[angel222]

Would like to have opinions regarding the question: Are you really happy with healthcare and your doctors in The Villages as opposed to the same in your home state? I met so many people here in TV that are not happy with their doctors - some say they would not recommend their doctors to anyone. Also I've found many people go "home" to their home state for any surgery they might need. Comments welcome.......

[raynan]

I've had really good luck since I came and I have had scheduled surgery.
I was extremely pleased with my 2 surgeons and the staff at the Villages Regional Hospital. That being said, people on my street have horror stories of the hospital when they have been rushed in on an emergency basis. 12-14 hour waits in ER. One neighbor lost his eyesight and went to ER only to be told to go to an opthamologist and the opth. sent him back to ER because he had a brain bleed. The ER seems overwhelmed and hopefully the expansion will take care of that. I found my doctors thru a support group I joined for my autoimmune disease. Very happy so far.

[Bogie Shooter]

I'm happy.

[jojo]

My husband had hernia surgery here. The surgeon had all good reports and we were pleased. I've talked to a lot of folks who have shopped around for doctors and had varying experiences. From my anecdotal experience, most eventually found medical providers in whom they have confidence.

[ilovetv]

To us it's like everywhere else: it mostly depends on your primary doctor and any specialists needed being astute, attentive, tuned-in and being residency trained in their specialty, and board certified in their specialty.

Then beyond that, we're in the same position we were in in our home state, if we get some rare or complex disease or chronic condition that local specialists can't figure out or on which they've exhausted treatment options:

Just like in our home state, we would drive 50 to 100 miles or more to go to the big-name teaching and research hospitals, in Gainesville, Orlando, Tampa, Miami, etc.

Depending on just the size, fame and name of a hospital does not get a person the individual doctors and care a person wants/needs. You have to do your homework, like anywhere else in the nation, to find the individual doctors that are best for you.

[queasy27]

To us it's like everywhere else...

I agree. I think health care here is as good overall as any other market of the same size in the U.S. I've seen 17 doctors of various ilks in the past two years and all were competent. Some had better personalities and bedside manners and some less-than-competent front office staff. Two were stellar. Even if I didn't care for their attitudes, however, I never felt as though I was receiving sub-par care. The same goes for TVRH and Leesburg Regional, although of the two, I felt I received better overall care at The Villages. Nursing staff ranged from super attentive, efficient, and supportive to "Whoa, having a bad day, I guess."

It's worth noting that a couple of the physicians I personally didn't like have received outstanding recommendations here, so everyone's mileage varies.

[angel222]

Thanks for the input...I went to four doctors in TV before I found one I feel confident in as my primary physician. You're right - you have to do your homework! Coming from NY with such an array of good healthcare is difficult to change. I have to admit I have returned to NY for some small surgery. I am fortunate so far not to have any experience with the Villages Hospital but there have been so many pro's and con's on this forum its difficult to know how it would be.

[NotGolfer]

First of all...we have Preferred Care Partners...so far like it! No problems!!
As for doctors....(even before PCP) we've been blessed with great care!!

[Bizdoc]

We are happy with the quality of care here. Of course, we were cautious in making our choices.

That having been said, we still go to Duke Med (which is not in any of "our hometowns") for some specialty care. Two of DW's doctors there are in the top 2 or 3 in their fields and the third was highly recommended by one of those two.

If your medical plan allows you to go where you want, go for the best doc that you can find, regardless of location.

[Challenger]

Originally Posted by angel222

Would like to have opinions regarding the question: Are you really happy with healthcare and your doctors in The Villages as opposed to the same in your home state? I met so many people here in TV that are not happy with their doctors - some say they would not recommend their doctors to anyone. Also I've found many people go "home" to their home state for any surgery they might need. Comments welcome.......

Wife and I have been here 3 yrs . Previously with a Johns Hopkins primary care practice in Baltimore (one of the best).
We both have significant medical history and have been totally pleased with care here. Investigated doc here first, used TOTV and residents who have been here for years.

Regularly use
Dermatologist
Primary Care
Dentist
Opthalmologist
and others all are as good as back" home"

Family has used ER at TVRH and find it to be about the same as most others we have experienced- Busy

[JP]

Not yet. Will try new ones and see how they are.

[gomoho]

Well I am curious how you "try out doctors" till you find the right fit. My experience is they all require taking a complete history and a physical before you are a patient. This tends to become quite costly so how do you get around that???

[JP]

We will go to a new one when we need to. We will probably try either neighbor recommended or TOTV recommended. We are also thinking of going to Mayo's in Jacksonville for major stuff than using the local walk in clinics as necessary as we have heard good things about them.

[SALYBOW]

I believe the key is to do research and then switch if you are not happy.

[Quixote]

I've been a long-time user of medical services (since early childhood...), and I learned a long time ago to treat medical care as any other commodity that I'm buying. Nowadays, with the availability of an overwhelming amount of info on the Internet, we can be even more proactive regarding our own care.

With this in mind, I can say that I am pretty happy with the health care I receive here. I have had two problems in all these years, one with a PCP who made a mistake (documented by other MDs in whose care I was at the time) whose ego kept him back from admitting it. I left him in a breath!

The other with a specialist who has an fine reputation in the area but who also made a major mistake that could potentially have had serious consequences (and fortunately did not). My current PCP, whom I highly recommend, picked up on it and urged me not just to listen to him but to do my own "homework" online and find out for myself. I learned from several online sources that the PCP was right—and the specialist with the fine reputation was wrong....

The bottom line is that we have to advocate for ourselves!