Medical Care in The Villages

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  #31  
Old 10-25-2011, 10:14 AM
Doodlegirl Doodlegirl is offline
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Default Although a relatively new Villager,

I sense adequate care, not necessarily excellent care. I researched heavily for an internist, and met with her last week for the first time. I found her
to be all I had hoped for and more, but what seems illusive is what will happen if... if I need more than a fabulous internist?

I was fortunate to work for over 20 years at Mount Sinai Medical Center on Miami Beach in administration. As I look back at my years there and concurrently their growth as a major medical center, I so wish the Morse
and Schwartz family had looked to an affiliation with them...a partnership if you will...to provide a Center for Eexcellence for the Aging here. Between
technology, computerization, and avionics - the ability to recieve the care quickly, the skills and techniques of a teaching hospital, and evening my odds
of quality care in the third, third of my life is of more importance now than I ever would have thought.

The medical machinery, so to speak, which these large not for profit hospitals must acquire to keep up with or use with research is not something most community or even regional for profit hospitals can afford. I have seen that close up and personal. A medical center like Mount Sinai could have a presence here, if asked. But, it would take asking and the mix of for and not for profit policies and procedures. What a bold and striking move to look at over 80,000 (and growing) elderly with the opportunity for affordable, qualitative, and outstanding resources.

This is the only area in which I see The Villages as a planned urban development having missed the mark. On the other hand, the standard of care practices required of these medical center facilities might not mesh with current staff of the hospital here, therein lies the rub. A non certified Board physician might not be allowed to practice in the scenario I outlined, and therein lies the rub for some of our physicians here. I only know I was
fortunate to be a part of a large team of the best physicians and medical experts I've ever known, and it is worrisome to me, if needed, to try and get that care here. But, I'm going to try.
  #32  
Old 10-25-2011, 12:24 PM
ilovetv ilovetv is offline
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Originally Posted by Doodlegirl View Post
I sense adequate care, not necessarily excellent care. I researched heavily for an internist, and met with her last week for the first time. I found her to be all I had hoped for and more, but what seems illusive is what will happen if... if I need more than a fabulous internist?

I was fortunate to work for over 20 years at Mount Sinai Medical Center on Miami Beach in administration. As I look back at my years there and concurrently their growth as a major medical center, I so wish the Morse
and Schwartz family had looked to an affiliation with them...a partnership if you will...to provide a Center for Eexcellence for the Aging here.
........
.....A medical center like Mount Sinai could have a presence here, if asked. But, it would take asking and the mix of for and not for profit policies and procedures. What a bold and striking move to look at over 80,000 (and growing) elderly with the opportunity for affordable, qualitative, and outstanding resources.

This is the only area in which I see The Villages as a planned urban development having missed the mark. On the other hand, the standard of care practices required of these medical center facilities might not mesh with current staff of the hospital here, therein lies the rub. A non certified Board physician might not be allowed to practice in the scenario I outlined, and therein lies the rub for some of our physicians here. I only know I was
fortunate to be a part of a large team of the best physicians and medical experts I've ever known, and it is worrisome to me, if needed, to try and get that care here. But, I'm going to try.
What you're talking about is why the affiliation with USF and the health study was formed, and why Moffitt Comprehensive Cancer Center has come here.
http://villages.health.usf.edu/

As for possibly needing a "more fabulous" internist, that is affected a lot now by the fact that hospitalists are used in more and more hospitals, and they do the in-hospital care. We have seen some of the most excellent, experienced and wise internists quit doing private practice and take a hospitalist position because they are fed up with the headaches of running a practice and trying to make ends meet. Even with a "more fabulous" internist, the hospitalist may or may not be fabulous and skilled and wise.

In the end, we're always ready to seek another opinion in Gainesville, Tampa, Orlando, Miami, or wherever.
  #33  
Old 10-25-2011, 12:36 PM
JenAjd JenAjd is offline
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Talk to everyone you meet and also go online and google the doctor's name. I would have to say I've been VERY fortunate since we moved here. EVEN got a diagnosis of a chronic illness that was missed "up north" and got put on treatment immediately. TOTV is a good resource (if you ignore the pessimists and chronically negative folks) for making good assessments on where to find a good practioner. We ALL need to be our own advocates in health-care and that transcends down to our appointment/visits. Ask questions and dig deeper with them. Remember it's a doctor's "practice"---they aren't gods nor do they know EVERYTHING!!

I have been a patient in The Villages Hospital and the over-all care was excellant (was there for 5 days)...coming through from the ER and on to surgery later. I can say there were maybe with emphasis on "maybe" two practioners I wouldn't want to see again out of many! So as someone else said on this thread---you'll find "so-so" folks in every "basket" and you need to be the one to assess!! My thinking is that when TV was smaller and before there even was a hospital---that you wouldn't have the care here you have been used to, but as the area grows we will get some health=care here that will be great!!!
  #34  
Old 10-29-2011, 08:19 AM
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Speaking of medical care; my son, who is currently in paramedic school and employed by Marion County Fire Rescue, told me those new Sumter county EMS transport trucks (blue & yellows), only carry a "jump bag." They carry virtually no EMS supplies on board.

I think it's about time the Villages Fire Dept. handles their own transport to hospitals. That's where the money is made for fire depts.

If I go down with a heart attack, I hope it's not in Sumter county.
See post entitled "Sumter County EMS" under Gen. Discussion
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  #35  
Old 10-29-2011, 02:17 PM
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Default I was very worried about medical care here

I came from a town with a very well thought of medical college. The presence of Univ. of Cinti med school increased the excellence of medical care across the board in that area. I came here and tried several physicians before I settled on Joan DeRiggs, PAC. She is a Physicians assistant in with Dr. Azzizulah. I am very pleased with her care, she is very knowledgeable and thorough. When I need to see an MD I see Dr. "Winn" (pronunciation correct, spelling not correct.)

I saw Stephen Bookbinder, a rheumatologist in Ocala who was not terribly personable and changed to Dr. Miguel Gonzales in TV and Leesburg. Dr. Choudry is a neurologist with whom I was very pleased. I switched cardiologist to Dr. Georg Couterier in Spanish Springs. I am pleased with him as well.
We go to Serenity Dental Spa in SS and are happy with them.
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  #36  
Old 10-29-2011, 02:49 PM
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I came from a town with a very well thought of medical college. The presence of Univ. of Cinti med school increased the excellence of medical care across the board in that area. I came here and tried several physicians before I settled on Joan DeRiggs, PAC. She is a Physicians assistant in with Dr. Azzizulah. I am very pleased with her care, she is very knowledgeable and thorough. When I need to see an MD I see Dr. "Winn" (pronunciation correct, spelling not correct.)

I saw Stephen Bookbinder, a rheumatologist in Ocala who was not terribly personable and changed to Dr. Miguel Gonzales in TV and Leesburg. Dr. Choudry is a neurologist with whom I was very pleased. I switched cardiologist to Dr. Georg Couterier in Spanish Springs. I am pleased with him as well.
We go to Serenity Dental Spa in SS and are happy with them.
I am glad that you had a good experience with Dr. Choudry. I saw him just once and found him to be condescending and rude. He didn't like the fact that I questioned him as to why I needed a very expensive medication that he wanted to prescribe. He got angry when I questioned him as to why he was insisting I go see another specialist at Celebration Hospital. I was just supposed to listen to his recommendations, not say a word and not ask any questions. I don't operate that way when it comes to most areas of my life so, needless to say, I didn't go back. His communication bordered on abuse and no patient should have to put up with that from anyone. I was referred to him for two issues and both resolved themselves on their own and through other holistic measures. He MAY be a good neurologist but he was not the right one for me.
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Old 10-29-2011, 03:58 PM
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I moved here from Minneapolis in 2006. I found a good dentist via a referral from a family meneber. However I have gone through two primary care docs. My preference is to be with docs associated with the Munro system. I presently use my cardiologist as my primary and attempting to find a primary associated with Munro. Unfortunately I have had to be hospitalized twice since arriving and found Munro staff to be professional, friendly ,etc. My brother also had two serious operations both at Munro and I was so impressed with the staff.

A number of my neighbors have also found dificulty in locating a primary but I think it has to do with shortages of primary doctors around the country.
  #38  
Old 12-11-2011, 09:21 AM
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I have over 35 years of health care experience. The quality of care at The Villages is about average. It approximates the quality in smaller communities. It is good for bread and butter issues, but travel to a university medical center for anything out of the ordinary.
I agree. As a retired physician who has worked in private practice and in academics, most of the primary care physicians in this area have training in either foreign programs or midlevel US programs. Many villagers are used to high quality primary care in Minnesota, Chicago, Boston, NY, Philadelphia, etc. We have a large number of well educated, sophisticated retirees who miss the good primary care they received "back home." Wouldn't it be great if we as villagers can get internists from USF, Mayo, or UF here, just as we have a branch of the Moffitt Cancer Center? Just a thought, what do others think?
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Old 12-11-2011, 10:20 AM
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I agree. As a retired physician who has worked in private practice and in academics, most of the primary care physicians in this area have training in either foreign programs or midlevel US programs. Many villagers are used to high quality primary care in Minnesota, Chicago, Boston, NY, Philadelphia, etc. We have a large number of well educated, sophisticated retirees who miss the good primary care they received "back home." Wouldn't it be great if we as villagers can get internists from USF, Mayo, or UF here, just as we have a branch of the Moffitt Cancer Center? Just a thought, what do others think?
You are so right about the backgrounds of most of the physicians here.

Getting excellent care for us seniors is a selling job and one that requires a LOT of expertise in starting a teaching medical facility...and good teaching medical facilities take decades to evolve. Seems that those with the research funds would be interested in an excellent geriatric facility...if the medicare funds don't dry up.

Follow the money.

(You forgot to mention Cincinnati.)
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  #40  
Old 12-11-2011, 03:14 PM
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As a retired physician ........

Just a thought, what do others think?
You'll just have to come out of retirement, Doc.......

Fat chance, huh ?
  #41  
Old 12-11-2011, 03:41 PM
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Doodle girl,
We are moving to TV from Miami and my son and daughter-in-law are physicians in Baltimore so we, too, have some reservations about the physicians we have researched. Would you share the internist you found and are pleased with?
  #42  
Old 12-11-2011, 04:17 PM
ilovetv ilovetv is offline
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I agree. As a retired physician who has worked in private practice and in academics, most of the primary care physicians in this area have training in either foreign programs or midlevel US programs. Many villagers are used to high quality primary care in Minnesota, Chicago, Boston, NY, Philadelphia, etc. We have a large number of well educated, sophisticated retirees who miss the good primary care they received "back home." Wouldn't it be great if we as villagers can get internists from USF, Mayo, or UF here, just as we have a branch of the Moffitt Cancer Center? Just a thought, what do others think?
I would be careful about labeling or ruling out foreign physicians. Foreign medical school graduates must do a residency here in the U.S. before being able to practice. The major teaching centers around the country, like MN, NY, MA, IL, etc. train thousands of residents who came from a foreign country or med school.

I always look up physicians in the state medical licensure board, and look not just at where they graduated from medical school, but more importantly, where they did their residency and possibly a fellowship in a subspecialty.

If you look at this listing of how/where new graduate, resident doctors were matched up to their choice of facility with the facilities' choice of applicants, starting on Page 37 you can see the listings of programs by state, and how many positions they offer and fill in each specialty.....it's interesting and informative.

http://www.nrmp.org/data/resultsanddata2011.pdf

Last edited by ilovetv; 12-11-2011 at 04:18 PM. Reason: sp
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