[bean021]

Originally Posted by Challenger

We are from Maryland . Used a Johns Hopkins regional practice while there and long established specialists.
Was worried when moving here about quality of care. Am currently using a Cardiologist, Dermatoligist, two Opthalmologists, and an Internist. Very happy with their competence and manner.
Researched all on internet, and on TOTV . After 4 years and numerous proceedures, I am completely satisfied. Also found an excellent dentist.

I am new to the villages and going thru the process of finding Drs. Can you give the name of your dermatologist and internist??

[gamby]

How about giving Names of the good doctors ??
And why you think they are so good.

I notice when a doctor is bad people offer the name !

[Bonanza]

Originally Posted by gerryann

Extremely disappointed in the healthcare here in the villages. It's not ALL of Florida...just here. I had very good healthcare in the the Naples/ft Myers/Bonita Springs areas. I'm beginning to think that the Dr's are tired of dealing with Medicare, therefore we don't get top notch Dr's here. We get the leftovers or the semi-retired.

My husband and I are satisfied with our internist, however, have had a couple of lousy experiences with other doctors, also.

I truly believe that many doctors have come here for the $$$. They know there's over 100,000 people from which to draw as patients. They know we're all older. They know there's bound to be a lot of illness and other maladies. They know we're going to die sooner than later. And most of all . . . they know they'll get paid!

[mfp509]

My Dr's are Dr Salluck-Citrus Cardiology, Dr Jodi Armstrong-Ocala Eye, Dr Hilder-Dermatologist. Very satisfied with them. Am changing my primary to Dr Wald in the new Mulberry Medical Center - highly recommended by my neighbors so I will soon find out.

[rubicon]

The affect of the 3rd party payers and regulators have on healthcare along with the effect ACA is having on us all directly or indirectly has caused considerable anguish in the medical community. I certainly would be frustrated with insurance people and government officials interfering with my ability to treat my patient...........and I was an insurance guy

Having addressed that complication I wonder what an individual's definition of a good doctor is? For example my initial primary care doctor perhaps may have been good at doctoring but his personality was very offending and prevented the rapport I require in order to gain confidence. I went to another office and found that the primary care doctors ignored the incompetence of their clerical staff. A complaint that I later found was cited by many ex-patients. Obviously expectations based on previous experience with doctors from you home states factors in.

And I learned that even when a doctor refers you to the "doctor that doctors go to "is no guarantee that he can't error.

In my view I have gained more confidence in Munroe Medical Community

I will tell you there is an emergency room doctor( Dr. Stoner) at the Villages Hospital who treated me in the emergency room for well an emergency and I found him to be top shelf

[cromlich]

I've had wonderful care from The Villages Healthcare. Love my doctor. Maybe you should just ask to change doctors in the system. The problems are the same up North. You just have to find the right match.

[gamby]

Right on target BONANZA

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by Bonny

Sorry you are having a hard time finding some good Doctors. There are some here. I have some really good ones here. I remember when we first moved here 14 years ago. Definitely hard finding a good doctor.

Actually there are many good physicians here now - from PCs to specialists. You just have to do the research.

[Bonny]

Originally Posted by dbussone

Actually there are many good physicians here now - from PCs to specialists. You just have to do the research.

I meant it was harder 14 years ago. Much easier now. I have a great Dr. and some really good specialists. I'm very happy with my Drs. They're really good.

[cromlich]

Dr Massodi is wonderful at the Santa Barbara Villages Healthcare.

[shcisamax]

GerryAnn, I totally empathize. That said, I think a few things come into play. First, the entire health care industry isn't what it used to be. Not here, not anywhere. Doctors do not spend huge amounts of time with patients. It is all about the numbers and getting people in an out. So part of getting the most out of the appointment is being organized and having questions ready. That said, I personally have gone through several doctors. I am now looking outside the Villages Health system.

We just went through a crisis event causing us to go to the Village Hospital for the second time. Forget the emergency situation. As we all know, or most of us, it is a 50/50 chance of satisfaction. But you can't judge a hospital on emergency only. However, after I questioned a diagnosis from the doctor which seemed liked he was missing what was going on, they sent in a case worker to talk to me. In 12 seconds, the caseworker looked shocked at me and said, "He isn't ok." and left the room quickly. She went to talk to the doctor and he came back in and tried to backtrack. After he was checked in, it went downhill. Without going through the entire litany, after all the tests and couple days, they were going to operate but, as it turns out, would have done the wrong operation. I didn't realize it would be the wrong operation until we finally moved to Shands because I had lost confidence in the competence of TVH. After one simple question, (which TVH surgeon forgot to ask) it came out, oops, that would be the wrong operation to do. As it turned out, after reviewing the records, (and they ran a couple of their own to confirm) he didn't even need the operation. They could manage it through medicine. In fact, the suggested operation had nothing to do with the reason we were there. We found out at Shands that the meds that had been given through Colony Village Health were wrong. We found out there was so much that should have been tested for that never was. In fact, I had questioned the doctor's office about diabetes and was continually told not to worry. Borderline. No problem. Turns out after this, a glucose tolerance test was ordered and it was very apparent there was diabetes. Not a borderline issue. The BP medicine was way to low. Basically, all the meds that were germane were changed. From this experience, we have decided to move outside the medicare United Health Village system which dropped Shands and Moffitt. We have been looking for qualified physicians outside of TV. While I applaud Gary Morse for an amazing development, I think medicine is more than bottom line set design. It all seems so pretty and happy but, for us, very disappointing. We will be looking into the options for changing the medicare UH Villages advantage plan for this coming year.

I have hesitated to post this for some time as I don't like to air dirty laundry and I know some people are very happy. And as I said, I have great respect for the developer for the balance of TV. So, if you don't like what I said, please refrain from any complaint with this post.

[pbkmaine]

So, if The Villages UHC Medicare Advantage Plan is not the answer, has anyone found a Medicare Plan, Advantage or otherwise, that has good doctors, good hospitals and good care? Florida Blue Cross Blue Shield?

[Shidler]

I am thinking along the same lines as you. Have you found a good health plan? I am considering Humana Advantage. It includes Shands hospital; I need to research the doctors in the plan. Is anyone using Humana?

[Philip Winkler]

I am very happy with The Villages UHC plan; my family doctor at Pinellas is great!

[gerryann]

Originally Posted by Shidler

I am thinking along the same lines as you. Have you found a good health plan? I am considering Humana Advantage. It includes Shands hospital; I need to research the doctors in the plan. Is anyone using Humana?

I think it all boils down to your health "issues". I am currently using Humana PPO. I don't have to go through a PCP to see a specialist. Works for me since I haven't found a PCP that cares, so I don't have one. If you see an out of network Dr., it's not a whole lot more expensive than in network.

If you use an HMO, you're stuck with ONLY the Drs on the plan. I haven't heard good things about the villages HMO with United Health Care. A lot of very good Drs were dropped by UHC when the villages health care came about.