Pulmonologist Referral Needed Immediately
 

My husband was a patient of Dr. Betancourt, who recently left his practice in The Villages. Because he is extremely knowledgeable and was treating my husband's many conditions we were going to travel to Orlando to continue my husband's follow-up treatments. Well, needless to say (and I hate to) we can't since my husband requires very close monitoring. Hubby's condition started with lung cancer in July, 2000 and being stable until 2010 when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and treated in New Jersey. His oncologist urged us to move to The Villages because of the weather up North. Since being down here he has developed Pseudomonas and B.O.O.P. If anyone is familiar with these conditions they are aware that symptoms flare up out of nowhere. This morning he woke up feeling sick (bones ache, difficulty breathing, etc, etc, etc). Now the reason for my posting, does anyone know of a pulmonologist that is caring, knowledgeable and will see patients when they are ill instead of telling them to go to the hospital or urgent care. I will call my husband's oncologist in The Villages, Dr. Acevedo and find out who he recommends other than Dr. Betancourt. I have to find someone to care for my hubby. Thanks for reading this long post but I don't want my husband to see anyone that is not familiar with his illnesses.

I have gone to Dr Juan Albino for my mother-in-law who has COPD and Sleep Apnea. He is originally from Boston, and I found him to be a very caring and also excellent doctor. He's up on Rt 441 near the hospital.

I go to Dr. Magdy Falestiny. I really like him. I have been hospitalized 3 times since April. Mostly breathing problems. He is off of 441 on Rolling Acres and Griffin Rd.

I was recently in the hospital with flare up of asthma. On my last day there, Dr. Betencort told me that was his last day as he was going to a bigger hospital in Orlando. I didn't ask for a referral but he gave me one anyway to a Dr. Raul Carrillo and told me he would take good care of me. My husband and I went to see him and both of us really like him a lot. He was so caring and helpful about what to do for treatments to stay out of hospital. I am usually there 2 -3 times a year for a week or more.

Dr. Raul Carrillo
352-391-1115

Thank you so much for your suggestions. I never asked Dr. Betancourt for a referral since my husband wanted to continue seeing him. Fast forward to this morning when my husband woke up not feeling well and I realized that to make a one hour trip when he wasn't feeling well was not a wise thing to do. Again, thank you.

Another vote for Dr. Falestiny!

Dr Bettencort
 

I am so sorry to hear that Dr. Betancort finally left. He has been considering it for a couple of years. I go to Dr, Juan Albino and like him very much. I always checked with the ICU guys and they agreed Betancort and Albino are superlative.

i understand your need for someone local, but just wanted to let you know that a close family member has BOOP and COPD and sees Dr Janz at Shands in gainesville...just in case you happen to be referred there...i like him very much.

Dr Marjorey Lopez-Acevedo. She is with the Pulmonary Group of Central FL. There main location is in Leesburg, FL. However they see patient's in The Villages location every Tues and Thurs. She is very knowledgeable and caring.

Hope this works for you. There phone number is # 352-315-1627

pulmonologist
 

Thank you for your recommendation. I felt if Dr. Betancourt referred you to Dr. Carrillo that would be who I would call. I called his office for an appointment and did not get an appointment until October 14. I am so familiar with Dr. Betancourt who would see my husband within a day or two. He knew my husband's situation was difficult and never had us wait. He might be one in a million but does anyone know of a pulmonologist that will see his patients when they are ill instead of referring them to an urgent care or the hospital which is exactly what the receptionist at Dr. Carrillo's office said when I questioned her about what my husband should do since this is an emergency. I don't want my husband to start with a physician who only follows his care instead of being proactive. Help!

The best thing to do, is call the recommendations on this thread. Explain your situation to the receptionist and see what she says. They usually make all the appointments.

In a moment of panic this morning I called Dr. Acevedo, my husband's oncologist who practices in The Villages. Well, the receptionist was able to schedule an appointment for today. I am not an alarmist but, I do know when my husband needs to be seen by a specialist. The Villages' doctors need to be more attentive to their patients. Just saying!!

I hope everything is okay with your hubby !!:pray:

Thanks Bonny. So very thoughtful of you. We just came back from Dr. Acevedo's office and we are waiting for a phone call from his office. The doctor is trying to expedite my husband's appointment. There are so, so many very sick people in The Villages it really becomes a problem when a serious health problem arises.

Just received a call from Peggy at Dr. Carillo's office. My husband will be seen tomorrow at 1:00. I guess there are too many people that call doctor's offices and claim there is an emergency and they must be seen immediately making it so difficult for those who have true emergencies to get appointments in a timely fashion. I do feel much better now knowing my husband has a new pulmonologist that will monitor him closely.

When it's one of our loved ones, we all kind of feel it's an emergency. Especially at our ages. Hope all goes well !

Another vote for Dr. Falestiny. He is also licenced in critical care medicine. You can check a MD's qualifications at Healthcare Practitioner License Search