[dbussone]

Originally Posted by nana13

I will not go back to the ER at TVRH. My experience was a nightmare, however I will say my son came to visit and had a heart attack while he was here visiting,(he has a history of heart problems) When we arrived at the ER I told them he had a history of heart problems and thought he might be having a heart attack, he was immediately admitted, and sent upstairs and within hours had two stints put in. He is a Vet. and we did not have time to take him to Gainsville. He received very good care, however, a year later I was in the same place,(for different reason) and my experience turned into a nightmare, not to speak of all the roaches that were in the room, plus old syringes under the bed. I will not go any further, but will go to Ocala from now on.

Villagers (and others who use a hospital here) - there is never any excuse for a dirty area or room in a hospital. Absolutely no excuse. I encourage you to report these conditions to the nurse manager, nursing director, or ceo - someone in authority. No decent hospital executive wants to have conditions like that in their facility. If you don't get satisfaction, please report the condition you noted to the FL State Department of Health. They will see that the issue is resolved. And if you or one of your visitors has a smart phone, take pictures so you can visually demonstrate what you experienced.

Hospitals are dangerous enough places because of germs and other seen and unseen dangers. Don't tolerate filthy conditions or subject yourself to them. I worked in healthcare for about 40 years. I won't put up with filth and neither should you.

[57ChevyFI]

Originally Posted by Aloha1

Tuesday night, 5/17. Serious rain storm. Managed to break a toe at 7PM by banging it into a table leg at the Townplace Suites at Spanish Springs. Toe was at a 90 degree angle ( not good) and immediately went to TVRH Emergency. Sat there for over an hour before someone came to take me to X-ray. After X-ray, waited another hour before the attending Physician came in. After determining that I was from out of state , she did not even bother to try and reset the bones but simply put a very loose wrap around the toe and said "go see your Dr. when you get home". My Orthopedic appointment at 40 hours after the injury was basically "WTF? They didn't even reset the bones??". We are now contacting Morgan & Morgan.

The bottom line is The Villages uses the proximity of health care as a selling point. The "family" needs to do a serious review of that issue and use their influence to fix this before people die due to incompetence. For the record, my wife is a retired medical professional, my son is a primary care physician and my daughter is a well trained Emergency Department physician.I was on staff at the American College of Emergency Physicians. None of the personnel we encountered at TVRH ER would have been hired or maintained on job at a serious hospital.

One more thing, I was the only person in the waiting room.

Let me get this straight--you went to an EMERGENCY ROOM for a broken toe? I'm sorry it happened, but Broken TOE? You waited ONE HOUR for an X-ray? Then another HOUR for a doctor to come in?

Let me assure you this: The average wait time for ANY emergency is actually longer- you could do your research for that as well to verify. Since you have been on staff for the American College of Emergency Physicians and have a well rounded medical family-you should be aware that you were in fact NOT A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Unless you are on a blood thinner and your TOE is cut off or blue numb tip of toe--it is NOT an emergency for your toe to be deformed due to trauma. I am sure to you the deformity alone was alarming-but while your neighboring Villager was having a stroke, heart attack or inability to breathe without life saving interventions, your X-RAY is LAST on the list in the line waiting. You are a ESI-LEVEL 4. See example below how Emergency Room's triage on ESI LEVEL.

"From a clinical standpoint, ESI level 4 and 5 patients are stable and can wait several hours to be seen by a provider. However, from a customer service standpoint, these patients are perhaps better served in a fast-track or urgent care area. Mid-level practitioners with the appropriate skills mix and supervision could care for level-4 and level-5 patients. With ESI, level-5 patients can sometimes be "worked in" for a quick exam and disposition by the provider, even if the department is at capacity. Often triage policies clearly state ESI level-4 or -5 patients can be triaged to an urgent care or fast-track area. "
Site: Chapter 4. ESI Levels 3-5 and Expected Resource Needs | Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality

I certainly hope that you discussed why the doctor did not attempt to reset your toe before you left the ER. No patient is ever denied care by law and if you believe your care was negligent, certainly you have a right to pursue and have a hearing for your case. I find it comical that you believe that once the doctor found out you were from out of state, she did not attempt to reset your toe on that sole fact you were not a resident. You think the doctor is what--anti- SNOW BIRD? Really? How many out of state patients do you think go through the hospital? The doctor was probably not even a resident here either for goodness sake.

I think your comment about people dying for being incompetent and the "family" needs to step in- is extreme for someone upset their toe wasn't reset by an emergency room physician and waited two hours for treatment. Why did it take so long to get an orthopedic appointment, if it was still an EMERGENCY to get set in place, why are you not considering suing the Orthopedic MD too-because they neglected to take you first thing Wednesday AM when they opened.

For those who will drive 30 minutes for shorter ER times, consider waiting on talking to your own physician since you are obviously not having an emergency-if you have time to drive that far safely. Most doctors have on-call service and someone will call you back after hours and can give advice on what to do before you go searching for an emergency room with shorter wait times. If you are having a true emergency remember dial 9-1-1 and help will assist you the fastest.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by 57ChevyFI

Let me get this straight--you went to an EMERGENCY ROOM for a broken toe? I'm sorry it happened, but Broken TOE? You waited ONE HOUR for an X-ray? Then another HOUR for a doctor to come in?

Let me assure you this: The average wait time for ANY emergency is actually longer- you could do your research for that as well to verify. Since you have been on staff for the American College of Emergency Physicians and have a well rounded medical family-you should be aware that you were in fact NOT A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Unless you are on a blood thinner and your TOE is cut off or blue numb tip of toe--it is NOT an emergency for your toe to be deformed due to trauma. I am sure to you the deformity alone was alarming-but while your neighboring Villager was having a stroke, heart attack or inability to breathe without life saving interventions, your X-RAY is LAST on the list in the line waiting. You are a ESI-LEVEL 4. See example below how Emergency Room's triage on ESI LEVEL.

"From a clinical standpoint, ESI level 4 and 5 patients are stable and can wait several hours to be seen by a provider. However, from a customer service standpoint, these patients are perhaps better served in a fast-track or urgent care area. Mid-level practitioners with the appropriate skills mix and supervision could care for level-4 and level-5 patients. With ESI, level-5 patients can sometimes be "worked in" for a quick exam and disposition by the provider, even if the department is at capacity. Often triage policies clearly state ESI level-4 or -5 patients can be triaged to an urgent care or fast-track area. "
Site: Chapter 4. ESI Levels 3-5 and Expected Resource Needs | Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality

I certainly hope that you discussed why the doctor did not attempt to reset your toe before you left the ER. No patient is ever denied care by law and if you believe your care was negligent, certainly you have a right to pursue and have a hearing for your case. I find it comical that you believe that once the doctor found out you were from out of state, she did not attempt to reset your toe on that sole fact you were not a resident. You think the doctor is what--anti- SNOW BIRD? Really? How many out of state patients do you think go through the hospital? The doctor was probably not even a resident here either for goodness sake.

I think your comment about people dying for being incompetent and the "family" needs to step in- is extreme for someone upset their toe wasn't reset by an emergency room physician and waited two hours for treatment. Why did it take so long to get an orthopedic appointment, if it was still an EMERGENCY to get set in place, why are you not considering suing the Orthopedic MD too-because they neglected to take you first thing Wednesday AM when they opened.

For those who will drive 30 minutes for shorter ER times, consider waiting on talking to your own physician since you are obviously not having an emergency-if you have time to drive that far safely. Most doctors have on-call service and someone will call you back after hours and can give advice on what to do before you go searching for an emergency room with shorter wait times. If you are having a true emergency remember dial 9-1-1 and help will assist you the fastest.

Please read this above and read it again, then read it one more time...not everyone. Just the people who need to read it and won't read it and think it is for them.


I have had several broken toes and never sought medical help. AND I have been to the Villages Hospital several times to visit and to take our grandson for an Asthma attack and I am skeptical about dirt and roaches. I have never seen anything like dirt and roaches. I just can't sit here and not say something. I wish we had finer doctors here and a truly wonderful geriatric teaching hospital and there are practices I am not liking...it seems that getting a gall bladder surgery can keep you in a hospital too long and makes me wonder whether they are trying to make more money. There are levels in hospitals and this isn't Boston Childrens or Sloan Kettering or the Cleveland Clinic. The hospital was built by the developer but the hospital isn't run by the developer. He gets rent, that is it and you can't make great hospitals happen anymore than you can make Costco move here.

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by 57ChevyFI

Let me get this straight--you went to an EMERGENCY ROOM for a broken toe? I'm sorry it happened, but Broken TOE? You waited ONE HOUR for an X-ray? Then another HOUR for a doctor to come in?



Let me assure you this: The average wait time for ANY emergency is actually longer- you could do your research for that as well to verify. Since you have been on staff for the American College of Emergency Physicians and have a well rounded medical family-you should be aware that you were in fact NOT A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.



Unless you are on a blood thinner and your TOE is cut off or blue numb tip of toe--it is NOT an emergency for your toe to be deformed due to trauma. I am sure to you the deformity alone was alarming-but while your neighboring Villager was having a stroke, heart attack or inability to breathe without life saving interventions, your X-RAY is LAST on the list in the line waiting. You are a ESI-LEVEL 4. See example below how Emergency Room's triage on ESI LEVEL.



"From a clinical standpoint, ESI level 4 and 5 patients are stable and can wait several hours to be seen by a provider. However, from a customer service standpoint, these patients are perhaps better served in a fast-track or urgent care area. Mid-level practitioners with the appropriate skills mix and supervision could care for level-4 and level-5 patients. With ESI, level-5 patients can sometimes be "worked in" for a quick exam and disposition by the provider, even if the department is at capacity. Often triage policies clearly state ESI level-4 or -5 patients can be triaged to an urgent care or fast-track area. "

Site: Chapter 4. ESI Levels 3-5 and Expected Resource Needs | Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality



I certainly hope that you discussed why the doctor did not attempt to reset your toe before you left the ER. No patient is ever denied care by law and if you believe your care was negligent, certainly you have a right to pursue and have a hearing for your case. I find it comical that you believe that once the doctor found out you were from out of state, she did not attempt to reset your toe on that sole fact you were not a resident. You think the doctor is what--anti- SNOW BIRD? Really? How many out of state patients do you think go through the hospital? The doctor was probably not even a resident here either for goodness sake.



I think your comment about people dying for being incompetent and the "family" needs to step in- is extreme for someone upset their toe wasn't reset by an emergency room physician and waited two hours for treatment. Why did it take so long to get an orthopedic appointment, if it was still an EMERGENCY to get set in place, why are you not considering suing the Orthopedic MD too-because they neglected to take you first thing Wednesday AM when they opened.



For those who will drive 30 minutes for shorter ER times, consider waiting on talking to your own physician since you are obviously not having an emergency-if you have time to drive that far safely. Most doctors have on-call service and someone will call you back after hours and can give advice on what to do before you go searching for an emergency room with shorter wait times. If you are having a true emergency remember dial 9-1-1 and help will assist you the fastest.

Your post is very good, and largely accurate. However, there is one point I would like to correct. A patient MAY legally be denied care by an ER. Only a truly emergent patient MUST be provided care (or a woman in active labor). If, upon a brief evaluation by a trained medical professional (doctor or nurse) during triage, a patient is determined to have a non-emergent condition, the patient may be referred to a lesser level of care.

Most hospitals, as a practical matter, shy away from turning patients away because of public relations. But it is legal to do so. In some communities it is done as a matter of practice due to excessive ER volume, and in order to keep an ER open to true emergency patients. How do I know this - I paid $$$$$ for excellent attorneys to render an opinion and develop the policy/procedure for this. Then I submitted them to CMS for review - CMS agreed they were consistent with the law.

[Aloha1]

Originally Posted by 57ChevyFI

Let me get this straight--you went to an EMERGENCY ROOM for a broken toe? I'm sorry it happened, but Broken TOE? You waited ONE HOUR for an X-ray? Then another HOUR for a doctor to come in?

Let me assure you this: The average wait time for ANY emergency is actually longer- you could do your research for that as well to verify. Since you have been on staff for the American College of Emergency Physicians and have a well rounded medical family-you should be aware that you were in fact NOT A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Unless you are on a blood thinner and your TOE is cut off or blue numb tip of toe--it is NOT an emergency for your toe to be deformed due to trauma. I am sure to you the deformity alone was alarming-but while your neighboring Villager was having a stroke, heart attack or inability to breathe without life saving interventions, your X-RAY is LAST on the list in the line waiting. You are a ESI-LEVEL 4. See example below how Emergency Room's triage on ESI LEVEL.

"From a clinical standpoint, ESI level 4 and 5 patients are stable and can wait several hours to be seen by a provider. However, from a customer service standpoint, these patients are perhaps better served in a fast-track or urgent care area. Mid-level practitioners with the appropriate skills mix and supervision could care for level-4 and level-5 patients. With ESI, level-5 patients can sometimes be "worked in" for a quick exam and disposition by the provider, even if the department is at capacity. Often triage policies clearly state ESI level-4 or -5 patients can be triaged to an urgent care or fast-track area. "
Site: Chapter 4. ESI Levels 3-5 and Expected Resource Needs | Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality

I certainly hope that you discussed why the doctor did not attempt to reset your toe before you left the ER. No patient is ever denied care by law and if you believe your care was negligent, certainly you have a right to pursue and have a hearing for your case. I find it comical that you believe that once the doctor found out you were from out of state, she did not attempt to reset your toe on that sole fact you were not a resident. You think the doctor is what--anti- SNOW BIRD? Really? How many out of state patients do you think go through the hospital? The doctor was probably not even a resident here either for goodness sake.

I think your comment about people dying for being incompetent and the "family" needs to step in- is extreme for someone upset their toe wasn't reset by an emergency room physician and waited two hours for treatment. Why did it take so long to get an orthopedic appointment, if it was still an EMERGENCY to get set in place, why are you not considering suing the Orthopedic MD too-because they neglected to take you first thing Wednesday AM when they opened.

For those who will drive 30 minutes for shorter ER times, consider waiting on talking to your own physician since you are obviously not having an emergency-if you have time to drive that far safely. Most doctors have on-call service and someone will call you back after hours and can give advice on what to do before you go searching for an emergency room with shorter wait times. If you are having a true emergency remember dial 9-1-1 and help will assist you the fastest.

Perhaps you did not read my original post carefully enough. We were visiting and staying at Townplace Suites. Being unfamiliar with the area, we were directed to TVRH by the hotel staff as it is less than 5 minutes from that hotel. It was 7 PM and every other office was closed. The toe was at a 90 degree angle from normal which on whatever reference you wish to use requires immediate medical attention. Upon arriving at TVRH, I went to the Urgent Care section to the right. They took one look at the toe and directed me to Emergency. I was the only person in the waiting room and there was only one other person currently being seen by a physician. And FYI, I clearly understand the Triage system and I also understand that that comes into play when you do have multiple incidents requiring such triage. This was not the case last Tuesday night.

We were leaving TV Wednesday morning and did not arrive back home until after 5PM. I was in contact with my Primary first thing that morning and got in to an Orthopod first thing Thursday morning to have the fracture properly reduced and set.

My beef was and is that the Attending never bothered to set the bone but instead simply buddy taped it despite having the necessary x-rays to accomplish that. It seemed that once they ascertained that we were from out of state, that was the end of it as far as they were concerned. And it was immediately after I said we were flying out the next morning that all that was done was to buddy tape the toe without setting it. That's a fact. Perhaps I should have argued more about it but pain has a way of blocking clear thought at times.

You can make of this what you will but I stand by my concerns. I will add that the Radiology Tech was very professional and knew her business, the waiting area was clean and the reception staff friendly.

[RedChariot]

Originally Posted by Aloha1

Perhaps you did not read my original post carefully enough. We were visiting and staying at Townplace Suites. Being unfamiliar with the area, we were directed to TVRH by the hotel staff as it is less than 5 minutes from that hotel. It was 7 PM and every other office was closed. The toe was at a 90 degree angle from normal which on whatever reference you wish to use requires immediate medical attention. Upon arriving at TVRH, I went to the Urgent Care section to the right. They took one look at the toe and directed me to Emergency. I was the only person in the waiting room and there was only one other person currently being seen by a physician. And FYI, I clearly understand the Triage system and I also understand that that comes into play when you do have multiple incidents requiring such triage. This was not the case last Tuesday night.



We were leaving TV Wednesday morning and did not arrive back home until after 5PM. I was in contact with my Primary first thing that morning and got in to an Orthopod first thing Thursday morning to have the fracture properly reduced and set.




My beef was and is that the Attending never bothered to set the bone but instead simply buddy taped it despite having the necessary x-rays to accomplish that. It seemed that once they ascertained that we were from out of state, that was the end of it as far as they were concerned. And it was immediately after I said we were flying out the next morning that all that was done was to buddy tape the toe without setting it. That's a fact. Perhaps I should have argued more about it but pain has a way of blocking clear thought at times.

You can make of this what you will but I stand by my concerns. I will add that the Radiology Tech was very professional and knew her business, the waiting area was clean and the reception staff friendly.

Not to burst your bubble sweetie, but buddy taping a broken toe is the standard treatment for a broken toe. Walked into a wall in the middle of the night. Toe next to the great toe was at a 90° angle. As a retired RN I know this is not an emergency. I went to bed and saw the podiatrist in the morning. He buddy taped the toe to the next toe. That is the only treatment done for a FX toe.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by 57ChevyFI

Let me get this straight--you went to an EMERGENCY ROOM for a broken toe? I'm sorry it happened, but Broken TOE? You waited ONE HOUR for an X-ray? Then another HOUR for a doctor to come in?

Let me assure you this: The average wait time for ANY emergency is actually longer- you could do your research for that as well to verify. Since you have been on staff for the American College of Emergency Physicians and have a well rounded medical family-you should be aware that you were in fact NOT A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Unless you are on a blood thinner and your TOE is cut off or blue numb tip of toe--it is NOT an emergency for your toe to be deformed due to trauma. I am sure to you the deformity alone was alarming-but while your neighboring Villager was having a stroke, heart attack or inability to breathe without life saving interventions, your X-RAY is LAST on the list in the line waiting. You are a ESI-LEVEL 4. See example below how Emergency Room's triage on ESI LEVEL.

"From a clinical standpoint, ESI level 4 and 5 patients are stable and can wait several hours to be seen by a provider. However, from a customer service standpoint, these patients are perhaps better served in a fast-track or urgent care area. Mid-level practitioners with the appropriate skills mix and supervision could care for level-4 and level-5 patients. With ESI, level-5 patients can sometimes be "worked in" for a quick exam and disposition by the provider, even if the department is at capacity. Often triage policies clearly state ESI level-4 or -5 patients can be triaged to an urgent care or fast-track area. "
Site: Chapter 4. ESI Levels 3-5 and Expected Resource Needs | Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality

I certainly hope that you discussed why the doctor did not attempt to reset your toe before you left the ER. No patient is ever denied care by law and if you believe your care was negligent, certainly you have a right to pursue and have a hearing for your case. I find it comical that you believe that once the doctor found out you were from out of state, she did not attempt to reset your toe on that sole fact you were not a resident. You think the doctor is what--anti- SNOW BIRD? Really? How many out of state patients do you think go through the hospital? The doctor was probably not even a resident here either for goodness sake.

I think your comment about people dying for being incompetent and the "family" needs to step in- is extreme for someone upset their toe wasn't reset by an emergency room physician and waited two hours for treatment. Why did it take so long to get an orthopedic appointment, if it was still an EMERGENCY to get set in place, why are you not considering suing the Orthopedic MD too-because they neglected to take you first thing Wednesday AM when they opened.

For those who will drive 30 minutes for shorter ER times, consider waiting on talking to your own physician since you are obviously not having an emergency-if you have time to drive that far safely. Most doctors have on-call service and someone will call you back after hours and can give advice on what to do before you go searching for an emergency room with shorter wait times. If you are having a true emergency remember dial 9-1-1 and help will assist you the fastest.

Good post!

I've only used TV Emerg once. I was assessed by Triage and seen in an appropriate amount of time.
Aloha said he/she was the only person in the waiting room. Possibly the doctors were working on an emergency patient that was previously admitted; someone very ill suffering a heart attack or stroke.
Could The Villages Hospital be improved? No doubt. However I personally believe that the Triage System works.

[Aloha1]

Originally Posted by RedChariot

Not to burst your bubble sweetie, but buddy taping a broken toe is the standard treatment for a broken toe. Walked into a wall in the middle of the night. Toe next to the great toe was at a 90° angle. As a retired RN I know this is not an emergency. I went to bed and saw the podiatrist in the morning. He buddy taped the toe to the next toe. That is the only treatment done for a FX toe.

So you are saying you NEVER reduced the fracture?? You let the two separate bone fragments remain that way?? Good way to end up with a compound situation. Buddy taping IS the standard course of treatment HOWEVER in the presence of a fracture ( break) it is done after the fracture has been reduced.

[Aloha1]

Look, folks, I am not the originator of this thread. I simply posted MY experience. I have tried to be as factual as possible in my restatement of the events. I certainly did not expect to arouse the ire of those who felt the dominant paradigm had been impugned. I feel my post at #95 on this thread most clearly explains the circumstances. Bottom line, no one else on this Forum was there but me. Only I have the X-rays that show the severe nature of the fracture - borderline compound. Only I have the face to face contacts with both the Attending at TVRH and my Orthopod back home. You can debate all you want about TVRH's decision to take me to the ER, but that does not diminish the fact that it was their call. So, while I hobble on crutches for the next 4-6 weeks, I'll still keep a positive attitude that most Villagers are not so quick to rush to judgement. Everyone please have a nice day and remember, life is too short to get into pi**ing matches. Aloha

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Aloha1

Everyone please have a nice day and remember, life is too short to get into pi**ing matches.

No pi$$ing contests on TOTV. Just other posters stating their opinions and experiences.

[Aloha1]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

No pi$$ing contests on TOTV. Just other posters stating their opinions and experiences.

Well, sorry, but that's what it feels like, dare I say, a personal attack on my experience. Not a good feeling. And I just broke my last post by replying so, that's it. Be well

[dotti105]

I haven't bothered to read the previous heated posts. But I will tell you about my only experience with TVRH ER.

We recently moved my 91 yr old Mother to Buffalo Crossings from her home Clearwater Beach. 5 days after she moved in, her morning CNA came in to give her morning meds and wake her up for the day. She found her on the floor bleeding from a large gash on her lower right leg. Apparently she tripped and fell over her walker. She was supposed to have a pendant on which she could use to call for help. She had left it across the room on her dresser. No one knows how long she was on the floor.

She does not have a diagnoses of alzheimers or dementia (although she is often quite confused) therefore the EMS took her to the ER not knowing if she had a concussion. I was called and rushed to the ER to meet her.

Her total time in the ER on a Tuesday morning in July was 1 hr 30 minutes. She required 8 sutures to close a really ugly gash. Her provider was a NP who was great! My dad was an MD and I am a RN, so I am pretty picky about medical care. She received first rate care, promptly and with gentle concern.

So my impression of THRH ER is quite good.