Doctors - not accessible

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Old 03-19-2019, 10:38 AM
ppmgb@me.com ppmgb@me.com is offline
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Default Doctors - not accessible

Our Son was seen by a Village Health Care Internist who detected an irregular heartbeat. Was sent to Villages Cardiologist who reviewed CT scan and confirmed a birth defective Aortic Valve and an aneurysm. Sent to Surgeon and had the valve replacement, etc and was told to see his internist and cardiologist within 1 -2 weeks following discharge. Tried to make appointments only to be told - they could not see him for approximately 8 weeks! This is NOT acceptable. Have others experienced this issue with the Villages Health Care System? Our son decided to drive to Orlando where he could receive timely health care!
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Old 03-19-2019, 11:07 AM
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Too many patients, not enough specialists.....it's a math thing. Attracting quality is not easy here, quantity only is not a solution. You say not acceptable without a suggestion for how to make it acceptable...magic wand excluded. This is a great place but it is not utopia. Be thankful that your son found what he needed just a short drive away.
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Old 03-19-2019, 11:12 AM
NotGolfer NotGolfer is offline
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I would say 1st call the referring dr. and tell them what happened. You could also be put on a cancellation list. Something similar happened with my husband and all was well---but the cardiologist we wanted was popular and busy. We opted to wait (it wasn't a dire need anyway) til we could get him in.
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Old 03-19-2019, 03:03 PM
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One of the reasons we left the Villages Health system.
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Old 03-19-2019, 03:13 PM
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One of the reasons we left the Villages Health system.
Not just the Villages Health System it happened to me with an outside group.
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Old 03-19-2019, 03:58 PM
Carla B Carla B is offline
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Yes, same with outside group. When we want to see our internist for a complaint we are referred to their Urgent Care office. We haven't had that issue with specialists, however. Last Thursday/Friday my husband got appts with his urologist, cardiologst, and gastroenterologist for the following Monday and Tuesday. One of them found the problem
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Old 03-19-2019, 04:45 PM
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You need to increase the number of people going into the health field and I am afraid that the number of potential customers will increase faster than we can attract and train health care providers.
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Old 03-19-2019, 05:13 PM
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My wife is in Villages Health and has been to the hospital a many times, including once to get an aortic value. She has always been able to get hospital followup appointments with her Villages Health PCP and Cardiologist in less than two weeks. Sometimes it was an appointment with an NP but on some of those appointments her PCP joined the the NP for the appointment even though he wasn't scheduled to see her.

We've found Villages Health, both PCP's and Specialists, very responsive to things we needed, even accommodating us at the very last minute.

Have you talked with the Patient Service Representative at the care center your son's doctor is at?
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Old 03-19-2019, 08:53 PM
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Originally Posted by villagetinker View Post
One of the reasons we left the Villages Health system.
Cardiologist is "fee for service"... Anyone can go to them, not just TV Health. So unfair to "blame" TVH.
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Old 03-20-2019, 06:26 AM
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While being treated by a Ortho Dr at Villages Specialty Center, he would tell me to make a appt in 2 weeks. But when I went to the desk, they could never honor his order in a timely manner.
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Old 03-20-2019, 06:32 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ppmgb@me.com View Post
Our Son was seen by a Village Health Care Internist who detected an irregular heartbeat. Was sent to Villages Cardiologist who reviewed CT scan and confirmed a birth defective Aortic Valve and an aneurysm. Sent to Surgeon and had the valve replacement, etc and was told to see his internist and cardiologist within 1 -2 weeks following discharge. Tried to make appointments only to be told - they could not see him for approximately 8 weeks! This is NOT acceptable. Have others experienced this issue with the Villages Health Care System? Our son decided to drive to Orlando where he could receive timely health care!
The scheduling person did NOT understand the seriousness of your request. You should have called the surgeon's office and had them call the cardiologist or have been more clear and insistent. Unfortunately, schedulers are not medically trained. ANYWHERE. In fact some of them are damned dumb. AND also unfortunately some people will be as insistent about seeing the doctor sooner for a routine visit. This is where you have to get a big mouth out of your back pocket. Call the surgeon. Complain to everybody you can find. This is not acceptable.
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Last edited by graciegirl; 03-20-2019 at 06:39 AM.
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Old 03-20-2019, 08:16 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rjn5656 View Post
While being treated by a Ortho Dr at Villages Specialty Center, he would tell me to make a appt in 2 weeks. But when I went to the desk, they could never honor his order in a timely manner.
I am having the same problem with my Orthopedic doctor at the Specialty Care Center. I was operated on in mid October and have yet to see my surgeon other than my hospitalization. I am only seen by a NP in his practice. I have had issues which should be addressed by an MD but I can’t get into see him.
Too busy with new patients who will potentially bring him and the Villages health system more $$$$, maybe ?
Be very careful on which MD you choose, they aren’t all what they appear to be !! Ask lots of questions about the continuity of your post surgical care......
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Old 03-21-2019, 03:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Cloud Nine View Post
I am having the same problem with my Orthopedic doctor at the Specialty Care Center. I was operated on in mid October and have yet to see my surgeon other than my hospitalization. I am only seen by a NP in his practice. I have had issues which should be addressed by an MD but I can’t get into see him.
Too busy with new patients who will potentially bring him and the Villages health system more $$$$, maybe ?
Be very careful on which MD you choose, they aren’t all what they appear to be !! Ask lots of questions about the continuity of your post surgical care......
Do not dismiss a nurse practicioner . He/she is trained to know if your symptoms need to be addressed by a doctor. And the M.D.? Maybe busy with other people who are sick too?
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Old 03-21-2019, 05:29 AM
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The issue I had was long waits for a follow-up appointment. I ultimately went to the Orthopedic/Sports Medicine Practice at U of Florida in Gainesville. I have had no problems getting timely appointments. Typically the PA comes in first and then the surgeon next for each visit. And they always take me on-time.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cloud Nine View Post
I am having the same problem with my Orthopedic doctor at the Specialty Care Center. I was operated on in mid October and have yet to see my surgeon other than my hospitalization. I am only seen by a NP in his practice. I have had issues which should be addressed by an MD but I can’t get into see him.
Too busy with new patients who will potentially bring him and the Villages health system more $$$$, maybe ?
Be very careful on which MD you choose, they aren’t all what they appear to be !! Ask lots of questions about the continuity of your post surgical care......
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Old 03-21-2019, 09:12 AM
PennBF PennBF is offline
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We just returned from a normal 2 year and every 3 months visit with usual 3 Doctors from Stage 3 Cancer Treatment and getting clear bills of health. The CatScan at latest visit indicated a possible problem in another area. As we sat in the last Doctors office she made an appointment for a Dr. that specialized in the questionable area. Went to that office, met with that Dr.who called in a surgeon as we sat there. Met with the Surgeon and scheduled within the next 2 week to determine what this questionable object might be. That is 5 doctor visits, (2 at last minute). This was at Mayo Clinic where we go for all medical issues. They treat you as a human being in need of help.
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