[ConnecticutYankee]

Has anyone joined the Villages Health System? What has your experience been? Are you satisfied? Do you like your Doctor? Staff?

[SoccerCoach]

My doctor is with Villages Health System. Being a Connecticut Yankee myself, with fantastic doctors there I thought I would find the same here. Wrong! I changed primary care doctors three (3) times. I see Dr. Christopher Pead. He and his staff are just what I was looking for, professional, caring, punctual, easy to communicate with. His patient load may be maxed now, but check him out, perhaps there is opportunity. I also now have a cardiologist who also is about quantity and quality of life as well.

[Mudder]

Lots of previous posts about this subject. We like the system, like our doctor.

[Villageswimmer]

Can someone tell me what the advantages are other than convenience? I've reviewed the website. Appears the doctors have privileges only at TVRH.

Am I missing something? We called them a couple of weeks ago and the earliest appt we could get just to meet with someone was April 14. My husband needed a pre-op exam for surgery and was turned down since we didn't yet belong. That's ok, I guess. I am just looking for a list of the pros to see whether it's worth persuing.

[Birdie Dreamer]

As noted there have been a number of previous posts on this topic with varying opinions based on individual perspectives and expectations. Wife and I have had positive experiences in our short tenure. The fact that some physicians are already at max patient load and the long wait to get an introductory appointment ( which does not preclude being seen for acute issues) seems to me to be an indicator that it is working.

[Villageswimmer]

Originally Posted by Birdie Dreamer

As noted there have been a number of previous posts on this topic with varying opinions based on individual perspectives and expectations. Wife and I have had positive experiences in our short tenure. The fact that some physicians are already at max patient load and the long wait to get an introductory appointment ( which does not preclude being seen for acute issues) seems to me to be an indicator that it is working.

Ya think? How does the fact that a lot of people belong indicate that "it's" working?

I don't have an opinion and am not saying it's not the greatest, just looking for specific advantages of

this system. I couldn't find any clear selling points, other than rah-rah team approach stuff, etc.

[NotGolfer]

Originally Posted by SoccerCoach

My doctor is with Villages Health System. Being a Connecticut Yankee myself, with fantastic doctors there I thought I would find the same here. Wrong! I changed primary care doctors three (3) times. I see Dr. Christopher Pead. He and his staff are just what I was looking for, professional, caring, punctual, easy to communicate with. His patient load may be maxed now, but check him out, perhaps there is opportunity. I also now have a cardiologist who also is about quantity and quality of life as well.

We're in this same practice and will say the same thing that this poster said! I've had the privilege to also see the medical director of this clinic and his ARNP as well for a "same-day" appointment for a medical issue. Cannot be happier with this new system!!!

[skyguy79]

Originally Posted by naneiben

Can someone tell me what the advantages are other than convenience? I've reviewed the website. Appears the doctors have privileges only at TVRH.

Unless the information I've found on the Leesburg Regional Medical Center's website is obsolete or changed, I found that my Villages Health System doctor, Karla Noel, MD has privileges at both The Villages Hospital and at Leesburg. It sounds reasonable that doctors could have privileges at Leesburg since both The Villages and Leesburg fall under the same organization, The Central Florida Health Alliance.

Also, I only found Dr. Noel and one other doctor listed at the site, but I think that the information needs to be updated and that there may well be more with privileges that need to be added.

See Dr. Noel's privileges indicated here: Dr. Karla Noel

To check about your physician's privilege status, call our their Physician Referral Service available 24/7:
Leesburg: (352) 323-1000
The Villages: (352) 751-8585
Toll-free: (800) 889-3755

[Finallyfree]

We use the Colony clinic, have had nothing but good results. When I got an early surgery schedule I called and they got me in within 45 minutes for labs, X-ray and back that afternoon for dr consult. Unfortunately/fortunately they discovered I had pneumonia so no surgery the next day but got the pneumonia treated ( I had no symptoms). Got another early surgery appt., same thing they got me in immediately and I had my surgery in Gainesville the next day. This is an example of the care. I popped in one day thinking I had a "UTI" they got a dr to do a request and labs, got antibiotics the next day. I cannot say enough good things about The Colony Clinic. Good luck on your search, but for your own health's sake, don't wait until you need a doctor to start the process.

[jimmy D]

Sorry but who ordered the surgery since you needed pre-op would not the person who is your doctor to all of that, not send you to a new doctor that you may not even know. and to all of you who have great Drs up North I may be wrong but you are not up North. There are many good Drs here and so not so good. If you are looking for miracles look in a church. Do some research and do not compare everything up North. sorry for all the trouble you are having but to much whining about everything.

[Finallyfree]

Surgery was in Gainesville, faster to have tests here and have them fax results. I had been seeing my dr. Here for several months, he knew all about the surgery. It was a shoulder replacement, not emergency stuff.

[Avista]

Dr Noel, Medical Director at Pinellas, diagnosed my parathyroidism first visit. It had been missed by previous docs. Had surgery in Tampa and now feel great.

[linda_sears]

Dr Noel is fabulous!

[trichard]

The Villages Health was established because of the overwhelming complaints about the quality of care in the area. The developer has invested in a system that brings quality physicians to The Villages. I am not sure how much money the developers have put up to support this business. However, this is an upscale operation; I would like to know when it will be supporting itself with positive cash flow.

[gomoho]

Originally Posted by trichard

The Villages Health was established because of the overwhelming complaints about the quality of care in the area. The developer has invested in a system that brings quality physicians to The Villages. I am not sure how much money the developers have put up to support this business. However, this is an upscale operation; I would like to know when it will be supporting itself with positive cash flow.

Interesting point - huge overhead that I can't imagine could be covered by payments from Medicare especially since the number of patients each doctor can handle is limited.