[TVChick]

I brought my mom to an appt. with Dr. Evalle today, a geriatrics specialist here in The Villages. We arrived a 1/2 an hour early so the office could log her info into the computer. We waited an hour before the Dr. came into the waiting room. He flat out refused to take my mom as a patient because he said he doesn't treat those with moderate alzheimers - only elderly with mild stages of the disease! He informed me that we would not be charged for the appt. and said my mom did "look good". She has Medicare and United Health as her supplimentary insurance so payment wasn't an issue. He's a medicare approved Dr. located at 3351 Wedgewood Lane. Needless to say, I left the office shocked and appauled. Thinking of bringing an elderly loved-one to a geriatrics specialist who doesn't want to treat someone with memory issues? Think again and do your research very carefully!

[NotGolfer]

I'm sooo sorry to hear this about your experience with this guy!! You would think the office person would screen a prospective patient on the phone when you are making the appointment! Asking the key questions would save THEM time along with yours! On our end too...us, asking questions when we call them may help as well. Good luck in finding someone who will treat your mom!!!

[scroll]

how sad. i hope things work out well for your mother. i hope this was not an insurance liability issue.

[borjo]

I don't know the doctor but in playing devils advocate for a minute, he may have thought she'd be better off with a neurologist.

[MildredinTheVillages]

I am so sorry to hear about your office visit. That is awful. Your poor mother. I recently saw a doctor in TV. His name is Dr. Mason. He works with memory patients. I had a 20 minute memory screening done and did not get any real answers. My pcp advised I make an appointment with Dr. Mason's office. I did a 3 hour test. I feel much better now that I have REAL results.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by borjo

I don't know the doctor but in playing devils advocate for a minute, he may have thought she'd be better off with a neurologist.

That is what I thought too. There are specialists and there are specialists but most doctors would have a person diagnosed with moderate Alzheimers see a neurologist, a specialist in the central nervous system. I would worry if they didn't direct a patient on under those circumstances.

I wasn't there. I don't know. Hope you find the right doctor for your mother and you.

[MildredinTheVillages]

My neurologist is Dr. Smirnoff. I have been very happy with him. He is also in TV.

[784caroline]

WE have been going to Dr Evalle for the past 4 years and all I can tell you is that he is very thorough in his testing and physical exams, and has a good network of specialists that he makes referrals to.

HOpefully the incident described by the OP was an isolated case and it sounds to be a case that requires fairly specialized care...that of a neurologist.

If I know Dr Evalle he most likely would suggest a suitable Dr that would handle your moms particular situation.....and Dr Smirnoff would be a good start.

[blueash]

Dr. Evalle is according the state of Florida's medical license website a board certified physician in both Internal Medicine and Geriatrics. It would be my expectation that a geriatric specialist, of all the primary care doctors available would be the most comfortable helping to manage diseases which manifest in the elderly. If it is his policy to accept "mild" Alzheimer's patients, but not "moderate" then 1. His receptionist should screen for that prior to making an appointment. 2. I would wonder what he does when his mild patient inevitably progresses to the moderate stage.

There is a lot of training which Dr. Evalle must have obtained that should make him especially comfortable and competant in managing and as needed referring the elderly patient. He certainly is allowed to set whatever criteria he wishes in accepting or declining a patient. He may choose not to accept Alzheimer patients not because he cannot treat them well, but because the time demands of management and the uncompensated time of dealing with agencies and family members is a severe economic drain to his practice. And of course he could always accept the patient but refer the Alzheimer care to a sub-specialist.

I will say, I do applaud the policy of not charging you, or I assume, the insurance company for the visit (not just waive the copay or coinsurance)

[swrinfla]

I'm hoping that at least some of you attended one of the two lectures today at Savannah Center [1:30 pm and 3:00 pm] given by Dr. Joseph Hildner.

He, in conjunction with The Villages and its partnership with USF [University of South Florida] will be establishing The Villages Health. This will introduce facilities across The Villages [the first will be in the Colony Plaza area later this year] wherein Primary Care Physicians will take personal care of all of us!

I know: this thread began with a plea for help involving a different level of expertise than a Primary Care Physician. But, the need for communication between doctor and patient remains paramount, regardless of the medical issue involved!

Those of you who are relatively new to both TV and TOTV may be unaware of what I think are exciting advancements in communications between the patient and his/her medical provider, all of which have been instigated by The Villages' coordination with USF.

SWR

[hulahips]

I have to say I was a patient of this Dr. however no longer choose to be. I left his practice about a year ago for another reason.

[Villages PL]

For anyone who's thinking of taking a parent or spouse to a neurologist, it might help to know that there are neurologists that specialize in dementia.

[Linda W.]

Is Dr Evalle in private practice? Does he have partners? It is hard for me to understand why a doctor would want to limit his clientele, unless he just does not want to be bothered by certain "issues," or he just wnats to cherry pick his patients. Seems to me you are lucky to be able to eliminate someone who discrimites against those with a health problem that is so prevalent in the geriatric community.

[784caroline]

Dr Evalle is Board Certified and specializes in Internal and Geriatric medicine but not alzheimers or dementia. There are specialists that deal directly with these issues just as if you came to him with a heart condition he would send you to a heart doctor. He runs a private practice and has no partners. He is not "Cherry Picking" what he wants to do, he is doing what he does best.

Its always frustrating trying to find new medical professionals at any age.. it is only made more difficult when we are dealing with a specific illness that requires specialized care and we personaly are not familiar with all the isssues or types of care available.

If you read Wikipedia, there are many types of subspecialities of geriatric medicine..to include alzheimers and dementia. Geriatrics - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[LittleDog]

I've been a patient of Dr. Evalle for 7 years and found him excellent. He has sent me to an endocrinologist for an enlarged prostate, a heart doctor for when he found a heart murmur and a urologist because of a higher psa. His recommendations of these specialists have been excellent. He is very thorough and is easy to talk to. I can readily vouch for Dr. Evalle.

John