How to find a good doctor

[MrLonzo]

I haven’t had to visit a doctor at the Villages doctor, but no doubt I will at some point. I’ve got a good PPO supplemental Medicare plan, and just looking for tips on how to find the best doctors in the area, whether PCP or specialists. Are there any good ‘doctor finder’ web sites, for example, and what to look for/what to stay away from? Thanks.

[NotGolfer]

Meet with the folks at SHINE and they should be able to help you. You'll have to do a search (on here, I think) as I don't have contact info. IF you're not a part of The Villages Health, it might be a challenge of hit and miss before you find someone. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

[brianherlihy]

go back home not a good one her

[ThirdOfFive]

I haven’t had to visit a doctor at the Villages doctor, but no doubt I will at some point. I’ve got a good PPO supplemental Medicare plan, and just looking for tips on how to find the best doctors in the area, whether PCP or specialists. Are there any good ‘doctor finder’ web sites, for example, and what to look for/what to stay away from? Thanks.
Your Medicare supplement plan might be able to point you in the right direction. They undoubtedly have a list of plan-approved doctors in the area that you could access and MAY be able to help you out as to quality also. Otherwise word-of-mouth.

I'd also advise striking up a relationship with a doctor/clinic before you need one. Not all doctors, even if approved by your plan, are taking on new patients.

Good luck.

[MrFlorida]

go back home not a good one her

Maybe you need a better health plan .

[B-flat]

go back home not a good one here

Same advice from me!

[gatorbill1]

Like rolling the dice. Some excellent doctors here and some not so good. Also some that start out good and change for some reason.

[Whitley]

I haven’t had to visit a doctor at the Villages doctor, but no doubt I will at some point. I’ve got a good PPO supplemental Medicare plan, and just looking for tips on how to find the best doctors in the area, whether PCP or specialists. Are there any good ‘doctor finder’ web sites, for example, and what to look for/what to stay away from? Thanks.

Wish I had an answer for you. I am starting to believe the entire profession has changed. In NY I was somewhat known and established. I had some doctors who would come to my office or even home. For the past ten years, I am lucky if I see the doctor at all. I wait two months for an appointment, have to close my office early (unable to find any with late hours), then after waiting 60 minutes past the appointment time I am seen by the PA. My doctors up North tell me this is just the way the profession is going. A few have even stopped practicing.

[MrLonzo]

I'd also advise striking up a relationship with a doctor/clinic before you need one. Not all doctors, even if approved by your plan, are taking on new patients.

I always wondered how this works. Do I stop by a clinic and say, "Hi, I don't need a doctor, but I'd like to strike up a relationship with one. Who would you recommend?"

[Carla B]

I always wondered how this works. Do I stop by a clinic and say, "Hi, I don't need a doctor, but I'd like to strike up a relationship with one. Who would you recommend?"

Here's my experience on moving here as a Medicare patient: You look at forums such as this to try to get a lead on a good doctor or talk to people you meet. Then you call an office and ask if the doctor is accepting new patients. If he or she is, then you say you would like to get established with the practice. Then they ask what kind of insurance you have. If your insurance is acceptable they will take your data and likely set an appointment (it may be two months out). You may be required to do lab tests to establish a base line for your initial appointment with a primary physician.

Obviously, the sooner you do this the better, even though there is nothing wrong with you at this time.

[Stu from NYC]

Like any place else we have good ones and bad ones.

Best advise is to spend some time with advisor from Shina. We like out Dr but she is currently not accepting new patients.

[champion6]

This list doesn't make any recommendations. It simply lists many of the choices available to you.

[vintageogauge]

If there is a sign out front that says " Walk-ins Welcome" stay away. I had two of them and both were worthless, one even said I should come more often so he could make more money to stay in business. I couldn't believe he said that and I never went back. There are good doctors here as well as in Leesburg and Ocala, just got to check their reviews. A lot of times there are good doctors with terrible employees out front.

[Count'n the days]

I haven’t had to visit a doctor at the Villages doctor, but no doubt I will at some point. I’ve got a good PPO supplemental Medicare plan, and just looking for tips on how to find the best doctors in the area, whether PCP or specialists. Are there any good ‘doctor finder’ web sites, for example, and what to look for/what to stay away from? Thanks.

Doctors seem to come and go around here which may make it difficult to find and keep a doctor you're happy with. I recommend Dr. Ana Karovska Vuchindolov in Leesburg with Quality Physicians Group. I went to her when she was with a large group with offices in TV. I hated the group but loved her so I stayed with her until she left the group. At that time I turned 65, elected a Medicare Advantage plan, and started going to TV Health. I do not think they take Medicare Supplemental plans. The first doctor I saw there was Dr. Susan Hill. She left TV Health last year but I don't know where she is now. I was very happy with Dr. Hill. Good luck. I think there are lots of good doctors around here as well as some not so good, but I bet it's that way everywhere.

[Altavia]

Doctors seem to come and go around here which may make it difficult to find and keep a doctor you're happy with. I recommend Dr. Ana Karovska Vuchindolov in Leesburg with Quality Physicians Group. I went to her when she was with a large group with offices in TV. I hated the group but loved her so I stayed with her until she left the group. At that time I turned 65, elected a Medicare Advantage plan, and started going to TV Health. I do not think they take Medicare Supplemental plans. The first doctor I saw there was Dr. Susan Hill. She left TV Health last year but I don't know where she is now. I was very happy with Dr. Hill. Good luck. I think there are lots of good doctors around here as well as some not so good, but I bet it's that way everywhere.

Also have better experience (less turnover) in Leesburg. I looked for a midsized private practice with connections to Leesburg hospital.

Seemed to get a different Doc Everytime in The Villages.

[Worldseries27]

Word of mouth helps, research is better. My mendoza line is their schooling and internships so none of clint's would make the cut.

[sowilts]

Vizavee Brownwood, John Santos. The best in the business.

[GizmoWhiskers]

I haven’t had to visit a doctor at the Villages doctor, but no doubt I will at some point. I’ve got a good PPO supplemental Medicare plan, and just looking for tips on how to find the best doctors in the area, whether PCP or specialists. Are there any good ‘doctor finder’ web sites, for example, and what to look for/what to stay away from? Thanks.
Have had good experiences with Village Health over all. They are very responsive once you understand how their phone service works. One phone number directs you to all your dr services. Dr. Anuligo is very friendly, responsive and thorough. He is moving from Brownwood area to Mulberry area I believe.

I have had FL Blue Medicare HMO so referrals are a must but once I was "in" with my PCP he wrote up 6 referrals on day one. The hardest part was getting the first appt with him. It did take 3 months.

The Dr's are really booked up once snowbirds come back so advice, just plan early. Do not wait to schedule your "well visit". I did see an RNA right away after signing up for an ear infection so it's not that you can't get in for an issue if you need to. It's just that well visits w the actual Dr takes time. They schedule them 6 months out.

I had a loop recorder removed at The Villages Hospital cath lab and had fine experience. I learned while in the Cath lab that they do not do major heart procedures there, only miner interventions like loop recorders or pace makers etc which is somewhat concerning as I am a two time CABG angina zipper club member and had a good main artery punctured in an Orlando cath lab in 2019 that required emergency open heart surgery.

The Village Hospital medivacs to Ocala or Leesburg or Shans if there is a major heart surgery emergency requirement. I found that interesting to know as time is of the essence.

Hope this info helps.

[wwwson]

We have been going to Dr. Ana Karovska for years now. She is just outside the villages in Leesburg at this time. Her number is 352-365-1224. She is extremely knowledgeable, professional and most important compassionate. Her staff mirrors Dr. Ana's approach to patient care. Just a side note, she treated my wife for covid and multiple complications during her 3 month hospitalization in 2021. She could not have been more exceptional. I am sure if you talk with her you will be equally impressed and comforted by her.

[Chamo]

Medical care in Florida is horrible.
Stay away from UFHEALTH
Go to Ocala Advent Health

[MandoMan]

I haven’t had to visit a doctor at the Villages doctor, but no doubt I will at some point. I’ve got a good PPO supplemental Medicare plan, and just looking for tips on how to find the best doctors in the area, whether PCP or specialists. Are there any good ‘doctor finder’ web sites, for example, and what to look for/what to stay away from? Thanks.

When I moved here, I wanted a doctor with privileges at an A-rated hospital (less likely to get an infection or poor care). The ONLY nearby A-rated hospital is Advent Health Waterman, which is about 30 minutes from my house in The Villages. (I also wanted a hospital that would take my excellent health insurance combined with Medicare. The Villages hospital would not take it, and it has a B rating anyway.) I went to the AdventHealth Waterman web site and chose one of the few internal medicine specialists accepting patients to be my regular doctor. Dr. César Unyón, from Peru. Board certified in the US. Excellent. I go to him for yearly checkups, and he sends me to specialists as necessary, such as a cardiologist, dermatologist, orthopedic surgeon, podiatrist, etc. All have privileges at AdventHealth Waterman. They share my medical files and appointment files. Because my doctor’s receptionist makes the appointments, I get in fast to see them. It’s a bit of a drive, but worth it. Plus, the hospital is like new. Beautiful. High quality care.

[toeser]

I haven’t had to visit a doctor at the Villages doctor, but no doubt I will at some point. I’ve got a good PPO supplemental Medicare plan, and just looking for tips on how to find the best doctors in the area, whether PCP or specialists. Are there any good ‘doctor finder’ web sites, for example, and what to look for/what to stay away from? Thanks.

I used a doctor-finding website and found one with many 5-star ratings. Well apparently the doctor had many relatives or friends willing to vouch for him with a review, because I found him to be an absolute quack. By far the worst doctor I have ever encountered. So I no longer trust online reviews, at least without skepticism.

[Villages Kahuna]

The Villages Health is a group of 60-70 primary care physicians.has beautiful offices throughout The Villages. They also have their own hospitalist doctors at The Villages Regional Hospital. Visit the offices close to you and pick up the resumes of the doctors at that office. For Medicare-eligible patients they only accept Medicare Advantage plans from United Healthcare, Florida Blue and Humana. They limit the number of patients assigned to each doctor to permit long appointments. I’ve never had better, more caring primary care. They really make the effort to get to know you.

[Villages Kahuna]

The Villages Health is a group of 60-70 primary care physicians.has beautiful offices throughout The Villages. They also have their own hospitalist doctors at The Villages Regional Hospital. Visit the offices close to you and pick up the resumes of the doctors at that office. For Medicare-eligible patients they only accept Medicare Advantage plans from United Healthcare, Florida Blue and Humana. They limit the number of patients assigned to each doctor to permit long appointments. I’ve never had better, more caring primary care. They really make the effort to get to know you.

[Pennyt]

I haven’t had to visit a doctor at the Villages doctor, but no doubt I will at some point. I’ve got a good PPO supplemental Medicare plan, and just looking for tips on how to find the best doctors in the area, whether PCP or specialists. Are there any good ‘doctor finder’ web sites, for example, and what to look for/what to stay away from? Thanks.

When I need to find a doctor, I do a bit of research. I search for reviews of the doctor I am considering (NextDoor, Talk of the Villages, etc - although I take these reviews with a grain of salt and look at the majority of reviews, not just one or two). Then I look at reviews from sites like healthgrades.com or vitals.com to see what the educational background and experience of the doctor is and also if there have been any malpractice suits against them. That research has served me well no matter where I've lived. That's how I found the doctors I have now here in The Villages and I've not had any problems with them.

[MrFlorida]

The Villages Health is a group of 60-70 primary care physicians.has beautiful offices throughout The Villages. They also have their own hospitalist doctors at The Villages Regional Hospital. Visit the offices close to you and pick up the resumes of the doctors at that office. For Medicare-eligible patients they only accept Medicare Advantage plans from United Healthcare, Florida Blue and Humana. They limit the number of patients assigned to each doctor to permit long appointments. I’ve never had better, more caring primary care. They really make the effort to get to know you.

Same here, nothing but good things to say about them.

[nn0wheremann]

I haven’t had to visit a doctor at the Villages doctor, but no doubt I will at some point. I’ve got a good PPO supplemental Medicare plan, and just looking for tips on how to find the best doctors in the area, whether PCP or specialists. Are there any good ‘doctor finder’ web sites, for example, and what to look for/what to stay away from? Thanks.
Stay away from Premier Medical. They have some outstanding, great doctors, but the support staff is just terrible. No good captain can steer a ship of fools.

[Deden]

Dr. Cristina Novela Cortes, MD Internal Medicine and Husband at Novudermaotology.com 352- 775-3565 She is a wonderful Doctor. Haven't met the Dermatologist her husband. She takes Medicare. Good Luck.

[Notsocrates]

I haven’t had to visit a doctor at the Villages doctor, but no doubt I will at some point. I’ve got a good PPO supplemental Medicare plan, and just looking for tips on how to find the best doctors in the area, whether PCP or specialists. Are there any good ‘doctor finder’ web sites, for example, and what to look for/what to stay away from? Thanks.

My idea of a "good" doctor is one who is informed, diligent, attentive and considerate.
I do not know how you can find someone like this except by trial and error.
I would weigh only unfavorable remarks on a forum because
everyone knows when it's not good.

[eweissenbach]

Vizavee Brownwood, John Santos. The best in the business.

My wife is a big fan of John. FWIW, he is a PA, not a Dr.

[Carla B]

I liked Adam Santos, John's brother?, prior to Vizavee occupying the space. What happened to Adam?

[tophcfa]

You can be certain you WON’T find a good doctor at the Village’s Hospital ER.

[asianthree]

What some think is the best doctor, may not be the right one for you.

[Bill1701]

I haven’t had to visit a doctor at the Villages doctor, but no doubt I will at some point. I’ve got a good PPO supplemental Medicare plan, and just looking for tips on how to find the best doctors in the area, whether PCP or specialists. Are there any good ‘doctor finder’ web sites, for example, and what to look for/what to stay away from? Thanks.

The easiest way to find a good doctor here is to find the ones that aren't taking new patients and see if you can get on their waiting lists.

[Smalley]

Yes, you explain that you wish to join the practice and would like to set up a get acquainted visit. Or a wellness visit if you haven't already had yours this year.