first of all YOU ALL decided to move here.....secondly, the Villages hospital has been known to be one of the poorest in the area for years, and finally, the Villages itself attracts the worst doctors. So what in the world do you expect....nobody told you to move here.

Other than that, how do you REALLY feel?

I believe he still thinks he's in the Navy. Should we salute and say: "Aye, Aye?"


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The worst? That's painting with a very big brush!

Can't imagine saying the "worst" Doctors. I have several wonderful Drs. here. I have been admitted to the hospital many times and have always had good care.

gREAT EXPERIENCE AT tvrh
 

i AM SO SICK OF COMPLAINING ABOUT TVRH. I HAD ANOTHER OCCASION TO GO THERE SUNDAY. I WAS TREATED VERY WELL AND VERY COMPETENTLY. IT WAS VERY BUSY AS THIS IS HIGH SEASON BUT THAT IS TO BE EXPECTED. EVERYONE KEPT APOLOGIZING FOR THE WAIT.

:bigbow:

What should one expect ???
I think everyone should expect decent (at the least) health care, no matter where they live. Especially in a community where you have a very high population of elderly residents that require more medical attention than any other age group. I love the villages and hope to retire here. I hope in the near future their will be more proactive solutions to the medical needs of our community than excuses. Just saying.

Where did you get that information .......... I have researched my doctors and have excellent health care, both medical and dental.

OK Enough with bashing TVRH there are those of us who have had no problems there. Yea the ER gets backed up and you wait. Knowing that go somewhere else. I swear some people go there just so they can come on here and bash them. There's a new ER on 441 heading North on the right hand side just before Marion Market. Give them a try haven't seen ANY complaints about them yet.

Thank God for you SKIP, and ALL of the sane posters. Sometimes the alligators are up to my neck here in the.......whatchamallit. ;)

We've heard enough from those that don't like it. Hope you never need to call an ambulance because there's a very good chance that's where your going . So if your that upset with them you might want to consider a new community to live in. Not everyone has had a bad experience, next time try the new ER on 441 just before Marion Market on the right hand side.

a bit extreme and very misleading -
If you are new to TOTV, take this with at least a "grain of salt"

Villages ER - awful - Saga continues
 

You seem to overlook the fact that some of us believe there is room for improved service and quality at TVRH. Having seen/experienced the ER (and I'm being specific) and having worked in hospitals for 40+ years, I can assure you there are lots of opportunities for improvement.

If things remain unchanged, and YOU need an ambulance, it might become your problem.

P.S. If you don't believe me, read some of the posts by Dr. Golfing Eagles.


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Sure there's room for improvement but it doesn't get solved by bitching about it on here. As for ERs trust I rode the Ambulance in the FD for several years. I've seen both good and bad. All I can say is IF you call the Ambulance around here unless it's a Trauma your either going to TV or Leesburg and there's a big bill to follow.

I don't complain about it on a TOTV, other than to alert the public. I have contacted the CEO, nursing leadership, chief of the medical staff, and others. When the chief of staff reports an issue to administration, and nothing happens, I've decided it's time to alert people. In a prior life I'd have been fired for not listening to my chief of staff.


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I just received a statement for $3500 was there for 7 1/2 hrs. Triage did take my temp and blood pressure that's it then about 6 hrs later I was taken into the er where a real Dr saw me and that was fine however the statement says they did extensive blood work to the tune of $560 and they never took blood from me. I'm calling medical records tomorrow and then my insurance. So much for our wonderful hospital.

Got that right. And since I WAS a chief of staff, I would have been happy to fire you DB:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Somehow I knew that was coming GE. Cheers!


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9 1/2 hours in Villages Emergency Room. What a PIG STY. Place was filthy. I will never go back to that place. It should be shut down, they have no business calling it an emergency room. If you go in there, you will definitely have an emergency. We received an invoice for approx $6,000 for services and it noted that we will be billed separately for doctors services. WE NEVER SAW A DOCTOR. What a horrible disaster that place is.

Who knows, it could soon be turned into condominiums. :shrug:

When we were thinking of moving here, one of the deciding factors was The Villages Health System and the presence of such a large Regional Medical Center so nearby. It seemed like a very important part of the retirement decision, and we moved here.

When I went to The Villages Health System at Sumter Landing to get a new primary care doctor I was surprised and disappointed to learn that you have to use United Health Care Medicare Advantage plan or they won't accept you. It so happens that I have United Healthcare group insurance, but it didn't matter: give up your Medicare or don't come here. All those nice neighborhood medical facilities were not for me.

My 104 year old mother fainted at her nursing home and she was sent to the Regional Medical center for evaluation and treatment. When I went there she was in an exam room and as I looked around I saw IV needle caps on the floor and small alcohol prep pads with blood on them lying on the floor. The sink in the room was loose on the wall. Altogether second rate. I say that with some knowledge as I was a fire rescue paramedic in Miami for 30 years and I've seen many emergency rooms but never one like this.

More recently my wife's mother visited and became very ill. She was transported to the Regional Medical Center where she was examined and then left lying on a gurney for more than 12 hours, in the hallway of the emergency room. Eventually she was admitted and her treatment was very good. One of the ER staff explained that during the season the demand for rooms and services is beyond their ability to keep up. I actually understand that but something needs to be done.

In an earlier post someone gave directions to two medical centers in Ocala. That's too far in a heart attack or stroke situation, but for more routine things that's where I'll go.

I wonder if submitting complaints to the state would help improve things?

AHCA: Complaint Administration Unit

Are you referring to Ocala Region Medical Center or the Villages Region Hospital?

My wife went to the Ocala Regional Medical Center ER recently and the hallways in the ER were clogged with gurneys with patients on them waiting for treatment.

It took a quite a while for her to be admitted, there just weren't enough beds available. Once in the hospital itself the treatment was very good. The ER staff were good too but you could tell they were stretched to the limit.

She has been to the Villages Hospital ER too and one time had to wait about 20 hours to get admitted. But again once in the hospital itself the treatment was very good.

The only reason she ended up in Ocala Regional was that both the Villages and the Leesburg ER's were on diversion and the ambulance could not take her to either.

I didn't see a lot of difference between the treatment she got at Ocala or The Villages ER's but maybe I don't have a critical enough eye that those of you who have worked in the health care industry have.

Given a choice she (and I) would pick the Villages Hospital. When she is in the Villages Hospital it is more accessible to her doctors and she has a Villages Health doctor and care manager looking over her care there, not one of the hospital staff doctors... that just makes everything in her overall care work better.

I know of someone who was treated in Ocala recently and was delayed treatment much as you describe. She got bumped 2X for surgery due to emergencies and didn't get into a room for over 24 hrs. I would rather be treated at TVRH for the same reasons you have stated. Change apparently needs to happen...don't know if it will given the heavy Florida population of elderly people. BTW...I've heard it said that some of the seasonal folks wait to have their elected surgeries after they return here. Guess they'd rather recouperate where it's sunny and warm.

Recently, my husband had an accident and EMT took him to Leesburg. A CT scan indicated he had a badly fractured spine. Since no MRI tech was available, we had to wait 3 hours for one to show up and tell us he couldn't take an MRI because of my husbands exhisting scoliosis and bent spine. Nine hours later, after keeping him strapped down on his back with nothing for his pain, I was advised he was being transferred to Orlando Regional (this was after I had requested a transfer to Gainesville). Driving into Orlando to an unknown location at 1 am by myself is not an experience I ever need again in my life. Hubby was seen in ER immediately, assessed and sent to a surgical unit. Because of high coumadin levels, his spinal fusion was delayed for several days, but he was given pain meds, sedation and constant attention. I was allowed to sleep over in his room for several nights. His surgery was a success and after a week, was admitted to rehab in Orlando. The neurosurgeon and hospital staff at ORC could not have been kinder or responsive to all our needs...mine as well as his.

I feel that the "service" given at Leesburg hindered his case, and he was in the hallway for 9 hours and insurance will be billed approximately $9000. There was no reason he could not have been transferred to a major trauma center sooner. Should there ever be an emergency in our family again or with a neighbor, I would find it very hard to ever suggest either one of our hospitals. Wish there could be a program like Under cover Boss (under cover patient) who went around and checked out hospitals with multiple complains.

The villages regional hospital E/R
 

OK, so for sometime I have seen posting regarding TV hospital and the "horrors " and I can sympathize with some issue's as with anything or any place that deals with a large community . BUT I want to share my experience . Having "back pain " to me was not unusual however this one time I went for testing to finally get to the bottom of my pain. WELL, this is where my life changed for ever. CT SCAN was done and sent to TV E/R, I was taken in a matter of seconds , yes there were people waiting before me. The stink eye I got was not pleasant , but in I went! Long story short I had an aortic disection😱 was in ICC for a few days. Thru out the entire time I was treated by ALL with professional and caring manner. And lived to talk about it . Moral of story: yes,there are waiting times as with everything in life, patience , understanding the full story not what what we "think" it is, or isn't .

These ER waiting times, etc., happen everywhere. There are horror stories about every hospital. I worked in a large hospital in Michigan back in the 70's. It was a great hospital, but I remember people all over in the ER waiting for beds, rooms, etc.

This thread is about the Villages Regional Medical Center.

At least you got that part right

Don't get sick during winter
 

Here up in the Northwoods the local hospital had to open a special ER area reserved for victims of hunting and gunshot incidents. It is staffed by gunshot specialists. Scary.

Do you dispute my experiences? Explain yourself if you can.

Help Me Understand
 

Why in God's name would anyone risk their body to some of the terrible treatments locally? We are 2 1/2 hour car ride to Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville where there is the latest medical technology and the most amazing thing that if you have an appointment you will be called to meet with the Dr. at exactly on the time of your schedule. No hour or more waiting because of over booking etc. It is impossible to describe all of the advantages to trust your body to Mayo but is safe to say they are miracle workers every day. :smiley:

ER visit
 

I can tell you from experience that the best place to go is Waterman Hospital ER in Taveras! Went in on a Tuesday with some chest discomfort. Within 5 minutes was given an EKG. Then blood was drawn and a chest exray without even getting out of the gurney.

Within the next hour was given a echo cardiogram and seen by a staff doctor. Later in the afternoon, saw a cardiologist, who went over the results with me and then ordered a stress test.

Great staff, great prompt service. Give it a try. I know it's a ways, 1/2 hr, from TV but well worth it.

Thank you for informing the people here about health care in The Villages, and confirming what so many of us already know. It is far from what it is touted to be. The care a friend received at TV Hospital (incl. the emergency room) was the worst I have ever witnessed in any hospital I have worked in since 1960. I am a retired RN and I was appalled at the lack of knowledge and skill, the inefficiency, and unclean conditions. I will never go there or take anyone there unless I have no choice in the matter. I pray that will never be the case. At one point, during a transfer situation, when the EMT heard us say that the patient should be taken to The Villages Hospital, he asked us , "Do you want her to live?" - and offered an alternative suggestion. This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are horror stories out here and no one to report them to.

Point of Information
 

Just as a point of information, Ocala Regional Medical Center (ORMC) is the trauma center for all area accidents that may involve head injuries. The EMTs are instructed to take anyone there who has potential head injuries from an accident. That's why they sometimes bypass The Villages Hospital.

Here is the e-mail I sent to the care group in The Villages Medical:
"I worked in Emergency Rooms in Illinois as well as ER's in Washington DC hospitals and suburban hospitals. The Villages Hospital Emergency Room is a DISGRACE and totally inadequate for this population!
My 5 year experience with The Villages Hospital Emergency Room in a total of 3 visits was:
visit #1 a 7 hour wait time
visit #2 a 7 1/2 hour wait time
visit #3 after waiting 8 1/2 hours and never been seen I left (and this visit was due to a 4 auto crash on 441 in which I was the 3rd car that accident).
I trained in Radiology in Rockford, IL and worked the Emergency room there. At the time Rockford had the approximate population of 50,000. We had 3 hospitals at that time (each of them were approximately the size of our one hospital in The Villages) and all three Emergency rooms in Rockford were BUSY! WE ARE WOEFULLY SHORT OF STAFF AND OF EMERGENCY ROOMS in The Villages. This is such an under-served area I am surprised it has not made the national news. Perhaps that is where we need to go next with our very valid complaints because they are not address by those in charge here."
They sent me a form response to call them.

We have been there twice and had good treatment each time but breathing difficulties are always taken first.

A good friend had a terrible allergic reaction to a new medication on her first night in The Villages and had anaphylactic shock. She was put into an induced coma with a breathing tube for several days.They helped her immediately and we visited her every day after she was admitted to The Villages Hospital. It appeared that she had very good treatment from beginning to end.

If anyone goes to their browser and types in Emergency Room Wait, you can read dozens of stories from across the U.S. You may be in pain and you may be scared but if you aren't on the top of the Triage Nurses List, you will wait.

If these conditions were to be investigated and published my a network TV station out of Orlando it might put enough pressure on the hospital to start making changes. If these conditions are proved and it is broadcast nationally it would scare off potential buyers. Part of the reason we are moving to TV was the fact that it has a hospital and after reading these posts the first thing I'm going to do is research the availability of emergency care other than within TV. We are not new to the ER conditions as we had our on problem there and thankfully someone in the waiting room suggested we go to a urgent care who took care of my wife within 5 minutes. I thought this was just a bad day as it was a Saturday night and the waiting area was full of young people, I didn't think is was typical until finding this thread. Not a good situation for a community full of aging residents..

I am a volunteer at the hospital and speak with all the patients after their first night in the hospital. I give my notes to the volunteer who directs patient surveys. She compiles and meets weekly with the administrative team at the hospital. I don't have the hard data, but I would estimate from my notes that well over 85% of patients are happy with the nursing services they are receiving on the floor. Many give very high ratings. One of the questions that I ask in the protocol that I use is whether the patient was admitted through the ER. I then ask about the wait time and the quality of the treatment in ER. While the answer to the time varies, most patients say they were triaged immediately. They acknowledged that they may have had to wait in the waiting room during busy times if their issue was not life threatening. The major delay they tell me is not in being treated in a timely manner but waiting in the ER rooms for a bed to open in the hospital. As to care in the ER, again the vast majority say it was OK or good. As I read these reports, clearly one would assume that the place is a disaster. I have taken my mother there twice in the past year and we were treated immediately and she was admitted to the hospital both times. I do not question the authenticity of any of these reports. Clearly, folks are telling what happened to them. Obviously some people have experienced major delays or problems in treatment. However, I must tell you that I talk to patients weekly and rarely do I hear stories such as these on TOTV. I wonder, do those who have experienced good care in the ER just not speak up?