should of, but in for a penny in for a pound. Lessen learned. The ACL operation took place at west Marion in Ocala, with outstanding care and follow up. Seeking legal action against a large Hospital that is probably backed by Morse money, would be frivolous, and I probably shouldn’t of even added that part. My mistake. They gave me a written prescription which was of no use at that time of night, and offered no pain meds while I waited for the pharmacy to open. As for going to the emergency room, this was my 3 rd time in my 57 years of needing such a facility, I thought I had done something much worse, and that it was much worse, I was unaware that there was certain protocol as to which type of facility I was suppose to go to. The workman’s comp person asked me which hospital I was closes too, and it was the Villages Hospital so that is where I went.

I think he posted that before your second post and would probably revise his statement after seeing it.
I still have 2 problems with this, and not you.
I don't see why the ER doc didn't get a MRI. I suspect, and only suspect , that like most ER physicians the last thing they want to see is a comp case. They are a PITA with paperwork, and frequently they end up having to testify in court. Therefore, you tend to try to not to be the physician who makes the final diagnosis, especially if you are not an orthopedic specialist in this case.
That being said, the way I would have handled it would be something like this: "Mr. Scott, I've reviewed the plain x rays with the radiologist and the good news is that nothing is broken. You will still need a MRI and an orthopedic consult since you might have anything from a bad strain to a ligament tear. In the meantime we will get you a knee brace and crutches, ice the knee for the next 48 hours and then switch to warm compresses, I'll give you a prescription for pain medication and since pharmacies are closed we'll dispense 2 doses for tonight" I'll bet you would have been much happier with that,
Second, I don't understand the clear HIPPA violations going on in the waiting room. I think you should definitely let hospital administration what went on, I'm sure they would be extremely concerned since the penalties are draconian

[ScottS]

First of all, and most importantly, I hope your surgery was very successful and that you have a full recovery and quickly return to full activity. That is far more important than TOTV keyboard squabbling.

Second, your revised version is much more reasonable and believable. Perhaps the billing clerk was, well, less than competent, and the triage line may have been "corrupted" by people sitting and moving away

Third, you state I seem to "know a lot" even though I wasn't there. That's because I've managed enough ERs and hospital staff, worked as a physician in enough ERs for the last 40 years that I have a pretty good idea of the spectrum of what is and is not likely. BTW, I am hardly "omnipotent", nor am I a "spokesperson for the group", I simply "callz them as I seez" them:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:, like everybody else on this forum.

And lastly, my comment to GG about your OP addressed the FACTS you put forth in your first post. I don't see where I launched any kind of personal attack on you. Can you say the same?????
And yes thank you, the operation went fine, the West Marion Hospital in Ocala was amazing. The only concern I have is his notes on what type of exercise to do until my post op follow up were non existent. And my phone call to his office yesterday went un returned. So not really sure how long to keep this full leg brace on and if I should be attempting to bend it. The two notes written say leave brace in fully extended position, and that I should be able to bend it in the 90* position by my next follow up. Seems a bit contradictory. He didn’t stop by after surgery to talk, but it was late.

[golfing eagles]

I see your lack of reading knowledge is as vast as your inability to comprehend. No where at all did I say I made anything up. Everything was factual and accounted for. Your inability to comprehend the English language is scary. The only thing that was embellished was the words stormed out. They should of said left angrily. That may have not hurt your feelings as much. And I’ll help you with the math. 3 people who weren’t competent. The elderly gentleman checking people in, the billing clerk, and the Er Dr. If you just use three fingers on either hand it might help you out. Now put your helmet back on and stop licking the windows.

Just so you are aware, I FREQUENTLY disagree with OBB(:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:), but she is quite medically knowledgeable and experienced, and knows far more than you are giving her credit for

[golfing eagles]

And yes thank you, the operation went fine, the West Marion Hospital in Ocala was amazing. The only concern I have is his notes on what type of exercise to do until my post op follow up were non existent. And my phone call to his office yesterday went un returned. So not really sure how long to keep this full leg brace on and if I should be attempting to bend it. The two notes written say leave brace in fully extended position, and that I should be able to bend it in the 90* position by my next follow up. Seems a bit contradictory. He didn’t stop by after surgery to talk, but it was late.

Not a good excuse. It wasn't "too late" to do the surgery (and bill you for it) I'd persist in calling the office. I don't give medical advice on TOTV, and even if I I did, I don't have the orthopedic expertise to state how long post op to keep the knee fully extended.

[ScottS]

I think he posted that before your second post and would probably revise his statement after seeing it.
I still have 2 problems with this, and not you.
I don't see why the ER doc didn't get a MRI. I suspect, and only suspect , that like most ER physicians the last thing they want to see is a comp case. They are a PITA with paperwork, and frequently they end up having to testify in court. Therefore, you tend to try to not to be the physician who makes the final diagnosis, especially if you are not an orthopedic specialist in this case.
That being said, the way I would have handled it would be something like this: "Mr. Scott, I've reviewed the plain x rays with the radiologist and the good news is that nothing is broken. You will still need a MRI and an orthopedic consult since you might have anything from a bad strain to a ligament tear. In the meantime we will get you a knee brace and crutches, ice the knee for the next 48 hours and then switch to warm compresses, I'll give you a prescription for pain medication and since pharmacies are closed we'll dispense 2 doses for tonight" I'll bet you would have been much happier with that,
Second, I don't understand the clear HIPPA violations going on in the waiting room. I think you should definitely let hospital administration what went on, I'm sure they would be extremely concerned since the penalties are draconian
Thank you sir and once again you are correct. I would of been very satisfied and understanding of that response. As I told one other person on this thread, in my 57 years I haven’t made it a habit of visiting ER rooms or apparently Emergency Care places now. And the Hipaa is absolutely a concern. You seem wise and very knowledgeable about all of this, thank you for your feed back.

[justjim]

How about my 91 yr. old Mother fell and split her forehead and peeled back a sizeable area of skin on her arm, and we sat in ER for 11 hrs. Finally got seen but virtually no treatment, then back there and waited another 7 hrs. the next day to be treated, I sat with her.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I recommend reporting unacceptable ER results to the highest possible responsible authorities i.e. ER Supervisor, Hospital Administrator, parent company CEO, etc. Since UF took over TVRH, we are thinking that is a step in the right direction and we are hoping for positive results and changes in the near future.

[graciegirl]

:bigbow:Oh omnipotent one, please enlighten us all with your vast knowledge. I didn’t type every detail nor post pics of all supporting documentation. But since you feel as though you are some sort of spokesperson person for the group, I shall give your highness more details. The “triage line” consisted of people sitting in various spots as they were tired of standing, and when I say people, there were probably 2 people standing, 2 people in wheel chairs like myself, and 2 or 3 sitting in various areas. The billing clerk, admitted she had no clue how to do the billing for a workman’s comp issue, and she would just “wing it”. ( after spending several hours on the phone with the billing dept, it has now been straightened out. As far as storming out, yes that was a bit exaggerated. The young man who came in for the late shift was actually very caring. And spent his first hour handing out blankets, and talking with people to see if he could accommodate their needs somehow. When my wife approached him he was very kind and helpful. He did make an effort to retrieve the crutches and brace, as well as get the written prescription for the pain meds and something for the swelling. In his haste he grabbed all of the wrong sizes and noticed it as he was handing them to us. And offered to go get the right sizes. We thanked him but explained we were just worn out and wanted to get home, and even though that wasn’t his fault it was just kind of the straw that broke the camels back at that point. The prescription would be worthless until 8 am the next morning and they gave me zero medication in the interim. We thanked him for trying and thanked him for helping the other people left sitting alone in there. He was the only one who showed any empathy at all and willingness to help at all. Kudos to him. Unfortunately for him it was too little to late, but once again not his fault. As for the full tear ACL. It was indeed a “full rupture with very little left to connect to” The operation was Thursday and I sit here in my keyboard warrior full leg brace and cryogenic circulation machine addressing your questions. And as for the suing quip, I would never waste my time with such frivolity, to take on a hospital that is backed by Morse money would be ludicrous. So I hope the gods are now appeased and all is right with your world. For someone who wasn’t there and had zero knowledge of what actually went on, you sure seem to think you knew a lot. And I really could careless about your sniff test.

The Hospital is NOT "backed by Morse Money". The Morses built it and they rent it out to Hospital Corporations. They do not have a drop, not a scintilla of anything to do with running it. The Lease was recently changed from the company that was running it to the University of Florida Hospital Corporation. Were you in fact at the Hospital on 441/27 or at the new place for emergency care near Brownwood? If you were at the one near Brownwood, I too had a similar experience and we were never triaged last month where our daughter's heart rate dropped below forty. If I am wrong, I will wear sackcloth and ashes at Lake Sumter Square and I sincerely apologize. I am not a queen of anything, just an old woman who pays attention carefully.

[skippy05]

If you have good insurance then do not mind the VERY short drive and use Advent Health Waterman Tavares Hospital. FIRST class (kinda almost 'new') facility, staff, and doctors. I have used their ER 4x in the last 2 years due to kidney stones and I tell you the place is awesome but expensive.

[Paul1934]

Next time, OP, don't go to the emergency room for a non-emergency situation. You should've gone to Urgent Care.
Excuse me. A torn acl is not a hangnail. Mine blew me out of a career and haunts me 40 years later.

[DavidCovid]

Funny that this dude now claims that his knee was surgically reconstructed after a 3rd degree ligament tear which the initial ER physician failed to notice and he refuses to take any constructive action against the hospital since in his terms was only frivolous because the Morse's have a lot of money. This dude is willing to trash the hospital online but refuses to grow a pair and take his concerns to the hospital's administration. I still call BS!!!!!!!!

On a side note. If you ever go into a buffet restaurant and notice that the serving areas have terrible food, you see roaches running wild inside the restaurants and the restaurant staff is seen picking their noses, my advise is to leave. ( I understand this is a silly analogy ) :a040::a040::a040:

[JMintzer]

Just as a side note...I was at Villages Hospital yesterday for a routine colonoscopy. It was one of the best experiences I have ever had with a medical provider. They were so kind and professional.

You are the very first person I've ever heard describe a colonoscopy as "one of the best experiences I have ever had with a medical provider."... :a040:

[JMintzer]

All I can say, GG, is that I could have made a running scathing critique of what the OP posted---no triage line, billing clerks that are "untrained", "storming out" with a full thickness ACL tear, and of course lawyer hunting. At least 3/4 of it did not pass the smell test. But sometimes it isn't worth tilting at windmills.:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

https://images.huffingtonpost.com/2016-01-22-1453502982-4968895-6760986257_0fea8fa43e_b-thumb.jpg

[JMintzer]

:bigbow:Oh omnipotent one, please enlighten us all with your vast knowledge. I didn’t type every detail nor post pics of all supporting documentation. But since you feel as though you are some sort of spokesperson person for the group, I shall give your highness more details. The “triage line” consisted of people sitting in various spots as they were tired of standing, and when I say people, there were probably 2 people standing, 2 people in wheel chairs like myself, and 2 or 3 sitting in various areas. The billing clerk, admitted she had no clue how to do the billing for a workman’s comp issue, and she would just “wing it”. ( after spending several hours on the phone with the billing dept, it has now been straightened out. As far as storming out, yes that was a bit exaggerated. The young man who came in for the late shift was actually very caring. And spent his first hour handing out blankets, and talking with people to see if he could accommodate their needs somehow. When my wife approached him he was very kind and helpful. He did make an effort to retrieve the crutches and brace, as well as get the written prescription for the pain meds and something for the swelling. In his haste he grabbed all of the wrong sizes and noticed it as he was handing them to us. And offered to go get the right sizes. We thanked him but explained we were just worn out and wanted to get home, and even though that wasn’t his fault it was just kind of the straw that broke the camels back at that point. The prescription would be worthless until 8 am the next morning and they gave me zero medication in the interim. We thanked him for trying and thanked him for helping the other people left sitting alone in there. He was the only one who showed any empathy at all and willingness to help at all. Kudos to him. Unfortunately for him it was too little to late, but once again not his fault. As for the full tear ACL. It was indeed a “full rupture with very little left to connect to” The operation was Thursday and I sit here in my keyboard warrior full leg brace and cryogenic circulation machine addressing your questions. And as for the suing quip, I would never waste my time with such frivolity, to take on a hospital that is backed by Morse money would be ludicrous. So I hope the gods are now appeased and all is right with your world. For someone who wasn’t there and had zero knowledge of what actually went on, you sure seem to think you knew a lot. And I really could careless about your sniff test.

"Workman's comp claims" are rarely, if ever seen in the ER. If you had a referral, it wasn't an emergency.

Even if the correct diagnosis was made, the treatment would have been a knee brace, crutches and a referral to an Orthopedist... Which is where you probably should have gone in the first place...

[JMintzer]

So - you admit that you made up a lot of this and left out anything positive that might refute your false claims and assertions, just so that you could prove a point that had no validity in the first place.

You got stuck waiting for a long time and had one employee who didn't seem competent. And you were frustrated, in pain, and angry. Instead of being an adult about it and following up with an omnibudsman for the hospital, you came here to vent and rant and go full-blown 12-year-old Karen on everyone.

https://media.tenor.com/images/849074ece9b2604b49174d1bc48983e4/tenor.gif

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

You assume that the ordinary layperson/patient understands triage and prioritization of patient care like you and I do. When they show up in an ER, they don't see that, and frequently the most severe illnesses and injuries arrive by ambulance and come in through a different door and skip triage altogether.

I put up a sign in our ER in NY that read---"The patients are not an interruption of our work, they are the purpose of it". That being said, as you know, an ER can from ghost town to overwhelmed in about 30 seconds. And when that happens, the waiting room just backs up more and more, and then tempers flare, support staff gets frazzled and people leave PO'ed. Then, of course, they get on TOTV and the story gets, well, somewhat distorted and exaggerated, we've seen it time and again.

I'm just an ordinary layperson though. That's why I don't get why this is news to anyone. If you've EVER been in an emergency room, in any moderately-to-densely-populated part of the country, you'd know that ERs are not the optimum place to go for non-life-threatening injuries. You'd know that the intake folks don't give a flying fart about your feelings, unless those feelings resulted in your attempted (and failed) suicide. Even then, they're not going to try and make you "feel better" about their customer service. They'll give you a dose of mind-number, strap you to a geurney, and call the psych department for urgent care processing.

How do I know this? Because I've actually been a patient in the emergency room a few times in my life. (Not for suicide attempts - I've never even entertained such, even in my darkest moments of life's experiences). Most of them life-threatening, or what I believed to be life-threatening, or what the ambulance driver felt was life-threatening.

That's how I know what I know about ER care. The fact that I'm correct, just proves - that I'm correct. Nothing more or less. I'm not well-versed in triage. In fact I thought it meant something else so I had to look it up.

[JMintzer]

sounds like they wandered in from that 'other' forum.

Wait, what, there's "another forum"? And it's worse than this one???

[JMintzer]

I see your lack of reading knowledge is as vast as your inability to comprehend. No where at all did I say I made anything up. Everything was factual and accounted for. Your inability to comprehend the English language is scary. The only thing that was embellished was the words stormed out. They should of said left angrily. That may have not hurt your feelings as much. And I’ll help you with the math. 3 people who weren’t competent. The elderly gentleman checking people in, the billing clerk, and the Er Dr. If you just use three fingers on either hand it might help you out. Now put your helmet back on and stop licking the windows.

Were you alive when you left the ER?

If the answer is yes, they did their job... They are not experts in orthopedics, food allergies nor headaches...

They are there, primarily, to save your life... To treat "emergencies"...

[JMintzer]

Excuse me. A torn acl is not a hangnail. Mine blew me out of a career and haunts me 40 years later.

Sorry to hear that, but it doesn't change the fact that "Urgent Care" would have been a better place to go...

Now, 40 years ago, those facilities really didn't exist, so the ER was your only option...

Today, most ERs have an "Urgent" side and a "Non-Urgent" side. One is for actual emergencies, the other for colds, ingrown nails (and trust me, you don't want the ER treating that!) and minor abrasions/lacerations, etc...

[Dan9871]

And the Hipaa is absolutely a concern. .

You can report your concerns directly to HHS yourself.

352-If I believe that my privacy rights have been violated, when can I submit a complaint | HHS.gov (https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-individuals/faq/352/if-i-believe-that-my-privacy-rights-have-been-violated-when-can-i-submit-a-complaint/index.html)

[Marykess1802]

For all our sakes, I hope you send this same information to the CEO of the hospital, also to whoever is in charge of running the emergency room.
Don’t bother. They don’t care. Addressed our issues (glass left in husband’s wound) and never heard back. Apparently you sign a “do not sue” form before they will treat you. 🥲

[mjpuleo]

like anywhere else--depends who is on duty--you have those who care and those who don't because it is just a pay check for them.

[jmpate]

I'm so sorry you had such a horrible experience especially having the pain and discomfort this injury caused. The only way to address the shortfalls in service, is to file a complaint with the hospital administration. That being said, I highly recommend you start with the Director of Nursing Services, who can be contacted through the main phone number at the hospital, then ask for the Director of Nursing. The Director or Nursing (DNS) is most often the individual responsible for patient care services and customer service is a very important element in direct patient care. He/she will investigate your concerns with the leadership in the ED and if you want a response back from the DNS, make sure you ask for a follow up phone call. As a registered nurse for >47 years, I can tell you that the kind of behavior you described is NOT tolerated in the healthcare arena anymore because dissatisfied patients/family members affect the bottom line, ie the $$$ rolling in. Furthermore, it becomes a reality check for the clerical and nursing staff, in that they learn how their behavior and lack of concern affected the patient and their experiences. I've received patient complaints about how I interacted with a patient in the past and it affected me greatly, because I truly am/was concerned about my care. It also gave me the opportunity to examine how I speak and act towards those patients under my care. Your observations are very important and should be communicated so that the nursing staff can examine what went wrong and how to fix. This will also include corrective action on the physician. Hope this is helpful to you and you recover from the ACL tear!

[allsport]

Having spent the majority of my professional career either working in or being top management of big city, busy ERs I would say that your choice of The Village ER was a mistake. Your problem while painful to you was not life threatening so your care gets put behind every ambulance that rolls through the door. They would not do an MRI in a busy ER for a knee injury on the evening shift. There are several free standing ERs in the area that treat many problems such as yours on a daily basis and that would have been a better choice. Most ERs would X-ray, put a brace on it and send you to ortho the next day. The orthopedic Institute on 441 would have taken care of the entire problem had you gone there during the day. Many people use ERs for other than truly emergency care and that that is why the free standing ones work so much better for problems like yours.

[golfing eagles]

Having spent the majority of my professional career either working in or being top management of big city, busy ERs I would say that your choice of The Village ER was a mistake. Your problem while painful to you was not life threatening so your care gets put behind every ambulance that rolls through the door. They would not do an MRI in a busy ER for a knee injury on the evening shift. There are several free standing ERs in the area that treat many problems such as yours on a daily basis and that would have been a better choice. Most ERs would X-ray, put a brace on it and send you to ortho the next day. The orthopedic Institute on 441 would have taken care of the entire problem had you gone there during the day. Many people use ERs for other than truly emergency care and that that is why the free standing ones work so much better for problems like yours.

Might I ask in what capacity?

[JMintzer]

Having spent the majority of my professional career either working in or being top management of big city, busy ERs I would say that your choice of The Village ER was a mistake. Your problem while painful to you was not life threatening so your care gets put behind every ambulance that rolls through the door. They would not do an MRI in a busy ER for a knee injury on the evening shift. There are several free standing ERs in the area that treat many problems such as yours on a daily basis and that would have been a better choice. Most ERs would X-ray, put a brace on it and send you to ortho the next day. The orthopedic Institute on 441 would have taken care of the entire problem had you gone there during the day. Many people use ERs for other than truly emergency care and that that is why the free standing ones work so much better for problems like yours.

Well said...

[La lamy]

so sorry you had to deal with all that incompetence. Unfortunately it seems to be the norm for that hospital. We deserve MUCH better.

[DON10E]

For future reference, there is a stand alone fully staffed ER on 466a just West of Buena Vista, between myself, my wife and a close friend this has been used 4 times all with excellent service and excellent results. This will always be my first choice if I need after hours care.

I went to a stand alone ER on 44. They had a ct scanner but no mri. Do you know if the place on 466a has both?

I’ve been told to always go to an er physically connected to a hospital, but those are further away. I don’t know when time is more important than full quality of care.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I went to a stand alone ER on 44. They had a ct scanner but no mri. Do you know if the place on 466a has both?

I’ve been told to always go to an er physically connected to a hospital, but those are further away. I don’t know when time is more important than full quality of care.

If it's an actual emergency, I'd go to the ER closest to home if spouse is driving, or wherever the ambulance takes me, if he's not driving. If I'm able to drive, then it's not an emergency.

[dewilson58]

Might I ask in what capacity?

Yes you may.

[OhioBuckeye]

I myself totally agrees with you! Service was terrible 9 1/2 yrs. ago & it must not be any Breyer yet. I got a bill for almost $4,000. & we went & cplained to the CEO of the hospital, this lady very politely tore our bill up & said I’ll take care of it. She heard so many things that were forbidden that she was almost embarrassed to tell us that that was a no-no. I won’t get into a very long story but TV hospital should be closed, I wouldn’t trust SOME of the help there or SOME Drs. with my pet ANT. I cut the end of my thumb off with a potato slicer & went to Emergency care in Leesburg, I know some people might not like Leesburg either but they were the nicest professionals I’ve ever had not like the mental hospital help in TV. If you have an emergency & can make it go to Leesburg or Ocala. I guess from reading these comments at least people know the TV hospital is not the place to go to for emergency help unless you’re going there to get your Death Certificate!

[graciegirl]

I myself totally agrees with you! Service was terrible 9 1/2 yrs. ago & it must not be any Breyer yet. I got a bill for almost $4,000. & we went & cplained to the CEO of the hospital, this lady very politely tore our bill up & said I’ll take care of it. She heard so many things that were forbidden that she was almost embarrassed to tell us that that was a no-no. I won’t get into a very long story but TV hospital should be closed, I wouldn’t trust SOME of the help there or SOME Drs. with my pet ANT. I cut the end of my thumb off with a potato slicer & went to Emergency care in Leesburg, I know some people might not like Leesburg either but they were the nicest professionals I’ve ever had not like the mental hospital help in TV. If you have an emergency & can make it go to Leesburg or Ocala. I guess from reading these comments at least people know the TV hospital is not the place to go to for emergency help unless you’re going there to get your Death Certificate!

Now look at me. I have yucky stuff all over my new tenneys.

[Jerseygirl08]

I recently had the misfortune of having to use the Villages ER. Absolute worst experience of my life. We arrived at apx 5:15 pm. We were treated extremely rudely by the elderly gentleman registering patients. We first had to ask if that was the line, as there really was no formal line. His tone and customer service were appalling. And yes he was a paid employee and not a volunteer. We then were directed to the billing person, who was also untrained and very rude. She asked for my insurance information. I handed her the workman’s comp form which had all the info needed. She handed it back and said she needed my insurance card. After pointing out this was a workman’s comp claim and this was not going on my personal insurance, she snatched the papers back out of my hand and complained that she did not know how to file a workman’s comp claim. My wife quickly took me to a seat as she could tell I was about to snap. So 2 hours later we are taken back to get an X-ray on my injured right knee. After completing the X-rays we are taken back to the waiting room. After 3 more hours apx 11:00, the ER doctor makes an appearance, he starts sitting with the 8 or 9 people in the waiting room and discussing all of their medical issues right there in the waiting room amongst everyone there. They use to have this thing called Hipaa, apparently that doesn’t exist here in the Villages. By midnight it was finally my turn to have my medical issues discussed aloud in front of everyone. He diagnosed me with a bad knee sprain, ordered me some pain killers, a knee brace and crutches. At 1:30 my wife was tired of waiting and went to check on the above items. 3 times I was asked my height. 3 times they were told 5’9”. They brought out crutches and a knee brace that the lowest adjustment was for someone 6’2”. At 2 am I stormed out the front door with nothing that fit, and no pain meds as all the pharmacy’s are closed and they don’t give medications out at that ER. What a joke! Turns out, after going to a real doctor the next day, that I had a completely torn in half ACL. NOT A BAD SPRAIN! If anyone knows of a good lawyer I would love their name, as hipaa laws were broken, the misdiagnosis without out even doing an MRI was reckless. I even asked him why they weren’t doing an MRI, to which he responded we don’t do those here. What??? Are you kidding me? So after being there for about nine hours, we were worse off than when we got there, and the sad part is they will still get paid.

HIPPA violation should be reported to the appropriate agency. Shame on them. I hope everybody reading this knows IT'S YOUR PATIENT RIGHT TO REQUEST A PRIVATE CONSULTATION, not one in front of anyone else. I would also report your experience to the CEO of UFHealth. If you don't, this doctor will continue violating the HIPPA law. I'm sure the CEO will deal with the situation because they could lose federal funding. It's a very bad practice and all medical personnell are trained and fully aware of the consequences of violating this law.
Next time go to Urgent Care possibly? They will take time to examine you better and have a discussion with you about getting an MRI since xrays do not show tears. A lawyer would need to prove that the doctor in the ER caused you some kind of bodily harm that would impact the rest of your life. I know that because I helped my sister with a law suit and even when you have a solid case, it's difficult. So sorry you had to suffer in pain and still not receive proper care. Hope you are pain free and recovering nicely, now, or after your surgery.

[fpmoravcik]

My wife and I had a similar experience a few years ago. It was so bad that we left after three hours after they took in a young lady for a pregnancy test before my wife. It's sad to see nothing has changed. Worst experience ever.

[Rlheinz19@yahoo.com]

You have a valid complaint that should be reported. Complaints should start with the Privacy Officer at the facility and/or OCR (Office of Civil Rights).
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - Office for Civil Rights (https://ocrportal.hhs.gov)

[Jayhawk]

My wife and I had a similar experience a few years ago. It was so bad that we left after three hours after they took in a young lady for a pregnancy test before my wife. It's sad to see nothing has changed. Worst experience ever.

Maybe they already knew your wife wasn't pregnant.

:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[dewilson58]

Maybe they already knew your wife wasn't pregnant.

:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Now that one is funny.

[lulliedoll]

I was in my doctor's office in the Sharon Morse Building across the parking lot from The Villages Hospital. I was having what appear to be stroke-like symptoms and my doctor ordered an ambulance to take me to the hospital. I questioned why they could not just wheel me across the parking lot to The Villages ER and was advised that the Villages Hospital is not a level one stroke Hospital. How crazy is that in a community filled with senior citizens. It took the ambulance 45 minutes to get to the Sharon Morse Building despite three different calls from my doctor's office. Another 35 minute drive to Ocala. When is The Villages Hospital going to get up to speed? I thought when it was taken over by the University things were going to improve but obviously not. When you have an emergency, time is critical. I ended up being admitted to the hospital in Ocala. I am so disappointed in The Villages Hospital.

[Becca9800]

!7-year ER nurse here. OP has some valid points, some misperceptions, and some ER care expectations that will never be met.
1. EDs are for emergencies. i.e. conditions w onset of <24 hours and/or threatening life, limb, or organ function. Admittedly, the misuse of ED services was my biggest complaint w people. We were so busy w true emergencies there simply wasn’t time to devote to conditions that belonged in a physician’s office. Wait time is the #1 complaint from ED patients. Yours simply wasn’t an emergency so your wait time complaint is moot.

2. Rudeness from staff is never acceptable. I wonder what caused the first two people you interacted w to treat you so poorly. I think most people are in health care to help, not to use as an opportunity to mistreat others. But as w all occupations, there are always exceptions.

3. Surely you were not directed by the greeter to go directly to the registration clerk where detailed insurance info was obtained? Were you first triaged for a medical emergency where it was determined none existed? A Federal law called EMTALA requires that any person requesting evaluation receive a medical screening eval (MSE) prior to being asked for detailed insurance info. Had your triage revealed a medical emergency you would have received a MSE before giving detailed insurance info. EMTALA has been in effect for years, so I must assume TV EDs are aware as the fines for violating can be huge. If you were not triaged prior to providing detailed ins info, please advise the hospital’s CEO, Compliance Officer, Risk Manager or Patient Advocate, they will want to know about this.

4. ED doc meeting family in the waiting room could potentially be a HIPAA violation. Did you hear any PATIENT-IDENTIFIABLE info? Were you able to identify the patient by way of any info the doc divulged? If so, go to those in charge at the hospital and let them know they have a problem. If the doc was discussing diagnosis, care plan etc. but you don’t know who he was talking about, it’s not a HIPAA issue, it’s a respect issue.

5. X-rays don’t diagnose soft tissue injuries; ligaments are a soft tissue. MRIs that can diagnose soft tissue injuries are simply not ordered by the ED docs for non-emergent conditions. Standard ED operating process: the ED doc rules out a medical emergency and the patient is told to return to the ED if symptoms worsen, and to follow with PCP if symptoms persist. EDs deal with emergencies.

6. Name of an attorney: IMHO you don’t have a case. Nothing. Sorry. What are your damages? The next day you were diagnosed with an ACL tear, what did that 1-day delay in diagnosis cost you? Surely you had even more delay until repair: you had to wait to see an ortho doc on referral. Then you had to wait until your scheduled surgical repair (ACLs torn in half require surgical repair, in my experience). So how did the initial 1-day delay harm you? The ED doc didn’t cause your ACL tear. You still would have required appropriate treatment for the tear. Was the care required altered by the 1-day delay? Got to have an injury caused directly by a negligent act to have a successful malpractice claim. There is no provision under the law for YOU to sue anyone for any HIPAA violation. It is our government that brings those actions against the covered entity.

While there are deserved malpractice actions brought against care providers, I’m sad that this action is the first thought when something doesn’t go just as you thought it should. I just wish people would give usually well-intentioned people the benefit of the doubt before a public trashing.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

HIPPA violation should be reported to the appropriate agency. Shame on them. I hope everybody reading this knows IT'S YOUR PATIENT RIGHT TO REQUEST A PRIVATE CONSULTATION, not one in front of anyone else. I would also report your experience to the CEO of UFHealth. If you don't, this doctor will continue violating the HIPPA law. I'm sure the CEO will deal with the situation because they could lose federal funding. It's a very bad practice and all medical personnell are trained and fully aware of the consequences of violating this law.
Next time go to Urgent Care possibly? They will take time to examine you better and have a discussion with you about getting an MRI since xrays do not show tears. A lawyer would need to prove that the doctor in the ER caused you some kind of bodily harm that would impact the rest of your life. I know that because I helped my sister with a law suit and even when you have a solid case, it's difficult. So sorry you had to suffer in pain and still not receive proper care. Hope you are pain free and recovering nicely, now, or after your surgery.

It's HIPAA. Not HIPPA. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. H.I.P.A.A.

Also, you do have the right to ask for a private consultation. You also have the responsibility to ask for one, the doctor says he wants to tell you something, while you're in a room of other patients. He wasn't suffering, he got help. He just "woopsie" left out that part in the OP, and clarified it after a few pages of responses.

The Emergency Room is not the appropriate place to go if your life is not in danger.

[JMintzer]

!7-year ER nurse here. OP has some valid points, some misperceptions, and some ER care expectations that will never be met.
1. EDs are for emergencies. i.e. conditions w onset of <24 hours and/or threatening life, limb, or organ function. Admittedly, the misuse of ED services was my biggest complaint w people. We were so busy w true emergencies there simply wasn’t time to devote to conditions that belonged in a physician’s office. Wait time is the #1 complaint from ED patients. Yours simply wasn’t an emergency so your wait time complaint is moot.

2. Rudeness from staff is never acceptable. I wonder what caused the first two people you interacted w to treat you so poorly. I think most people are in health care to help, not to use as an opportunity to mistreat others. But as w all occupations, there are always exceptions.

3. Surely you were not directed by the greeter to go directly to the registration clerk where detailed insurance info was obtained? Were you first triaged for a medical emergency where it was determined none existed? A Federal law called EMTALA requires that any person requesting evaluation receive a medical screening eval (MSE) prior to being asked for detailed insurance info. Had your triage revealed a medical emergency you would have received a MSE before giving detailed insurance info. EMTALA has been in effect for years, so I must assume TV EDs are aware as the fines for violating can be huge. If you were not triaged prior to providing detailed ins info, please advise the hospital’s CEO, Compliance Officer, Risk Manager or Patient Advocate, they will want to know about this.

4. ED doc meeting family in the waiting room could potentially be a HIPAA violation. Did you hear any PATIENT-IDENTIFIABLE info? Were you able to identify the patient by way of any info the doc divulged? If so, go to those in charge at the hospital and let them know they have a problem. If the doc was discussing diagnosis, care plan etc. but you don’t know who he was talking about, it’s not a HIPAA issue, it’s a respect issue.

5. X-rays don’t diagnose soft tissue injuries; ligaments are a soft tissue. MRIs that can diagnose soft tissue injuries are simply not ordered by the ED docs for non-emergent conditions. Standard ED operating process: the ED doc rules out a medical emergency and the patient is told to return to the ED if symptoms worsen, and to follow with PCP if symptoms persist. EDs deal with emergencies.

6. Name of an attorney: IMHO you don’t have a case. Nothing. Sorry. What are your damages? The next day you were diagnosed with an ACL tear, what did that 1-day delay in diagnosis cost you? Surely you had even more delay until repair: you had to wait to see an ortho doc on referral. Then you had to wait until your scheduled surgical repair (ACLs torn in half require surgical repair, in my experience). So how did the initial 1-day delay harm you? The ED doc didn’t cause your ACL tear. You still would have required appropriate treatment for the tear. Was the care required altered by the 1-day delay? Got to have an injury caused directly by a negligent act to have a successful malpractice claim. There is no provision under the law for YOU to sue anyone for any HIPAA violation. It is our government that brings those actions against the covered entity.

While there are deserved malpractice actions brought against care providers, I’m sad that this action is the first thought when something doesn’t go just as you thought it should. I just wish people would give usually well-intentioned people the benefit of the doubt before a public trashing.

:bigbow::bigbow::bigbow:

[Becca9800]

My wife and I had a similar experience a few years ago. It was so bad that we left after three hours after they took in a young lady for a pregnancy test before my wife. It's sad to see nothing has changed. Worst experience ever.

Perhaps the young lady had signs/symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy, which is life threatening. Patients are not seen in they order they arrive, they are seen in the order of who is most at risk at that moment.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I was in my doctor's office in the Sharon Morse Building across the parking lot from The Villages Hospital. I was having what appear to be stroke-like symptoms and my doctor ordered an ambulance to take me to the hospital. I questioned why they could not just wheel me across the parking lot to The Villages ER and was advised that the Villages Hospital is not a level one stroke Hospital. How crazy is that in a community filled with senior citizens. It took the ambulance 45 minutes to get to the Sharon Morse Building despite three different calls from my doctor's office. Another 35 minute drive to Ocala. When is The Villages Hospital going to get up to speed? I thought when it was taken over by the University things were going to improve but obviously not. When you have an emergency, time is critical. I ended up being admitted to the hospital in Ocala. I am so disappointed in The Villages Hospital.

They'll get "up to speed" when they meet these criteria:

Below are the criteria for a Level 1 stroke center:

Offers the full spectrum of neuroendovascular therapy
Must see a minimum of 250 patients per year
Must perform a minimum of 50 mechanical thrombectomies (clot removals) per year
Offers a dedicated neuro-intensive care unit
Offers a dedicated stroke unit
Offers neurosurgical services on-site
If there is no Level 1 stroke center available within two hours of the patient’s location, patients can be taken to a Level 2 stroke center (detailed below).

if their stroke center doesn't see at least 250 stroke patients per year, they cannot qualify as a level 1 stroke center.

[Aloha1]

The main problem at TVRH is they do not have an Emergency Department, just an Emergency room. Might sound like a trivial thing but having done a stint as administrative staff at the American College of Emergency Physicians a few decades ago, I can tell you it makes all the difference to have staff that report to a Department Director daily versus contract help who come and go. TVRH is big enough and with a population large enough to warrant an ED. Hopefully UF will work on this as Emergency is the first line of contact at the hospital for potentially life threatening cases.

[Aloha1]

I'll share my own experience with the TVRH Emergency team. 2/4/16, I felt fine all day and went out to dinner about 6 PM. Felt a little tired and not all that hungry so ordered soup and salad. Took a couple bites and suddenly started shivering and felt flushed with fever. Couldn't eat, thought I picked up a bug, went home to bed. About 3 AM my gut was in agony. Got up and drove to TVRH. Being 3:30 AM, was taken back quickly. CAT scan run and RN administered a morphine shot. Was surprised when I still said registered about 5 on a 1-10 scale. Attending comes in and says CAT scan negative so must be gastroenteritis . Get sent out at 8:30 AM with scrip for several meds.

Actually start to feel better 2 days later. Then get a call that the CAT was read wrong and I have a ruptured appendix. Person on the phone wants to know if I want to come in or deal with it when I go back North.?? Ruptured appendix!!

I head right back to TVRH, tell them why I'm there and wait over 2 hours to be called back for another CAT which confirms ruptured appendix. Immediately rushed back for surgery.

Once in hospital care, a totally different world, excellent surgery and post-op care. Surgeon tells me I was very lucky as the rupture had been encapsulated in a pocket. Without that fact, I might not be here today. So, my choice if another medical emergency were to occur would not be TVRH until they deal with and fix their front line triage unit.

[Becca9800]

Excess wound infections is a major reason why a hospital might not get an A rating from hospital rating agencies.

Not a sound grading method though, I don't put my eggs in that scorecard basket.

A hospital is dinged for superficial infections (skin) that develop up to 30 days from date of the surgery, and for deep or organ/space infections that develop up to 90 days after the surgery . Too many factors that the doc nor hospital can control once patient is discharged to home e.g. is patient taking antibiotics properly, keeping wound clean/dry, are they smokers, is the diabetic controlling their blood sugars. I dealt w a patient who developed a deep wound infection about 21 days after lumbar surgery, and it was a nasty one. My hospital was dinged for the infection simply bc of the timing. The patient blamed the surgery. We looked at every component of infection prevention utilized in the OR for that case, everyone did everything that was required, still the patient developed a debilitating infection. It is noted in the patient's record that he reported to the Infectious Disease physician, "approximately one week after his laminectomy, he began to use his dog's wire brush to scrape away the scab and scratch his surgical incision". The bug infecting his wound was an odd one (I can't recall its name) but this bacteria is associated with acne and is also found on the coats of dogs. The patient blamed the surgical team, he believed someone had facial acne and dropped bacteria into his open wound. We did look into that, some had blemishes, but no cases of acne amongst the surgical team. The patient wouldn't even consider that his dog's brush transferred the bug into his wound. We'll never know for sure either way but the hospital bears the ding on its scorecard to this day.

Another fault with this grading system, if the patient's initial surgery was at Hospital A and the patient goes to Hospital B for treatment of a post-op wound infection, Hospital A, nor the surgeon performing the surgery, is dinged w the infection on their scorecards. One hand doesn't know what the other hand is up to. I think this gaping hole is a huge problem for a couple of reasons.

Bottom line, you can't put all your faith in publicly reported data, it's a less than perfect system.

You also can't put much stock in what you read on social media sites. IMHO, your best bet is to ask a friend working in your local healthcare facilities, we know which hospitals, or even which units within hospitals to avoid. We know which practitioners deserve your trust, and we def know which practitioners are to be avoided.

[Becca9800]

So, my choice if another medical emergency were to occur would not be TVRH until they deal with and fix their front line triage unit.

ER docs generally do not interpret radiology images. In this 21st century, even images at 0330 can be electronically transmitted to an on-duty Radiologist who provides the interpretation. I don't know that TV hospital has such a contract in place (it's hard to imagine they don't), but before continuing to blame the ED you really should ascertain who misread your images. Misreads do happen, the interpreter is a human being and it isn't a matter of if a human will make a mistake, it is a matter of when. I'm glad you came out of your ordeal unscathed, you surely have a guardian angel, good karma, good juju, or just plain ol good luck.

[golfing eagles]

Not a sound grading method though, I don't put my eggs in that scorecard basket.

A hospital is dinged for superficial infections (skin) that develop up to 30 days from date of the surgery, and for deep or organ/space infections that develop up to 90 days after the surgery . Too many factors that the doc nor hospital can control once patient is discharged to home e.g. is patient taking antibiotics properly, keeping wound clean/dry, are they smokers, is the diabetic controlling their blood sugars. I dealt w a patient who developed a deep wound infection about 21 days after lumbar surgery, and it was a nasty one. My hospital was dinged for the infection simply bc of the timing. The patient blamed the surgery. We looked at every component of infection prevention utilized in the OR for that case, everyone did everything that was required, still the patient developed a debilitating infection. It is noted in the patient's record that he reported to the Infectious Disease physician, "approximately one week after his laminectomy, he began to use his dog's wire brush to scrape away the scab and scratch his surgical incision". The bug infecting his wound was an odd one (I can't recall its name) but this bacteria is associated with acne and is also found on the coats of dogs. The patient blamed the surgical team, he believed someone had facial acne and dropped bacteria into his open wound. We did look into that, some had blemishes, but no cases of acne amongst the surgical team. The patient wouldn't even consider that his dog's brush transferred the bug into his wound. We'll never know for sure either way but the hospital bears the ding on its scorecard to this day.

Another fault with this grading system, if the patient's initial surgery was at Hospital A and the patient goes to Hospital B for treatment of a post-op wound infection, Hospital A, nor the surgeon performing the surgery, is dinged w the infection on their scorecards. One hand doesn't know what the other hand is up to. I think this gaping hole is a huge problem for a couple of reasons.

Bottom line, you can't put all your faith in publicly reported data, it's a less than perfect system.

You also can't put much stock in what you read on social media sites. IMHO, your best bet is to ask a friend working in your local healthcare facilities, we know which hospitals, or even which units within hospitals to avoid. We know which practitioners deserve your trust, and we def know which practitioners are to be avoided.

Were you perhaps thinking of corynebacterium???

I agree, many of the metrics that go into the hospital "rating" (which btw is nothing more than to amuse the lay public, real problems are addressed in a different manner), are just plain bogus. My favorite is the "medication error" rate. If I prescribe a Tylenol for 6 PM, the nurse has to administer it between 5:30 and 6:30. if it is 1 minute late, it is counted as a medication "error" . What's worse, is that if the patient goes on to die during that admission from their underlying stage 4 pancreatic carcinoma 2 weeks later, the bean counters call that a death due to "medical error". And that's why they put out these absurd numbers like 500,000 people in the USA die from "medical errors" each year. It is, of course, complete nonsense, but it fits the political narrative that seems to be popular. As Chief of Staff, I always loved to report this crap to NY State:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:
The other problem is that some hospitals are more diligent in reporting than others, so the whole baseline can be skewed. The conditions the bean counters focus on are myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident and pneumonitis. They have so much garbage built into the criteria that it is almost medically meaningless, but again, it "shows the public" that the government is looking out for them.
Another rating metric that I also love is "readmissions within 30 days" for the same problem. A patient is admitted and treated successfully for CHF (congestive heart failure), and discharged home, where they proceed to eat 15 grams of sodium a day, so naturally they are back in 3 days. Somehow the bean counters consider that the fault of the hospital. Go figure!

[Becca9800]

Were you perhaps thinking of corynebacterium???

I agree, many of the metrics that go into the hospital "rating" (which btw is nothing more than to amuse the lay public, real problems are addressed in a different manner), are just plain bogus. My favorite is the "medication error" rate. If I prescribe a Tylenol for 6 PM, the nurse has to administer it between 5:30 and 6:30. if it is 1 minute late, it is counted as a medication "error" . What's worse, is that if the patient goes on to die during that admission from their underlying stage 4 pancreatic carcinoma 2 weeks later, the bean counters call that a death due to "medical error". And that's why they put out these absurd numbers like 500,000 people in the USA die from "medical errors" each year. It is, of course, complete nonsense, but it fits the political narrative that seems to be popular. As Chief of Staff, I always loved to report this crap to NY State:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:
The other problem is that some hospitals are more diligent in reporting than others, so the whole baseline can be skewed. The conditions the bean counters focus on are myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident and pneumonitis. They have so much garbage built into the criteria that it is almost medically meaningless, but again, it "shows the public" that the government is looking out for them.
Another rating metric that I also love is "readmissions within 30 days" for the same problem. A patient is admitted and treated successfully for CHF (congestive heart failure), and discharged home, where they proceed to eat 15 grams of sodium a day, so naturally they are back in 3 days. Somehow the bean counters consider that the fault of the hospital. Go figure!

Amen to all that you wrote! After my 17 years in ED, where I burnt out simply due to the constant high-stress environment, and the utter lack of respect from so many patients/families (not all, many though), I started a new career as a risk manager. Hats off to you for lasting 40 freaking years in the ED! And thank you! Once in risk management, I worked at a 300 bed community hospital and onward to a 900 bed tertiary care center. I lasted 21+ years in that role. Healthcare Risk Management is a small world, I knew my counterparts across the country and we talked. I'm here to tell people, bigger does not equate to better. Every hospital, regardless of its size, has exactly the same issues related to quality of care and the same battle w the community's perception of that quality of care. Some hospitals are just more transparent. And what you mentioned, all the public data, is camouflage, not fixes. And the data is worthless. Now that I'm "retired" I'm working for a med mal defense law firm. But what I really want to be is a bartender.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Were you perhaps thinking of corynebacterium???

I agree, many of the metrics that go into the hospital "rating" (which btw is nothing more than to amuse the lay public, real problems are addressed in a different manner), are just plain bogus. My favorite is the "medication error" rate. If I prescribe a Tylenol for 6 PM, the nurse has to administer it between 5:30 and 6:30. if it is 1 minute late, it is counted as a medication "error" . What's worse, is that if the patient goes on to die during that admission from their underlying stage 4 pancreatic carcinoma 2 weeks later, the bean counters call that a death due to "medical error". And that's why they put out these absurd numbers like 500,000 people in the USA die from "medical errors" each year. It is, of course, complete nonsense, but it fits the political narrative that seems to be popular. As Chief of Staff, I always loved to report this crap to NY State:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:
The other problem is that some hospitals are more diligent in reporting than others, so the whole baseline can be skewed. The conditions the bean counters focus on are myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident and pneumonitis. They have so much garbage built into the criteria that it is almost medically meaningless, but again, it "shows the public" that the government is looking out for them.
Another rating metric that I also love is "readmissions within 30 days" for the same problem. A patient is admitted and treated successfully for CHF (congestive heart failure), and discharged home, where they proceed to eat 15 grams of sodium a day, so naturally they are back in 3 days. Somehow the bean counters consider that the fault of the hospital. Go figure!

There was some kind of reality-based medical show several years ago, and on one episode, they looked at a guy who had repeat visits to the ER due to a dislocated shoulder. They'd pop it back in place, send him home with a Rx for pain meds, and he'd be back a few weeks later with a dislocated shoulder again.

Turned out he was addicted to painkillers and kept dislocating his shoulder on purpose just to get the prescription.

Imagine the ding on that hospital's record on just that one patient.

[Becca9800]

Were you perhaps thinking of corynebacterium???

It was acin.... something or another. I'm just happy I can't recall, I thought I'd never forget any detail of that experience.

[golfing eagles]

It was acin.... something or another. I'm just happy I can't recall, I thought I'd never forget any detail of that experience.

Acinetobacter baumannii? It is a frequent etiologic agent of nosocomial infections, can colonize skin, tends to rapidly develop antibiotic resistance. I'm not sure if it , despite the similarity in names, cause acne. And I like the idea of becoming a bartender

PS. I wasn't an ER doc. I was an internist, but in private group practice at a 300 bed community hospital, so I spent plenty of time in the ER admitting patients since for most of my career we didn't have hospitalists. Previously, (in the stone age before ER residency trained docs), I did run the ER in a 700 bed NYC hospital for 2 years. I was also at various times chairman of QA, chairman of P&T, and chief of staff, as well as associate professor of medicine at SUNY medial school. So in general, I have a pretty good idea of what I'm talking about (but apparently some believe my expertise is not as extensive as someone who does a 3 minute google search:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:)

[MJCtalk]

I have had similar experience. My advice is to go to the WALK-IN MED OFFICES, espec. OCALA HEALTH ON 466A. EXCEL. CARE! QUOTE=ScottS;1951893]I recently had the misfortune of having to use the Villages ER. Absolute worst experience of my life. We arrived at apx 5:15 pm. We were treated extremely rudely by the elderly gentleman registering patients. We first had to ask if that was the line, as there really was no formal line. His tone and customer service were appalling. And yes he was a paid employee and not a volunteer. We then were directed to the billing person, who was also untrained and very rude. She asked for my insurance information. I handed her the workman’s comp form which had all the info needed. She handed it back and said she needed my insurance card. After pointing out this was a workman’s comp claim and this was not going on my personal insurance, she snatched the papers back out of my hand and complained that she did not know how to file a workman’s comp claim. My wife quickly took me to a seat as she could tell I was about to snap. So 2 hours later we are taken back to get an X-ray on my injured right knee. After completing the X-rays we are taken back to the waiting room. After 3 more hours apx 11:00, the ER doctor makes an appearance, he starts sitting with the 8 or 9 people in the waiting room and discussing all of their medical issues right there in the waiting room amongst everyone there. They use to have this thing called Hipaa, apparently that doesn’t exist here in the Villages. By midnight it was finally my turn to have my medical issues discussed aloud in front of everyone. He diagnosed me with a bad knee sprain, ordered me some pain killers, a knee brace and crutches. At 1:30 my wife was tired of waiting and went to check on the above items. 3 times I was asked my height. 3 times they were told 5’9”. They brought out crutches and a knee brace that the lowest adjustment was for someone 6’2”. At 2 am I stormed out the front door with nothing that fit, and no pain meds as all the pharmacy’s are closed and they don’t give medications out at that ER. What a joke! Turns out, after going to a real doctor the next day, that I had a completely torn in half ACL. NOT A BAD SPRAIN! If anyone knows of a good lawyer I would love their name, as hipaa laws were broken, the misdiagnosis without out even doing an MRI was reckless. I even asked him why they weren’t doing an MRI, to which he responded we don’t do those here. What??? Are you kidding me? So after being there for about nine hours, we were worse off than when we got there, and the sad part is they will still get paid.[/QUOTE]

[Aloha1]

ER docs generally do not interpret radiology images. In this 21st century, even images at 0330 can be electronically transmitted to an on-duty Radiologist who provides the interpretation. I don't know that TV hospital has such a contract in place (it's hard to imagine they don't), but before continuing to blame the ED you really should ascertain who misread your images. Misreads do happen, the interpreter is a human being and it isn't a matter of if a human will make a mistake, it is a matter of when. I'm glad you came out of your ordeal unscathed, you surely have a guardian angel, good karma, good juju, or just plain ol good luck.

It was read by on duty staff that night and reread by a radiologist the next day. Not a good way to diagnose plus it took another day for them to contact me. And I agree, somebody was looking out for me!

[tranceminder]

Maybe Not the CEO of the Emergency Department?
I do not know details about the corporate structure of this hospital:
Just a thought … more and more hospitals across the country are NOT investing in their own Emergency Services. They are contracting this out to third party corporate holding companies. These departments are run strictly as hard-core profit-making businesses; much like a “Urgent Care” facility.
Now, they all have agreed to put the name of a hospital administrator on the books to create the image that this is a “hospital owned and operated” business. Truth is, that your x-rays, MRIs, Scans and Scopes are not read by hospital employees. They are read by outside, independent technicians who are paid by the corporate owners. Same is true for the billing people.
I certainly hope this is Not the situation here; yet just wanted to respond to your terrible treatment.

[JMintzer]

Acinetobacter baumannii? It is a frequent etiologic agent of nosocomial infections, can colonize skin, tends to rapidly develop antibiotic resistance. I'm not sure if it , despite the similarity in names, cause acne. And I like the idea of becoming a bartender

PS. I wasn't an ER doc. I was an internist, but in private group practice at a 300 bed community hospital, so I spent plenty of time in the ER admitting patients since for most of my career we didn't have hospitalists. Previously, (in the stone age before ER residency trained docs), I did run the ER in a 700 bed NYC hospital for 2 years. I was also at various times chairman of QA, chairman of P&T, and chief of staff, as well as associate professor of medicine at SUNY medial school. So in general, I have a pretty good idea of what I'm talking about (but apparently some believe my expertise is not as extensive as someone who does a 3 minute google search:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:)

You need one of these...

https://live.staticflickr.com/8290/7783365118_ceac1b72a7_b.jpg

[golfing eagles]

You need one of these...

https://live.staticflickr.com/8290/7783365118_ceac1b72a7_b.jpg

Thanks, but I already have one. Except it states University of New York. And I have eight others as well.

[JMintzer]

Thanks, but I already have one. Except it states University of New York. And I have eight others as well.

Those others are useless against the Google one... ;)

[golfing eagles]

Those others are useless against the Google one... ;)

Some people on this site think so. But I'm not a dementia specialist:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[HRDave]

Sorry for the poor customer service, but knee sprains are not appropriate for an ER visit. As a retired Paramedic & Instructor, I always told the public the Emergency Room is for Emergencies. Cardiovascular issues, trauma, medical emergencies, et al. Minor medical issues & injuries should report to Urgent Care or a Physician’s office.
We used to use the term “GOMER” for these minor cases showing up in ER. Get Out of My ER.
😎
I recently had the misfortune of having to use the Villages ER. Absolute worst experience of my life. We arrived at apx 5:15 pm. We were treated extremely rudely by the elderly gentleman registering patients. We first had to ask if that was the line, as there really was no formal line. His tone and customer service were appalling. And yes he was a paid employee and not a volunteer. We then were directed to the billing person, who was also untrained and very rude. She asked for my insurance information. I handed her the workman’s comp form which had all the info needed. She handed it back and said she needed my insurance card. After pointing out this was a workman’s comp claim and this was not going on my personal insurance, she snatched the papers back out of my hand and complained that she did not know how to file a workman’s comp claim. My wife quickly took me to a seat as she could tell I was about to snap. So 2 hours later we are taken back to get an X-ray on my injured right knee. After completing the X-rays we are taken back to the waiting room. After 3 more hours apx 11:00, the ER doctor makes an appearance, he starts sitting with the 8 or 9 people in the waiting room and discussing all of their medical issues right there in the waiting room amongst everyone there. They use to have this thing called Hipaa, apparently that doesn’t exist here in the Villages. By midnight it was finally my turn to have my medical issues discussed aloud in front of everyone. He diagnosed me with a bad knee sprain, ordered me some pain killers, a knee brace and crutches. At 1:30 my wife was tired of waiting and went to check on the above items. 3 times I was asked my height. 3 times they were told 5’9”. They brought out crutches and a knee brace that the lowest adjustment was for someone 6’2”. At 2 am I stormed out the front door with nothing that fit, and no pain meds as all the pharmacy’s are closed and they don’t give medications out at that ER. What a joke! Turns out, after going to a real doctor the next day, that I had a completely torn in half ACL. NOT A BAD SPRAIN! If anyone knows of a good lawyer I would love their name, as hipaa laws were broken, the misdiagnosis without out even doing an MRI was reckless. I even asked him why they weren’t doing an MRI, to which he responded we don’t do those here. What??? Are you kidding me? So after being there for about nine hours, we were worse off than when we got there, and the sad part is they will still get paid.

[Road-Runner]

I actually appreciate the OP sharing their experience here. It may or may not be colored by their own personal mood, but those here who feel compelled to call anyone who complains "entitled" and/or describes their story as "smelling fishy" is trying to keep others from sharing any future negative comments for fear of similar treatment. We're all (or at least should be) adults here and can make up our own minds about differing points of view expressed here, and I for one appreciate anyone who risks the snarky comments sure to come as possibly saving others from having the same bad experiences in the future. That goes for health care, home repair & improvements, restaurants, you name it, that's one of the reasons I come here to learn from other Villager's experiences. Take care everyone.

[bobdeb]

Many years ago my wife had a terrible bicycling accident. Serious. It required an emergency ambulance ride into TV Hospital and major reconstructive surgery that followed.

She was very well treated by everyone there. Sadly, her surgeon has moved away.