[Happinow]

Where to start ........I needed to see my primary physician today for a problem that has been bothering me for a week. Before you crucify me, I waited a week because I thought it would get better and I HATE going to the Dr. I'm not one to just jump in the car and go see a Dr. At the drop of a hat. I am told that it would be the 19th before I could get in to see my Dr and to go to Urgent Care. As this has happened once before, me not being able to see my Dr., I was not happy. I let the receptionist know that I have a primary dr so that I can avoid going to Urgent Care and the ER. She told me he fills up fast and go to Urgent Care. After further discussion of how unhappy I was, I hung up. Because I had no Other choice, I went to Urgent Care in Sumter. Luckily, there was only one person ahead of me.......I still waited for 40 minutes. Not sure how that can be. So, I was ushered into a room where I waited for about 15 minutes for the Dr. To come in. As I was sitting there, I overheard people singing happy birthday. Then I heard a male voice ask a female if she had had birthday cake, to which she replied "no" and then she said something else I couldn't understand. The male voice said "you should have had some it was good". Then I heard the male voice say "you didn't want a lap dance? Don't you like lap dances?" At this point my mind was wandering .......who was this creep talking about lap dances? Then my door opened to my room and in came the "Doctor". I use that term loosely. It was the same person talking lap dances. I recognized the voice. He walks in with balloon like, baggy, bright surfing like pants on, sneakers and a sweat shirt. My jaw dropped. Thank god he only had to examine my ears and throat because he sure wasn't touching me. I was appalled that this person would be so disrespectful to his patients and to the medical practice in general. He was obviously eating cake while I was waiting for 15 minutes in the room. I can see he has his priorities straight. I will never go back to that care center if he's the Dr. That's on. I am losing my faith in the medical system here each and every day. I am also switching primary care doctors. Probably going to Colony Plaza or Pinellas. Trying to research the available doctors. I don't see that any of them are board certified. It scares me.

[BarryRX]

Walk in clinics are businesses and are not usually owned by the doctors you see in them. I would make an effort to find out who the owner or manager of the clinic is and express your concerns to them. It certainly sounds like unprofessional behavior to me. On the other side of the coin, The Villages is seeing a lot of upper respiratory infections right now. If a large number of a Doctors total patient base gets sick at the same time, he can only see so many of them per day. Combined with people who have regularly scheduled appointments and the sudden influx of sick people that want to get in right away, even if the doctor keeps one or two open appointments a day for "emergencies", it would be tough to get you in right away. My pcp has a nurse practitioner. After I described my symptoms to her over the phone, she called in some rx's to my pharmacy with instructions that if I didn't start to feel better in a day or 2, or worsened, to call them back. But all that aside, I hope you're feeling better.

[LuckySevens]

Dr. Martinez - Cruz 352-750-6650 is an Internist.
We highly recommend him as he is THE MOST fabulous doctor. Very friendly, easy to talk to and NEVER rushes you. We love him, and I know of others that do too.
He is located at 1400 N. US Hwy 441 right behind the hospital.
If you are going West down Camino Real, take a right directly before the hospital entrance, and keep going straight for about a block and the office is in the very last office on the right. Please give him a try and I think you will be very happy!

[Erijo]

Happinow, you HAVE to write to the CEO of the company/organization that owns the Urgent care center. I am an RN and have been for 42 years and this behavior should NOT be tolerated by the patient. When I was in school there was a dress code for all professionals and that is just the way it was. I carried that dress code with me my whole professional life. There is just no reason for the sloppy clothes, and unprofessionalism. I worked for the NSLIJ system on Long Island, NY and this type of behavior would not have been allowed. The patient always comes first, no excuses. In my opinion you have to inquire who is the CEO of this center (google it) and write a letter. Please list as many names and details as possible, especially the date and time. If you don't bring it to the attention of the director, nothing will ever change, in the time it took you to write on here perhaps you could have written a letter to the person who could correct the situation. As a health care professional, I am sorry that you had such an awful experience, I do hope you are feeling better.

[Indydealmaker]

Originally Posted by LuckySevens

Dr. Martinez - Cruz 352-750-6650 is an Internist.
We highly recommend him as he is THE MOST fabulous doctor. Very friendly, easy to talk to and NEVER rushes you. We love him, and I know of others that do too.
He is located at 1400 N. US Hwy 441 right behind the hospital.
If you are going West down Camino Real, take a right directly before the hospital entrance, and keep going straight for about a block and the office is in the very last office on the right. Please give him a try and I think you will be very happy!

When I googled this doctor, I found B. Martinez - Cruz had been on Mulberry in The Villages, then left to join Florida Medical Associates in Ocala. Is he back in The Villages now?

[swrinfla]

Happinow:

I suggest you stop by The Villages Hospital and ask for a copy of their current Physician Directory. While not necessarily all-inclusive, it does list those docs who have privileges at both The Villages and Leesburg, which is handy info. And, it list their credentials.

It's a free book.

Covers all specialties.

SWR

[Mudder]

I don't know how you can expect to see your primary care doctor on the day you call especially now when they are all so busy.....that's what urgent care centers are for. I do regret your experience tho. You said you are researching docs at Colony and Pinellas and they are not board certified, I beg to differ with that statement, better check again.

[Villageswimmer]

Originally Posted by Happinow

Where to start ........I needed to see my primary physician today for a problem that has been bothering me for a week. Before you crucify me, I waited a week because I thought it would get better and I HATE going to the Dr. I'm not one to just jump in the car and go see a Dr. At the drop of a hat. I am told that it would be the 19th before I could get in to see my Dr and to go to Urgent Care. As this has happened once before, me not being able to see my Dr., I was not happy. I let the receptionist know that I have a primary dr so that I can avoid going to Urgent Care and the ER. She told me he fills up fast and go to Urgent Care. After further discussion of how unhappy I was, I hung up. Because I had no Other choice, I went to Urgent Care in Sumter. Luckily, there was only one person ahead of me.......I still waited for 40 minutes. Not sure how that can be. So, I was ushered into a room where I waited for about 15 minutes for the Dr. To come in. As I was sitting there, I overheard people singing happy birthday. Then I heard a male voice ask a female if she had had birthday cake, to which she replied "no" and then she said something else I couldn't understand. The male voice said "you should have had some it was good". Then I heard the male voice say "you didn't want a lap dance? Don't you like lap dances?" At this point my mind was wandering .......who was this creep talking about lap dances? Then my door opened to my room and in came the "Doctor". I use that term loosely. It was the same person talking lap dances. I recognized the voice. He walks in with balloon like, baggy, bright surfing like pants on, sneakers and a sweat shirt. My jaw dropped. Thank god he only had to examine my ears and throat because he sure wasn't touching me. I was appalled that this person would be so disrespectful to his patients and to the medical practice in general. He was obviously eating cake while I was waiting for 15 minutes in the room. I can see he has his priorities straight. I will never go back to that care center if he's the Dr. That's on. I am losing my faith in the medical system here each and every day. I am also switching primary care doctors. Probably going to Colony Plaza or Pinellas. Trying to research the available doctors. I don't see that any of them are board certified. It scares me.

what was his name? I want to be sure to avoid him. Thanks.

[Lbmb24101]

Originally Posted by Indydealmaker

When I googled this doctor, I found B. Martinez - Cruz had been on Mulberry in The Villages, then left to join Florida Medical Associates in Ocala. Is he back in The Villages now?

Yes he is.
The B stands for his 1st name, Bayoan.
Great doctor!

[gerryann]

Happinow, sorry for your awful experience with urgent care.

I feel that all of the medical care here in TV SUCKS!!!!! I may have to move to just get decent care. My primary care Dr is a joke.

Years ago (in the 80's....90's) the health care was awful! I had to move my dad back to Wisconsin to get decent care for his cancer. I THOUGHT that it was getting better. It is not!!!!

[red tail]

Originally Posted by gerryann

Happinow, sorry for your awful experience with urgent care.

I feel that all of the medical care here in TV Stinks!!!!! I may have to move to just get decent care. My primary care Dr is a joke.

Years ago (in the 80's....90's) the health care was awful! I had to move my dad back to Wisconsin to get decent care for his cancer. I THOUGHT that it was getting better. It is not!!!!

[TNLAKEPANDA]

My wife and I will go to Leesburg or Ocala if we need to go to the hospital... we will not go to TV. I am afraid that things are going to get a lot worse with the Affordable Health Care Act... what a nightmare that is going to bring upon us all. We can thank those who voted for it!

[NotGolfer]

I've heard nothing but good about TVUSF health system...which I also have signed up for. I've never been disappointed with my care. I too had to call to be seen the same day and while I wasn't able to see my own provider they gave me to a very competent person (ARNP) who works under the head of the clinic. I felt my care to be thorough and they found what was causing my issue.

I believe anyone with the system would be good...JMHO!!

As for Urgent Care....I've gone to the one on 466 in the Sante Fe strip mall. Was always given good care that was fairly prompt...though it's 1st come, 1st served in each of these just to be clear. As for your experience...the staff sounds VERY unprofessional!!! I used to work in a hospital and later a clinic setting...we had a strict dress code as well as a protocol to follow with our patients.

[TexaninVA]

Sorry about your experience.

I have had excellent experience with TV Health System (Colony). My primary care doctor (Betts) spent a lot of time with me for a scheduled appointment, and also quickly diagnosed a peculiar muscular issue that no one else had been able to figure out. On another occasion, I had a semi-emergency and I got into see him that same day. On yet another occasion, I had something pop up .. I called TVHS. My primary was on leave, so they got me in to see another doctor (Clifford) later that day.

I needed two specialists (allergist and podiatrist) and my primary referred me to them ... and I'm happy with both.

So, I think good health care is out there. From what I can see, and given the looming impact of ACA, I think the TVHS is the best option, and offers excellent care. Good luck with your quest.

[angiefox10]

Originally Posted by TexaninVA

Sorry about your experience.

I have had excellent experience with TV Health System (Colony). My primary care doctor (Betts) spent a lot of time with me for a scheduled appointment, and also quickly diagnosed a peculiar muscular issue that no one else had been able to figure out. On another occasion, I had a semi-emergency and I got into see him that same day. On yet another occasion, I had something pop up .. I called TVHS. My primary was on leave, so they got me in to see another doctor (Clifford) later that day.

I needed two specialists (allergist and podiatrist) and my primary referred me to them ... and I'm happy with both.

So, I think good health care is out there. From what I can see, and given the looming impact of ACA, I think the TVHS is the best option, and offers excellent care. Good luck with your quest.

Happinow, I'm concerned to hear of your experience with your primary care doctor as well as the quick care doctor. I feel that neither were acceptable. I know it's different here... and I know it's tougher to get in anywhere during snowbird season. But 11 hour waits at the hospital and your experience today is distressing to hear.

TexaninVA, thank you for posting your experience with your doctor. It's good to see there are good doctors here. I am lucky that I haven't had anything come up that I have needed to see someone fast, or that I have needed a specialist. I hope when that time comes... my doctor comes through. If she doesn't... I will be getting in touch with you. *smile*