[Velvet]

In an emergency, which hospitals near The Villages have the best ratings?

[villagetinker]

I believe there is a problem with the Medicare method of rating hospitals. As I understand it there is an assumption that all hospitals have a similar patient base. Unfortunately for hospitals in this area there is a greater portion of older patients, which leads to a higher-than-average death rate at the hospitals and therefore a lower rating. I do not know of any other rating system, bear this in mind when you start getting replies. The other problem is many of the hospital ERs are being used for NON emergency purposes, which causes major backups, especially during snowbird season. There are now several local stand alone ERs as well as a few Urgent care facilities.
NOTE: it appears if you call an ambulance, you will NOT have a choice of which facility you want to go to, we had this happen personally.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

I believe there is a problem with the Medicare method of rating hospitals. As I understand it there is an assumption that all hospitals have a similar patient base. Unfortunately for hospitals in this area there is a greater portion of older patients, which leads to a higher-than-average death rate at the hospitals and therefore a lower rating. I do not know of any other rating system, bear this in mind when you start getting replies. The other problem is many of the hospital ERs are being used for NON emergency purposes, which causes major backups, especially during snowbird season. There are now several local stand alone ERs as well as a few Urgent care facilities.
NOTE: it appears if you call an ambulance, you will NOT have a choice of which facility you want to go to, we had this happen personally.

We called for ambulance for wife this past Jan. We told them er on 466a and they took her there.

[billethkid]

Neighbors experience; as long as the requested facility is accepting patients they honored her request.

I would guess it all depends on the ambulance affiliation(s).

[gatorbill1]

In an emergency the closest one is the best

[Velvet]

I can see that if it’s life and death the ambulance takes you to the nearest hospital. But what I was wondering is if, for example, years ago, I broke my knee cap in Kailua in Hawaii and the ambulance took me to their nearest hospital. But once it was stabilized, I had a choice of where to get surgery. (That hospital was amazing, after I was sent home they called me every day two times a day to see how I was doing.) I never had that experience once I’ve been discharged before.

The reason I am asking this question because my insurer wants to guide me to certain hospitals, I would like to chose my own and if that hospital is not on their list, I go with a different insurance company.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

I believe there is a problem with the Medicare method of rating hospitals. As I understand it there is an assumption that all hospitals have a similar patient base. Unfortunately for hospitals in this area there is a greater portion of older patients, which leads to a higher-than-average death rate at the hospitals and therefore a lower rating. I do not know of any other rating system, bear this in mind when you start getting replies. The other problem is many of the hospital ERs are being used for NON emergency purposes, which causes major backups, especially during snowbird season. There are now several local stand alone ERs as well as a few Urgent care facilities.
NOTE: it appears if you call an ambulance, you will NOT have a choice of which facility you want to go to, we had this happen personally.

You are correct. The demographics of a hospital's catchment area greatly affects its rating, and there is even more. Medicare generally bases its ratings on outcomes in 4 DRG's----acute MI (heart attack), CVA (stroke), CAP (Community acquired pneumonia) and nosocomial (hospital acquired) infections. A somewhat poor score in any of those drags the rating down, even if they were 100% in hundreds of other DRGs. And note, the outcome of any of those 4 DRGs gets much worse as the population ages.

On the other hand, specialty hospitals get extremely high ratings---I haven't looked but 10 years ago the #1 rated hospital was solely an ENT facility in Utah, generally followed by single specialty eye hospitals. As you can imagine, there aren't many strokes, heart attacks or pneumonias in those facilities, so their numerator is ZERO.

And lastly, because of the way the data is reported and collated, these ratings lag 2-3 years behind the actual situation at any given facility---no different than looking at a restaurant review from 3 years ago.

[Velvet]

I find it kind of naive and misleading if the demographics is not taken into account in evaluating and rating a hospital. My FIL was CEO of the largest cancer hospital in my northern city and while they lost a lot of patients because of the nature of their illness, the hospital is considered one of the best in the country.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Velvet

I find it kind of naive and misleading if the demographics is not taken into account in evaluating and rating a hospital. My FIL was CEO of the largest cancer hospital in my northern city and while they lost a lot of patients because of the nature of their illness, the hospital is considered one of the best in the country.

A doc told me some years ago when someone reports with major illness, the goal is usually to keep them alive long enough to pass on from some other disease.

[Two Bills]

I would ask the ambulance crew which hospital they would go too, if they were the patient.
They know which A&E's are best.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by gatorbill1

In an emergency the closest one is the best

Perhaps with a cardiac event, but not for all emergencies. I would rather travel farther to wait for way less time when I get there and be seen by competent doctors. I only traveled 10 minutes to get to the former Villages hospital, but then proceeded to wait 12 1/2 hours to be negligently misdiagnosed and sent packing. My next trip was approximately an hour and a half drive to Gainesville, where I was seen immediately and admitted to critical care where they proceeded to save my life. Closest most definitely wasn’t even close to being better.

[thelegges]

To be honest after spending less than helpful ED on 44, then a never again trip to villages hospital. Both of us agree take a chance and just drive to Gainesville.

Now if UF will ever get the stroke bus up and running it will be a great improvement getting important treatment in route from your home.

[Shipping up to Boston]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

You are correct. The demographics of a hospital's catchment area greatly affects its rating, and there is even more. Medicare generally bases its ratings on outcomes in 4 DRG's----acute MI (heart attack), CVA (stroke), CAP (Community acquired pneumonia) and nosocomial (hospital acquired) infections. A somewhat poor score in any of those drags the rating down, even if they were 100% in hundreds of other DRGs. And note, the outcome of any of those 4 DRGs gets much worse as the population ages.

On the other hand, specialty hospitals get extremely high ratings---I haven't looked but 10 years ago the #1 rated hospital was solely an ENT facility in Utah, generally followed by single specialty eye hospitals. As you can imagine, there aren't many strokes, heart attacks or pneumonias in those facilities, so their numerator is ZERO.

And lastly, because of the way the data is reported and collated, these ratings lag 2-3 years behind the actual situation at any given facility---no different than looking at a restaurant review from 3 years ago.

It’s akin to the way crime statistics are compiled. The vaunted per capita explanation. You could have a double homicide in Anywhere USA and for at least those few hours, that community is the most dangerous place in the country.

[skippy05]

Last Fall I had 2 heart attacks back to back followed by immediate 5 by pass surgery. Adventhealth Ocala was flawless in my care and today I am doing very well. They combine faith in God and prayer along with medical wisdom. I couldn't have been better taken care of anywhere.

[Berwin]

When we moved here, one piece of advice we got was, if it is life or death, do whatever it takes to get to Gainesville. My wife got extremely sick. Her primary care doc referred her to a specialist in Ocala who referred her to an other specialist in Ocala who said she needed to see a specialist in Gainesville - who saved her. Now, all our doctors are in Gainesville. It's worth the hour drive up there.