I wish I was very healthy. I speak from experience with "The Villages Health" from their inception. I also have observed many newbies refer to "TVHS" as to any health facility / service within the bubble. TVH is the health network in TV owned and operated by the developer. There are hundreds of other facilities within TV that have to affiliation to the TVH system. Again my experience with TVH is no way would your doctor refuse to see you unless there is more to the story. TVH has a network available for their patients to call 24/7. They answer the phone immediately. They also have a patient portal which I usually get a response back within one hour or less.The majority of the time they ask if you can come in by the end of the day. You may have to see your primary doctor's nurse practitioner under that circumstance but that has worked well for me. I have liked every nurse practitioner my primary has had in the last 11 years.

So you did not answer my question. What do you mean by TVHS ?

Does this "practical nurse" work for your doctor? If so, the nurse is SUPERVISED by your doctor and is privy to the same information that the nurse is. Seems that a lot of primary care physicians have two or more APRNs working for them who see the patients on a routine basis, with the doctor seeing patients on the first visit or on subsequent visits when something serious or outside the APRN's expertise pops up. But it is the doctor who makes that call, not the patient.

Not saying that this is the case...but many of us geezers interpret every ache, pain or twinge as "something serious".

Not true. One of the plans TVH accepts is AARP Medicare Advantage Choice PPO. This is a very flexible plan with a huge out of state network.

Furthermore
 

I appreciate your interest "Sage" I have been ill for 2 mos. The Doc sent me for ultra sound which showed a potential problem. She is now sending me to get a CT. This whole process is taking a month ??? I requested an appointment with my DOC to review the results. Someone returned my call and said the DOC said for me to see her nurse. Who earlier suggested that this could be serious. I just feel that I should get the diagnosis from a Doctor. I just can't believe how indifferent the doctor is. I guess that is why VHS mandated that I sign a waiver before the doctor would even see me.

I could go on and on but really just want to get a reality check on medicine here in the Villages. Can I expect better? If so, where can I find it? Your thoughts are much appreciated. If you reply please send a private message. Thanks again

Listen to this man. He is an excellent M.D.

this has not been my experience with the villages health system. i've always had prompt replies & have not been kept waiting for an appt longer than 24hours. if they say only a nurse can see you @ the moment, do it. it's getting that 1st step completed before a dr sees you. i use Creekside & they are wonderful. if you still get no replies, drive down & speak to 1 of the reps, it will get fixed. remember to use complete communication with all staff, from the guy who takes your blood to the gal who does your bp. i hope you have better success.

We (husband and I) were enrolled with The Villages Health System until they changed the policy regarding patients 65 and over. Being skeptical of letting an insurance company manage our health care, we kept our supplemental insurance and went with a doctor outside the system.

The medical system here has changed over the years. Lake Imaging (which the doctors seem to use) went from readily available appointments to a 3-week delay in our case, likely caused by the population explosion in this area. When this happened (more than once) we simply called another imaging center (in Ocala) and went there the next day. Having Original Medicare allowed us to do this.

Having Original Medicare also allows for choosing one's physicians, but it can be a rocky path, too. GP's must juggle Medicare's rules, maintain a competent and polite office staff (different every time we go to our GP), and make enough income to maintain the practice, plus, hopefully, diagnose patients correctly, with prompt follow-up care. I remember way back when I use to go for a yearly physical it was a real hands-on workout. Now, under Medicare, it is a twice-a-year blood test, followed up by a quick 10 minute discussion with the doctor in person.

It sounds like your doctor is not seeing you, because your cat scan hasn't been done. Will your Advantage policy allow for using another imaging company? If that were so, then the doctor might see you sooner. It is tortuous waiting and not knowing.

TVHS was established on the premise that their doctors would not be burdened with an excessive patient roster, and that would allow sufficient time devoted to each patient. Has that changed?

I have the TVH AARP Medicare Advantage PPO plan and like you can go to
other imaging centers. I have frequent ultrasounds and have used three different imaging centers here in TV with no problem. I also have the imaging done in New York State with no issue. Probably different than you I have a deductible up to out of pocket amount but then again I don't have a supplemental premium.Given my health I would probably financially be better off with picking Medicare and a supplemental at 65. However like you I was in TVH health and had to go on their acceptable Advantage Plans or leave the system. We liked TVH system so much we decided to stay with them. I still do not regret that decision.We also have had no problems with being on the advantage ppo plan (we are snowbirds). We have had 100's of thousands of $'s of claims with no problem in Florida and New York State.

I have been lucky with my primary doctor. I have the same primary I started with 11 years ago. My spouse has been in the same system with me but has had her primary changed 3 times.

In states where there's medicaid expansion, it's working pretty well. Florida opted out of that though, and so Floridians have to accept the consequences.

So, you could go in and get the information that you need and perhaps a plan for care. But you are choosing not to go because you insist on seeing the doctor (who no doubt has a loaded schedule) rather than a nurse. OK. Got it.

Please make an appointment and get yourself moving forward. The nurses and especially the nurse practitioners are great. They will absolutely help you. I see my doctor once a year. For all other care, I see the nurse practitioners. I actually prefer them.

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No I didn’t read it because people who passed didn’t either.