[sunnyatlast]

Originally Posted by blueash

Simple answer to complex question, but

1. Doctors in areas outside of where the insurance company provides services...

.....Some would suggest we should go to single national health insurance as an option to get beyond this problem.

A "single national health insurance" that treats every person in the nation as this system does?

A fatal wait: Veterans languish and die on a VA hospital's secret list

At least 40 U.S. veterans died waiting for appointments at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care system, many of whom were placed on a secret waiting list.

The secret list was part of an elaborate scheme designed by Veterans Affairs managers in Phoenix who were trying to hide that 1,400 to 1,600 sick veterans were forced to wait months to see a doctor, according to a recently retired top VA doctor and several high-level sources.

For six months, CNN has been reporting......"

A fatal wait: Veterans languish and die on a VA hospital's secret list - CNN.com

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by sunnyatlast

A "single national health insurance" that treats every person in the nation as this system does?

A fatal wait: Veterans languish and die on a VA hospital's secret list

At least 40 U.S. veterans died waiting for appointments at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care system, many of whom were placed on a secret waiting list.

The secret list was part of an elaborate scheme designed by Veterans Affairs managers in Phoenix who were trying to hide that 1,400 to 1,600 sick veterans were forced to wait months to see a doctor, according to a recently retired top VA doctor and several high-level sources.

For six months, CNN has been reporting......"

A fatal wait: Veterans languish and die on a VA hospital's secret list - CNN.com

Sunny - I must agree with you and underscore your point. The last thing we need is a single national health insurance. In addition to it's painful inability to care for our wounded warriors, just imagine what the government could do with control of 17% of the economy given what they've done to Social Security and Medicare.

[cavalier65]

If I understand you correctly, all ratings of products and services are worthless. Hmm...

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by cavalier65

If I understand you correctly, all ratings of products and services are worthless. Hmm...

Please, would you quote the post you are replying to? Whose post suggested that all ratings of products and services are worthless?

Oftentimes a post or two slips in between yours and the person you are replying to, so quoting the post is very helpful.

[cavalier65]

According to Consumer Reports/Union of the four hospitals in our area, The Villages Hospital has the lowest safety score among other low ratings. The two in Ocala and Orlando Regional are rated higher. If we listen to the local propaganda through the Daily Sun, etc., one would think that The Villages Hospital is second to none let alone last in the area.

[tekcormn]

I went went thru pretty much the same thing as JOEDI. I agree with everything he said.
It is the worst hospital I have ever been in. They ended up amputating two of my toes
and I was there 6 days. I will never go there again. I will try Ocala ORMC for emergency care. Are they open 24/7.
I also need a regular Dr in internal medicine. I am near Lake Sumter Landing. Can anyone recommend soneone. I just moved here.

[sunnyatlast]

Originally Posted by tekcormn

I went went thru pretty much the same thing as JOEDI. I agree with everything he said.
It is the worst hospital I have ever been in. They ended up amputating two of my toes
and I was there 6 days. I will never go there again. I will try Ocala ORMC for emergency care. Are they open 24/7.
I also need a regular Dr in internal medicine. I am near Lake Sumter Landing. Can anyone recommend soneone. I just moved here.

Keep on driving another 30 miles north of Ocala, to University of Florida Shands Medical Center in Gainesville.

https://ufhealth.org/emergency-room-trauma-center

OR, go to Mayo in Jacksonville for such conditions that would call for toe amputation (or not)!!!!!!

Don't mess around with the small, non-teaching hospitals for such things!

And another thing: the thread started about the Emercency Dept. at TVRH, not about an individual doctor/surgeon who recommended toe amputation….. (never mind the fact that the average housewife could probably conclude accurately that gangrene often warrants amputations).

The ER at The Villages is badly needed here, so don't make the accusations/criticism any worse than they already are. There are good, skilled nurses and doctors working there but their hands are often tied by, and they have to put up with, Administration that looks only at $$, not patient care.

[blueash]

Originally Posted by sunnyatlast

A "single national health insurance" that treats every person in the nation as this system does?

A fatal wait: Veterans languish and die on a VA hospital's secret list

At least 40 U.S. veterans died waiting for appointments at the Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care system, many of whom were placed on a secret waiting list.

The secret list was part of an elaborate scheme designed by Veterans Affairs managers in Phoenix who were trying to hide that 1,400 to 1,600 sick veterans were forced to wait months to see a doctor, according to a recently retired top VA doctor and several high-level sources.

For six months, CNN has been reporting......"

A fatal wait: Veterans languish and die on a VA hospital's secret list - CNN.com

Just FYI there is a difference between a health insurance and a health care network. The VA is a provider for persons with a particular health insurance. Medicare is a basic insurance program within which there are options for insurance add ons. What happened in the VA in Arizona was terrible and fortunately came to light thanks to some brave whistle blowers. What happened at the VA is neither an argument for or against single payer.

[BobandMary]

I'm sorry for your experiences. We had one event during a visit and were so grateful for their professionalism and care.

[hulahips]

Unfortunately this can be the norm. As someone who has experienced the hospital more than the average person here with 2 parents living here I spent more than 5 hours in the emergency room many times over the past 2 years. With the population here we definitely need another hospital but don't know if that is in the plan. Sorry for your experience. Wish I had more confidence in what is to come

[Steve & Deanna]

The waits in ERs are usually long but to not be in a pristine area breeds infections. At our location up north, I've found heart patients are tended to ASAP speaking from experience. Unfortunately, seems that's one health care facility that needs to clean up their act.

[lambchop285]

i had the same experience - I waited 7-1/2 hours to get into a room and i think i actually got better in that time - then they had the nerve to charge me $4700.00 for a blood test and an ultrasound.....

[KeepingItReal]

Originally Posted by lambchop285;106***5

i had the same experience - I waited 7-1/2 hours to get into a room and i think i actually got better in that time - then they had the nerve to charge me $4700.00 for a blood test and an ultrasound.....

You got off really cheap, wife's bill was nearly $12K for a shot to relieve kidney stone. MRI alone was nearly $6K. Total time elapsed was about 4:30 PM until 11 PM. Got bills from doctors and others that were never even there and hospital couldn't even tell us who they were.

Had we not had insurance that greatly reduced the allowed charges we would have had to pay the full amount.

[john1953]

I like the Villages Hospital but the ER is sad.My wife was having major issues and went to the ER and was told all the beds are full and the wait would be 8 hours.You freaking kidding me.We walked right out and went to uegent care in sumter landing and saw a doctor in 5 minutes.My wife is doing awesome.

[Simonsays]

Thanks much for this info. Owensboro, Ky is looking better all the time--immaculate hospital, wonderful docs (mostly). But the weather leaves much to be desired.
Guess Ocala sounds like the only other option if we stay. Any suggestions for Ocala internal med docs?