[Happinow]

I have never had to go to the ER in TV.....thank goodness. I have instructed my husband that if I ever need to go to a hospital it won't be The Villages. If I feel it's a heart problem we will call an ambulance and be transported elsewhere. I've heard too many horror stories about TV hospital. Let's just hope that they correct the issues with the expansion. Some of our lives may depend on it.

[DONKEY10]

I still work in a hospital. Your 2 hour wait was not that bad. Trust me if you were deathly ill or on the verge of dying they would have taken you first. I worked in Hospitals where you may wait 8 hours before an ER doctor sees you. If they are busy they treat the critically ill first. That's just how it is.

[DONKEY10]

It is already worse. I have seen it first hand since I still work in a hospital. The reimbursements are less from the govt. and insurance companies. Hospitals cut staff patient wait times are longer since there are less staff to treat them. Its all about the bottom line a lot of times espeacially now. Everyone will suffer including the patient. Horse manure runs down hill.

[gardeniagirl]

My permanent home is in Winston Salem, NC, home of Wake Forest Baptist Hospital(university teaching hospital). I've gone to the Emergency Room for myself twice, husband went twice, mother (92 yrs. old) twice last year).....six visits. ALL of them required no more than 20 minutes wait time. Admitting is done by an ER nurse, who determines the severity. With mom diagnosed quickly with sepsis, blood pressure dropping rapidly, (blood poisoning all over her body), they told me to stand back and the ER team went to work as if they were saving the Gov. of the state....they were fast, efficient, as they were in the other five instances, saved her life twice last year. Wake Forest Baptist rates #22 in the Nation for hospitals, second in the state to Duke University Hospital by one point, and the care is phenominal. Mother is a medicaid patient, and they sent for an air mattress for her due to bed sores from the nursing home she was in. I can't say enough great things about good hospitals. I've heard enough about this one to pray everytime I come down, that I don't need them......

[gardeniagirl]

Go to U.S. News & World Report. Check the ratings for hospitals nearest, and as I remember, Winter Haven (about an hour) is rated well, don't remember the others. I'd head down the interstate and burn that 2 hrs.+ getting to a place that could save me if I get there in time......heard too many bad things about TV hospital...not for me.

[Finallyfree]

I just got released from the Villages Hospital and am doing well. We went to urgent care, then for a CT at the hospital on Memorial Day, dr. said go home and see your dr tomorrow. My husband (always have an advocate) said no way, we went to ER told them the situation, they saw me before some other people who were already there and admitted me with a 7mm kidney stone and sepsis. The ER staff was very professional and caring. I prefer no hospital, but would go here again if I get ill.

[ilovetv]

Originally Posted by gardeniagirl

My permanent home is in Winston Salem, NC, home of Wake Forest Baptist Hospital(university teaching hospital). I've gone to the Emergency Room for myself twice, husband went twice, mother (92 yrs. old) twice last year).....six visits. ALL of them required no more than 20 minutes wait time. Admitting is done by an ER nurse, who determines the severity. With mom diagnosed quickly with sepsis, blood pressure dropping rapidly, (blood poisoning all over her body), they told me to stand back and the ER team went to work as if they were saving the Gov. of the state....they were fast, efficient, as they were in the other five instances, saved her life twice last year. Wake Forest Baptist rates #22 in the Nation for hospitals, second in the state to Duke University Hospital by one point, and the care is phenominal. Mother is a medicaid patient, and they sent for an air mattress for her due to bed sores from the nursing home she was in. I can't say enough great things about good hospitals. I've heard enough about this one to pray everytime I come down, that I don't need them......

Please. It's called "triage" and it's how every ER works, with some doing a better job than others. We are ALL from states that have major teaching-research hospitals like this nearby, as we have here in Orlando and Gainesville areas. We go there when referred by our own doctors for the bigger, more complex or rare problems.

And there, "stand back" and let 4 dozen interns, medical students, nursing students, residents, and specialists in training come in to get experience on you all day and night, and hope they are giving the top-notch specialist in charge an accurate assessment of the patient.

Yes, these teaching/research hospitals are some of the crown jewels of this country and the world, but comparing them to a good community hospital is simply comparing apples to oranges.

Most people in need of an urgent care or ER will be fine at an established community hospital employing board-certified doctors. They are listed in the hospitals' departmental staff bio listings.

[dillywho]

Say what you want about The Villages Hospital, but because of them I still have my husband. Leesburg or Ocala...he would never have made it to either of them.

[Madelaine Amee]

This is one subject that really angers me. When I hear people who have NEVER had to use our hospital, saying that it is no good makes my blood boil. Believe me if you have a life or death situation the closest hospital is where you need to be. They saved my husband's life or rather the resident on call that night did! I elected to have major surgery there which was more than successful. We have some excellent surgeons here in TV and if they are comfortable operating in this hospital it's good enough for me!

I am (unfortunately) knowledgeable about several of the local hospitals including two in Ocala, one in Leesburg and even the Mayo in Jacksonville, and I still think we are fortunate to have a hospital right here on our doorstep.

I am thankful to say we have had no experience with the ER and I will not comment, but the hospital and staff I do know about and I, for one, am grateful we have this place available to us.

[Steve & Deanna]

Emergency Rooms are not the most pleasant places to be whether it's The Village or anywhere; however it seems to me that 'heart' is an automatic let's treat her/him immediately. That said, I'd still rather be in a hospital having a heart attack.

[Bonanza]

Originally Posted by Erijo

Dear Bonanza, You MUST write a letter to the CEO of the hospital. A situation where a patient has chest pain and is not taken right away is is WRONG! Take names, date and time of arrival, as many details as you can and put this in your letter! Address the letter to the CEO,(google his name). I am a nurse (not working at present) and I am telling you, if you want a response, write to him/her. CC a copy to the head of the ER and the Director of Nursing. Nothing will improve if as patients we don't report it. Of course, this goes for the times we receive good care and are happy with the care. Letters should be written than also. I am glad you're OK, but write that letter.

You are absolutely correct.

If a business or service does not operate the way a customer (or patient, in this case) feels it should,
nothing will ever change unless it is brought to the attention of the owner/manager/CEO, etc.

I agree with you whole-heartedly.

[Bonanza]

Originally Posted by buggyone

911 is the best idea whenever you think there is a possibility of a heart problem. You would have been seen right away.

I hope your doctor was able to treat your issue the following day and it was not too serious.

Thank you for your thoughts. My doctor saw me right away the following morning, thankfully. No, I don't believe it's anything serious, but need a little more time for some follow-up tests. It didn't turn out to be a heart problem and after a few different medications and a cat scan, I'm doing much better.

I guess I've lived under a rock, having always been healthy and not realizing these long wait hours in an ER.
Once again -- TOTV has educated me after reading everyone's comments!

[njbchbum]

Does anyone know of a patient who or if a patient ever died while waiting in the Villages hospital Emergency Room waiting area? The negative comments here just made me wonder.

[Vernster]

As Gracie said, hopefully, additional ER space will help. But, only if it is staffed with sufficient numbers of competent, experienced employees. Short staffing seems to be a problem in all areas of The Villages Hospital.

[janmcn]

Originally Posted by njbchbum

Does anyone know of a patient who or if a patient ever died while waiting in the Villages hospital Emergency Room waiting area? The negative comments here just made me wonder.

According to The Daily Sun, Russell Kear, age 75, passed away in the emergency room of The Villages Hospital on May 3, 2014.