Question about the much talked about TV Health Care?

[billethkid]

If one is happy with their current doctor(s), why would they switch to a doctor at The Villages Health Care?

btk

[Shirleevee]

If one is happy with their current doctor(s), why would they switch to a doctor at The Villages Health Care?

btk

My sentiments exactly! :BigApplause:

[NotGolfer]

I followed my practioner when they joined USF. I have NO complaints. As I see it the doc's from the clinic all have hospital privileges (which "some" here do not). If you're hospitalized or if you see specialists w/in the system all of your records are in a central system and can be accessed.

I personally had the experience some years ago, to have an emergency experience into the ER and the hospital. While I'd had an MRI and other procedures done in the area, they didn't have access to them. My primary didn't have hospital privileges so it was a bit of a stressful experience for a couple of days til they were able to reach my specialist (who'd been out of town). Eventually all worked out fine but it left the hospital staff to wonder what to do with me all due to the Medicare guidelines of hospital stays etc. A long story to say I'm in favor of the USF Medical system here.

[Avista]

If one is happy with their current doctor(s), why would they switch to a doctor at The Villages Health Care?

btk

Well you have a point. I see it a little differently. i was satisfied with my previous doctor. When I visited the Colony Center, and saw how it was being operated, i was very impressed. For one thing there is a morning meeting. I'm sure if a person has a difficult problem, there is a group think with oversite. Oversite is one of the things I, as a nurse, look for. I liked the fact my doctor will be on time for appointments. Day emergencys are seen by other staff, perhaps a doc or NP or PA. Some have talked against this, but it keeps your doctor on time with appointments. I was told to come in anytime I had a problem.

Each of us must make a decision that is right for them. My husband and I have been happy with our decision.

[ilovetv]

A good reason to join TV Healthcare Clinics is because many doctors in private practice struggle to stay solvent with low Medicare reimbursement and insurers defining "reasonable and customary" charges as "what Medicare pays".

The other good reason is that many people right here on this board complain about how their dr. here in FL orders endless tests and calls a person in for in-office visits just to give them a test result etc......because that's the only way they can actually make money with mostly Medicare patients.

Gary Morse had it exactly right when he said this in the beginning of this venture:

“Medicare is a lifesaving program but it has been set up in such a way that doctors are no longer able to care for us senior citizens in the same manner that we grew up with,” said Villages developer Gary Morse. “Medicare pays a doctor for every patient he sees, not how much time he spends with that patient. If the doctor sees 100 patients a day, he or she makes twice as much as seeing 50 patients.”

The result of that volume-driven system has changed the way most doctors operate.

“Now doctors are incentivized to go into business, hire a business manager, set up their own records system, buy their own testing equipment and get paid for every test they can give to as many patients as they can run through their office,” Morse said.

The Villages Health will operate differently. Physicians will be paid generous salaries that are not tied to the volume of patients seen in a day or the number of tests or procedures ordered......."

The Villages - Florida's Friendliest Retirement Hometown - New Home Sales, Home Resales, Build Your Dream Home (http://thevillages.com/usf-0310.htm)

[zcaveman]

I am very happy with all of my doctors and with my health insurance plans. I am not buying into the TV health Care system. If 50% of TV buy into the plan how many more doctors will they need so that you can all see your personal doctor?

Z

[Bizdoc]

If you are happy with your doc, stay with your doc. No one is forcing you to switch.

I suspect that the reason for opening Colony (and Pinellas) clinics early in the process is that the bulk of folks nearby are/were new and needed a doc.

[swrinfla]

I look forward with great anticipation about the new "Marcus Welby" centers.

I am wrestling internally with myself about my future doctors. When I first came here it made good sense to go with a primary care doctor who was also a specialist in the field where I need the most attention.

However, the back-office system at this doctor's office is terrible and deteriorating. I am seriously considering taking my primary care business elsewhere - probably to one of the new centers - if for no other reason than to have closer coordination over my primary care without repeated problems with excessive waiting times (I've almost never seen the doctor - or even been called into the exam room - within a half-hour of the appointment time), as well as a far-too-lengthy check-out procedure.

Actually, the litany of problems is much too long to detail here. Suffice to say: customer service is totally missing!

Those of us who refuse to acknowledge that we are Senior Citizens even though we're approaching eligibility for membership in the Four Score & More Club deserve better care! (Yup, that'd be me!)

SWR
:beer3:

[Vinny]

Most people are happy with their doctors until they switch and have something to compare. My wife and I switched to VHC. That is when we both found out that both of us were mis diagnosed by our old doctors. The VHC limits the number of patients per doctor. My last doctor spent about 5 minutes with me after waiting a half hour. Now they see me exactly at my appointment time and spend a half hour. All my records and prescriptions are online for me to view and renew. They are very modern compared to other medical centers we went to. Best move we made as we are now being treated correctly.

[RVRoadie]

I agree with Vinny, it is a very good system. Unfortunately, they have teamed up exclusively with United Health Care for Medicare Advantage, something that is not in my best interests.

[Number 6]

If one is happy with their current doctor(s), why would they switch to a doctor at The Villages Health Care?

btk

Because I was not happy with my primary care physician, or more specifically with the practice. We had a billing dispute that was so absurd that it was funny. I was out the door before we resolved it. It took months to get the ordering physician to review my complaint.