[Plants]

You have “ OPTIONS “instead of complaining! Be smart and do research. Just sayin’ I’ve been pleased with my choices.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by deestatham@aol.com

Like you and so many, I’m totally fed up. We moved from Maryland and had the same doctors for years. In 5 years here I had 4 doctors. Finally found one I liked and Lowenkron, the Medical Director fired him because he questioned things that were being done wrong. How do I know? The doctor told me himself offline. If you research Lowenkron, you’ll find that he was fired from his post in Tampa several years ago but he is a friend of the Morse family. This place is a revolving door of doctors and a goldmine for the drug companies. You might consider keeping your doctor up North and just go back once a year. Just my humble opinion based on my own experience here.

I am highly skeptical of this summary. I haven't seen a "revolving door of doctors" at The Villages Health center at Creekside. I see no evidence of Dr. Jeffrey Lowenkron being fired, ever, in his Curriculum Vitae. All doctors prescribe medications that cost money.

This really sounds like it could be a lot of things. A doctor who has lost patients to the Villages Health or a patient who was dropped because of failure to comply with the doctors directions.

Or it could be the truth.

But I doubt it.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Sabella

Allegedly the 3rd leading cause of death In the US is medical malpractice . Does anyone know if this is true?

I do, and no, it is definitely not true. This rumor comes from a Johns Hopkins study that found there were 220,000 deaths annually in hospitals "due to" medical mistakes. It would have been better if they stated there are 220,000 deaths in hospitals that incidentally included a medical "mistake".

Now, having spent years as chairman of pharmacy and therapeutics committee, quality assurance committee, chief of staff of my local hospital and sat on the board of directors, let me explain what a "mistake "actually is. I order 650 mg of acetaminophen to be given to a patient at 6 PM. The nurse has to administer it between 5:30 and 6:30. She gets busy helping at a resuscitation and gives the pill at 6:31. This has to be reported to the state health dept. as an error. The patient dies 2 weeks later of his underlying stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and then the Hopkins study counts this as death due to a medical error, what you termed "malpractice"

In 30 years of being involved in reporting to the NYS health dept. , out of thousands of so called "mistakes" I can only remember a few dozen that were significant and a handful that rose to the level of malpractice. But this "3rd leading cause of death" is a great narrative for the media, the state regulators, and the politicians, so I think we will continue to hear this fallacy repeated over and over again

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

I do, and no, it is definitely not true. This rumor comes from a Johns Hopkins study that found there were 220,000 deaths annually in hospitals "due to" medical mistakes. It would have been better if they stated there are 220,000 deaths in hospitals that incidentally included a medical "mistake".

Now, having spent years as chairman of pharmacy and therapeutics committee, quality assurance committee, chief of staff of my local hospital and sat on the board of directors, let me explain what a "mistake "actually is. I order 650 mg of acetaminophen to be given to a patient at 6 PM. The nurse has to administer it between 5:30 and 6:30. She gets busy helping at a resuscitation and gives the pill at 6:31. This has to be reported to the state health dept. as an error. The patient dies 2 weeks later of his underlying stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and then the Hopkins study counts this as death due to a medical error, what you termed "malpractice"

In 30 years of being involved in reporting to the NYS health dept. , out of thousands of so called "mistakes" I can only remember a few dozen that were significant and a handful that rose to the level of malpractice. But this "3rd leading cause of death" is a great narrative for the media, the state regulators, and the politicians, so I think we will continue to hear this fallacy repeated over and over again

Thank you for your posts.

[golfing eagles]

[QUOTE=runkcrun;1820362]I agree, there is a culture here that everyone needs to see a Dr. multiple times a year and see a specialist for any little thing. However, we do not have to do everything a Dr. recommends. We are in control and we have a choice. I inform my physician that I will come in yearly and requests my prescriptions be written for 1 year. I ask questions, and listen to what the Dr. is telling me. If I don't think a test or treatment is necessary, I don't it. I research via reputable sources and make my own decisions on my health care.[/QUOTE]

You sound like an excellent physician. May I inquire as to your medical education, residency, specialty board and state of licensure????. After all, you must have pretty good training to decide which tests and treatments that your doctors want to order are unnecessary. Also, you qualifications must greatly exceed that of your doctor, since he is willing to have you dictate to him. But maybe it isn't that hard for you, since clearly you consult Dr. Google. (which BTW I have never seen work out too well). I do hope you never run into a medical problem too complicated for your skill set (like a sore throat)

[Brandigirl]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I am highly skeptical of this summary. I haven't seen a "revolving door of doctors" at The Villages Health center at Creekside. I see no evidence of Dr. Jeffrey Lowenkron being fired, ever, in his Curriculum Vitae. All doctors prescribe medications that cost money.

This really sounds like it could be a lot of things. A doctor who has lost patients to the Villages Health or a patient who was dropped because of failure to comply with the doctors directions.

Or it could be the truth.

But I doubt it.

This is what I think the OP was referring to: Clinic Fails, USF Official Jumps to New Job at the Villages | Health News Florida and: Ex-USF Physicians Chief Sues for $600K | Health News Florida

[JoMar]

Originally Posted by runkcrun

I agree, there is a culture here that everyone needs to see a Dr. multiple times a year and see a specialist for any little thing. However, we do not have to do everything a Dr. recommends. We are in control and we have a choice. I inform my physician that I will come in yearly and requests my prescriptions be written for 1 year. I ask questions, and listen to what the Dr. is telling me. If I don't think a test or treatment is necessary, I don't it. I research via reputable sources and make my own decisions on my health care.

Wow, what reputable doctor would prescribe meds for a year unless they are placebo's? Please give us their name so we can avoid.

[MaryShields]

We are moving to the Villages from MN and have had excellent health care here. I am a retired DNP and am very aware of practices. I’m nervous about Florida and would appreciate any recommendations for a good clinic and PCP. Thanks much,
Mary Shields

[Sabella]

Originally Posted by JoMar

Wow, what reputable doctor would prescribe meds for a year unless they are placebo's? Please give us their name so we can avoid.

There called maintenance medicines that you will take the rest of your life.

[MoseyInn]

Thanks Northwoods - that is good to know

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by JoMar

Wow, what reputable doctor would prescribe meds for a year unless they are placebo's? Please give us their name so we can avoid.

In our case in order to control cholesterol and blood pressure we go on drugs and do not come off (unless periodic blood tests say we should).

To make it easier we get our pills from a mail order pharmacy in 90 day batches that come every 3 months.

Originally Posted by JoMar

Wow, what reputable doctor would prescribe meds for a year unless they are placebo's? Please give us their name so we can avoid.

My neuropathy medication (non-narcotic) is prescribed for 90 days with 3 refills (1 year total). However, I see my pain doctor every 3 months for evaluation, so it can be canceled or changed if necessary. I am very glad you have not had a problem that requires long term medication, but there are many of us who do.

[JoMar]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

In our case in order to control cholesterol and blood pressure we go on drugs and do not come off (unless periodic blood tests say we should).

To make it easier we get our pills from a mail order pharmacy in 90 day batches that come every 3 months.

I do also, but I go back to have the medication reevaluated and adjusted. I don't get a prescription for a year and I know of nobody that does. The post I responded to said they get a yearly prescription.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by JoMar

I do also, but I go back to have the medication reevaluated and adjusted. I don't get a prescription for a year and I know of nobody that does. The post I responded to said they get a yearly prescription.

We do not seem to be on same page so let me restate what we get.

Our DR gives us prescription good for 4 shipments 90 day supply each time of our maintenance drugs.

Every 6 months we get a very inclusive blood test to make sure our organs are functioning properly.

For example some cholesterol drugs can do harm to your liver so it is necessary to monitor liver function.

In my experience this is very common especially when dealing with mail order pharmacy owned by Medicare Advantage provider.

Originally Posted by JoMar

... I don't get a prescription for a year and I know of nobody that does. ...

Actually, you likely do but just don’t know it. One year prescriptions are given for long-term care/control of cholesterol, neuropathy (as in my case), seizures, etc. That does not mean theses people only see a doctor once a year, they likely have regular exams or blood tests to be sure all is well. It is more common than you think.