Level of Care

[2BNTV]

I know there are a lot of people who have serious medical conditions so I am thankful for my good health.
I went to the doctor last week for my yearly physical and being a type 2 diabetic, I didn't think it was necessary to remind him to include an A1C test for checking it. He does this request electronically. If I don't ask for a copy of the results before he hits the send button, I am informed I have to call the office. He plays with the computer more than he talks to his patient.
I go for blood work the next morning after fasting for 11 hours and ask if this test was included. She said no but I will draw an extra vial of blood and you can call the doctor's office to get the doctors approval.
I called the office at 9:08 AM and Christina said the medical assistant wasn't in yet!!!!! but she would tell her. Gail from Quest calls me at 11:25 and asked if I called the doctors office and I said yes. She asked me if I wanted her to call the office for me. I said yes thinking maybe they would respond better to a colleague. At 12:10 PM, I didn't get a call back so I called the office again and was informed the doctor wsasn't in and she would have to send an e-mail to him requested this test and maybe he wouldn't respond until tomorrow. She also gave me a baloney answer saying it could be included the next day as they would call Quest Labs directly. I said that was too late as the blood vial was only good until 4 PM. I also requested a call to ensure this was done. I never got a call.
Five days later, I get a call with my test results on my answering machine after filling out forms saying I wanted to be called on my cell as I would want to discuss certain readings. I couldn't make out her name and she apolgized for not including the A1C test and said I needed to go for blood work again. HUH?

I want to call and ask why they couldn't repond to my request five days ago when I called so there wouldn't be a mistake. I would really like to give them heck but I think the doctor runs his office like a dictatorship and the people there walk around on eggshells as he is always giving them heck and probably treats them like cr**. I should feel sorry for them but somehow I can't. Still, no excuse for being incompetent and not listening to a patients request to avoid a mistake.

Being from the northeast where care is suppose to be excellent begs these questions.
1. Is this type of scenario also happen in TV with the doctors?
2. Do they listen to the patient?

Thanlks for listening to my rant.

Happy Valentine's Day.

[Bonny]

I had a heck of a time finding a Dr. when we moved here in 2000. After going through 5 Dr., I finally found one that I love. I also love his PA. She's awesome. I've been going there for about 6 years now. There are a lot of good ones.

[2BNTV]

I had a heck of a time finding a Dr. when we moved here in 2000. After going through 5 Dr., I finally found one that I love. I also love his PA. She's awesome. I've been going there for about 6 years now. There are a lot of good ones.

Thanks for reponding as I needed to get that out of me. I will call when I am not angry as I don't want to have to deal with this again.

Nice to know that some doctors and their staff really listen to their patients.

[jblum315]

I have a doctor who takes all the time in the world with me, and yet people aren't kept waiting. It's a medical miracle!

[Mudder]

I feel your anger, but unfortunately that seems to be the norm now more often than not. We, the patients have to wait and wait for the doctors and staff to answer our requests, etc...We've had a few "firm" talks with our doctor's office staff and finally got some quicker response times to really routine things that they should be able to do in their sleep. We just have to keep pushing and be our own advocates for our health. It's so annoying, but it's everywhere. That being said we are quite happy now with the doctors we have here in The Villages.....but it took a while to find them.

[2BNTV]

I feel your anger, but unfortunately that seems to be the norm now more often than not. We, the patients have to wait and wait for the doctors and staff to answer our requests, etc...We've had a few "firm" talks with our doctor's office staff and finally got some quicker response times to really routine things that they should be able to do in their sleep. We just have to keep pushing and be our own advocates for our health. It's so annoying, but it's everywhere. That being said we are quite happy now with the doctors we have here in The Villages.....but it took a while to find them.

I totally with your post.

Probably call them this afternoon as I am calming down but will make the point that it is unacceptable to not respond properly or timely to my request going forward.

[Mikeod]

Wow. I think this calls for a serious talk with the Dr. I can't believe a T2 DM on an annual physical would have to specify an A1C with the rest of their bloodwork. We had a DM panel that was done on all our DM patients on their regular checkups that included the A1C. If there is a newer lab test they are using for long term monitoring that should have been made known to you.The staff may have dropped the ball, but the first omission was the Dr.'s.

More and more, I find you have to be a vigorous advocate regarding your medical care.

[2BNTV]

Wow. I think this calls for a serious talk with the Dr. I can't believe a T2 DM on an annual physical would have to specify an A1C with the rest of their bloodwork. We had a DM panel that was done on all our DM patients on their regular checkups that included the A1C. If there is a newer lab test they are using for long term monitoring that should have been made known to you.The staff may have dropped the ball, but the first omission was the Dr.'s.

More and more, I find you have to be a vigorous advocate regarding your medical care.

I am an advocate for my health as I try to think of everything. I don't usually assume that it will get it done as I know he has other patients but this is glaring oversight on his part. I asked for a PSA test but thought he would automatically ask for this test as it has been nine months since it has been checked. I just wanted to go for blood work once and not be inconvenience.
BTW - He has done this once before when he a paperwork system and mentioned the A1C before I left the office.

Lots of luck trying to get him on the phone. LOL. Even his nurse has to e-mail him and he walks past her a hundred times a day and she is not allowed to talk to him. What's up with that?

It's better to express my dissatisfaction and go for the blood work and not keep being upset. Who says life has to be fair or perfect?

BTW - What is a T2 DM blood panel?

[Graytop]

Wow. I think this calls for a serious talk with the Dr. I can't believe a T2 DM on an annual physical would have to specify an A1C with the rest of their bloodwork. We had a DM panel that was done on all our DM patients on their regular checkups that included the A1C. If there is a newer lab test they are using for long term monitoring that should have been made known to you.The staff may have dropped the ball, but the first omission was the Dr.'s.

More and more, I find you have to be a vigorous advocate regarding your medical care.

....can't wait for government run health care,....it will be even better,...NOT!:boom:

[Carmpat]

JBloom and Bonny,

Can you please give me the names of both of your doctors? I will be moving into the Villages towards the end of this year. My sister mentioned to me that living in Florida I will not get good health care compared to living here in NJ. After reading some of these posts it kind of scares me that I won't find good health care in Fl.

Thanks

Patti

[Bonny]

JBloom and Bonny,

Can you please give me the names of both of your doctors? I will be moving into the Villages towards the end of this year. My sister mentioned to me that living in Florida I will not get good health care compared to living here in NJ. After reading some of these posts it kind of scares me that I won't find good health care in Fl.

Thanks

Patti

I go to Dr. John Burress & his PA is Sylvia Wallace. They are awesome. They are Lady Lake Family Medicine. The office is on 466 just past Rolling Acres Rd. in front of Recreation Plantation. 259-7994

[rubicon]

I actually have been utilizing my heart doc as a GP. he is a caring doc very detailed and his staff is top shelve. I have come to really care about these folks. Again all my docs are associated with Munroe and to day I have only positive thoughts and words regarding them

[2BNTV]

JBloom and Bonny,

Can you please give me the names of both of your doctors? I will be moving into the Villages towards the end of this year. My sister mentioned to me that living in Florida I will not get good health care compared to living here in NJ. After reading some of these posts it kind of scares me that I won't find good health care in Fl. Thanks

Patti

Patti:

I am presently in CT so much for excellent care in the northeast.

Everyone:

I called the doctor's office and got the same person who was suppose to process the request for the A1C test. I asked for my PSA reading and Tatiana said she couldn't tell me unless the doctor approved it. I received a message on my answering machine to call and ask what questions I may have regarding my blood work. Huh. In addition, I asked why my request wasn't processed in a timely manner and she said they sent over the request to Quest twice. I'm not the kind of person to call someone a liar but as Judy Judy says:



Liar, liar, pants on fire.

I will call Quest to verify if they have this request because i can't believe a word they say. Is the person occuplying the same planet I am?

Well, time to let go and go onto much more important thoughts.

Thanks for listening to me. Over and Out.

[Bogie Shooter]

I know there are a lot of people who have serious medical conditions so I am thankful for my good health.
I went to the doctor last week for my yearly physical and being a type 2 diabetic, I didn't think it was necessary to remind him to include an A1C test for checking it. He does this request electronically. If I don't ask for a copy of the results before he hits the send button, I am informed I have to call the office. He plays with the computer more than he talks to his patient.
I go for blood work the next morning after fasting for 11 hours and ask if this test was included. She said no but I will draw an extra vial of blood and you can call the doctor's office to get the doctors approval.
I called the office at 9:08 AM and Christina said the medical assistant wasn't in yet!!!!! but she would tell her. Gail from Quest calls me at 11:25 and asked if I called the doctors office and I said yes. She asked me if I wanted her to call the office for me. I said yes thinking maybe they would respond better to a colleague. At 12:10 PM, I didn't get a call back so I called the office again and was informed the doctor wsasn't in and she would have to send an e-mail to him requested this test and maybe he wouldn't respond until tomorrow. She also gave me a baloney answer saying it could be included the next day as they would call Quest Labs directly. I said that was too late as the blood vial was only good until 4 PM. I also requested a call to ensure this was done. I never got a call.
Five days later, I get a call with my test results on my answering machine after filling out forms saying I wanted to be called on my cell as I would want to discuss certain readings. I couldn't make out her name and she apolgized for not including the A1C test and said I needed to go for blood work again. HUH?

I want to call and ask why they couldn't repond to my request five days ago when I called so there wouldn't be a mistake. I would really like to give them heck but I think the doctor runs his office like a dictatorship and the people there walk around on eggshells as he is always giving them heck and probably treats them like cr**. I should feel sorry for them but somehow I can't. Still, no excuse for being incompetent and not listening to a patients request to avoid a mistake.

Being from the northeast where care is suppose to be excellent begs these questions.
1. Is this type of scenario also happen in TV with the doctors?
2. Do they listen to the patient?

Thanlks for listening to my rant.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Sorry for all your trouble. I guess I would be shopping for a new doctor.

[2BNTV]

Sorry for all your trouble. I guess I would be shopping for a new doctor.

Thanks for your sympathetic thought. You soooooooooooooo right in that I will be getting a new doctor.

I plan to keep my cool until records are transferred. :)

[2BNTV]

I go to Dr. John Burress & his PA is Sylvia Wallace. They are awesome. They are Lady Lake Family Medicine. The office is on 466 just past Rolling Acres Rd. in front of Recreation Plantation. 259-7994

Bonny:

Thank you for your recommendation. I will look him up when I get there.

Hopefully, soon. :)

[ilovetv]

This would be a source of a lot of the mess in the doctor's office (and hospitals everywhere):

"He does this request electronically. If I don't ask for a copy of the results before he hits the send button, I am informed I have to call the office. He plays with the computer more than he talks to his patient."

This is the way it is with nurses coming into your hospital room too.....they have to feed the computer system with what is apparently bundles of software that are more bother than they are good.

Electronic Medical Records are highly over-rated, and it's a great way for the patient and his/her test results and diagnostic findings to get BURIED in Software Hell......

Except they always manage to produce gigantic BILLS rejected or diminished by the insurance company systems!!!!

There are, by the way, excellent doctors and nurses here and in every state. But hospital and doctors' office management systemsare often the big barrier to efficient and PERSONALIZED care.

[Carmpat]

Thanks so much Bonny for giving me the name of your doctor's group. I really appreciate it.

[Carmpat]

JBlum, sorry for the misspelling of your last name. Could you give me the name of your doctor too? Now if I could only figure out how to post a picture. My husband is too busy to help out because he is trying to get our house ready to put up for sale by March.

Thanks
Patti

[Mikeod]

Electronic Medical Records are highly over-rated, and it's a great way for the patient and his/her test results and diagnostic findings to get BURIED in Software Hell......


I've got to disagree with you on this point a little bit. We activated an EMR in the medical group just a bit before I retired. I was actively involved in developing the module for the eye department. We insisted on several things that would enhance the interaction between provider and patient. One simple thing was to put the keyboard/monitor on a swing-out shelf so that the provider could face the patient while taking notes and discussing the patient's condition. I've noted here that the terminal is located to make that interaction less personal, which I feel is a mistake. It promotes the feeling in the patient that they are interrupting if they speak while the provider is typing.

Other aspects of the entire system were designed to facilitate patient information, such as creating patient access to the clinic via email, which was monitored to be sure that a reply was sent within a specific time frame. Also, each provider was given a special email address made known to patients to facilitate communication. (It helps eliminate the phone call to a patient that goes unanswered or gets a busy signal. We were prohibited from leaving any details on an answering machine, obviously.)

Another benefit was clear records. No more trying to decipher the poor penmanship of some of the providers. , Also, since we had clinics spread over many counties and states, the EMR was a godsend when a patient made an urgent visit. We had all the important information on hand right away. No need to call for a chart or have something faxed.

In short, designed correctly an EMR can enhance patient care and not be a barrier. Note, this system I am describing was not designed for patient billing. It did communicate with the patient billing system only as far as sending the procedure codes.

[ilovetv]

I've got to disagree with you on this point a little bit. We activated an EMR in the medical group just a bit before I retired. I was actively involved in developing the module for the eye department. We insisted on several things that would enhance the interaction between provider and patient. One simple thing was to put the keyboard/monitor on a swing-out shelf so that the provider could face the patient while taking notes and discussing the patient's condition. I've noted here that the terminal is located to make that interaction less personal, which I feel is a mistake. It promotes the feeling in the patient that they are interrupting if they speak while the provider is typing. .......

Another benefit was clear records. No more trying to decipher the poor penmanship of some of the providers. , Also, since we had clinics spread over many counties and states, the EMR was a godsend when a patient made an urgent visit. We had all the important information on hand right away. No need to call for a chart or have something faxed.

In short, designed correctly an EMR can enhance patient care and not be a barrier. Note, this system I am describing was not designed for patient billing. It did communicate with the patient billing system only as far as sending the procedure codes.

I said that wrongly. You're right....EMR can be very helpful and more efficient IF the computer system and software are set up right.

If it's a patchwork-hodgepodge of various-aged modules that are poorly integrated, it can literally drive the clinicians crazy, because they cannot do patient care the way they know is best and want to do--efficiently and personalized.

Many nurses speak of this in various cities/states where we know them, and TVRH is said to have a patchwork/hodgepodge system that causes patients and clinicians big problems like the O.P. described (i.e. the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing).

[Villages PL]

He plays with the computer more than he talks to his patient.

The previous doctor I had did the same thing. Just wait until they have electronic record sharing for a patient who has multiple doctors. They will either spend a heck of a lot of time reading what all the other doctors typed into your record or, if they think it's too much, they will decide to ignore it. To much information may end up being as bad as not enough information.

[2BNTV]

The previous doctor I had did the same thing. Just wait until they have electronic record sharing for a patient who has multiple doctors. They will either spend a heck of a lot of time reading what all the other doctors typed into your record or, if they think it's too much, they will decide to ignore it. To much information may end up being as bad as not enough information.

I agree he should pay more attention to his patients but then he would have to have some bedside manner that is lost on so many 10 minute doctors today. That's all the time they want to give you as they feel they are losing money after that.

My main point is the office staff seemed to not care when I requested something and subsequent calls were made where I they were in the CYA
mode of operation as I have a voicemail apologizing for their mistake. All I wanted was someone to follow a simple request for a correction to my blood work test before it became a mistake. A minute job that didn't get done all day.

Like I said, I guess I should feel sorry for them for being treated like dirt by the doctor but I don't see any reason for not following a simple request made by a patient. After all, I am paying the bill!!!!!!

Blood work done twice and over with. I will probably get a call on my answering machine with the results I requested so I won't have to talk to them again, as the person I talked with, was no help and answered the phone with, "I can help you with that, and then proceeded not to help me". :shrug:

I don't know what they call it on her planet but on this planet, we call it B.S.

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:
:

[NANCY58]

I too am very concerned about the doctors here in the villages. I'm going on my 4th...last one was arrested for theft!! Any names or recommendations would be very appreciated.

[Panderson1954]

I think you can find good health care here..but you have to really look. I am a Villager and I work in the health care field here. I hear from the staff that Villagers are "too demanding". I counter that health care and service are different up north. Customer service isn't necessary here, they have a ready market.
I decided that if I am not comfortable in the office or with the staff, I will change Drs. It has taken awhile, and its a hassle. But I'm worth it.

[NotGolfer]

In any community one will find "good" doctors AND "bad" doctors! Used to hear similar concerns "up north"...and we had the choice 4 hospitals and a plethora of doctors and specialists. One of the hospitals was a renowned teaching hospital as well.

Yes, one has to be prudent and an advocate for themselves when selecting health-care providers. Generally I can tell by with the 1st and for sure, the 2nd visit with a new provider if they'll be a "keeper". I was fortunate to find a primary when we first arrived in T.V. that I liked immediately and trusted! Was it "luck"? I don't know! Insurance changed so I had to select a new primary...went with "word of mouth" and as "luck" would have it I didn't feel the connection! She was highly recommended by friends and even on this site I heard great things! But, for me, she just didn't make the grade. I've been fortunate to find someone else that will remain a "keeper". Through-out my years this is has happened more than once due to major moves. I think word-of-mouth is always good but at the end of the day, it's up to you whether it will work out or not.

I hate to hear people passing a blanket indictment about our medical community here! There are some good providers and things are improving as this community grows, I'm sure! The 'bad' ones will be sifted as the word gets out!

[villages07]

Overall, I am pleased with my local medical providers... GP, Orthopedists, Dentist, Gastro, Dermatology, xray/imaging, etc.

Remember, when you move down here you have to replace all your providers at once. You probably had a cadre of providers from back home that took you many years to develop. When you do it all at once, some will click, some will not.

I'm on my second dentist (first overcharged and overtreated) and second GP (first left town). Other providers I have found by word of mouth and TOTV.

[graciegirl]

Overall, I am pleased with my local medical providers... GP, Orthopedists, Dentist, Gastro, Dermatology, xray/imaging, etc.

Remember, when you move down here you have to replace all your providers at once. You probably had a cadre of providers from back home that took you many years to develop. When you do it all at once, some will click, some will not.

I'm on my second dentist (first overcharged and overtreated) and second GP (first left town). Other providers I have found by word of mouth and TOTV.


I agree and you make an excellent point about having to replace all of the doctors we need at once. Also, in the dental area, I have switched too, for the same reason. I had the same dentist in Cincinnati for thirty years.

The health area is the part here that I can honestly say isn't as good as what I had before in Cincinnati.....so far. I think it is improving. The biggest difference of course is that this is relatively a SMALL town.

[NotGolfer]

Overall, I am pleased with my local medical providers... GP, Orthopedists, Dentist, Gastro, Dermatology, xray/imaging, etc.

Remember, when you move down here you have to replace all your providers at once. You probably had a cadre of providers from back home that took you many years to develop. When you do it all at once, some will click, some will not.

I'm on my second dentist (first overcharged and overtreated) and second GP (first left town). Other providers I have found by word of mouth and TOTV.


You and Gracie...both expressed what I earlier tried to express! For the size of this "town" the amount of doctors, to me is large!! It's true that it can be over-whelming to both move and also get set-up with health-care all at once. Especially since many of us have issues that really need constant attention (I know I do). I just feel blessed that I have the providers that I do and really can't complain too much at all. I've had the cadre of having an emergancy ambulance ride, a stint in the ER, admission to the hospital, have had several medical imaging procedures and more and still I will say it's mostly been positive experiences!