Neurologist
 

Today I had an absolute horrible experience at a neurologist in The Villages who has the manners of a bedpan. This person has the worst review ever, on TOTV. What I would like to see if there is anyone who has gone outside of The Villages, and I don't care if it is to Gainesville, Jacksonville, Orlando or Tampa. I am just fed up with these so called humanoids and have had it with them. I am not asking for much, like today I waited one hour to see the doctor, and he spent less than 5 minutes explaining my MRI, got up and started walking out of the office. I asked where he was going and he said we were done. Oh really? I have another question about the other reason why I was there and I was told.....you'll have to make another appointment. So, any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you very much,
rjc

Um, if this person has “the worst review ever...” why did you go to him?

What is his name?

Try the neurology department at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. Mayo is rated #1 in the country for treating neurological disorders.

Do your own research. TOTV is the place for medical provider opinions, not facts.


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One, because I did not check here first, and secondly, he was referred by my cardiologist. Live and learn !

I am quite aware of how one performs research as I have spent 37 years in the research sector of a top 100 company. Nowhere in my statement did I ask for facts and not opinions.

No one deserves such rude behavior -- least of all from their medical provider. Make sure you report your experience to the referring physician, your cardiologist so that he knows how you were treated.

If you are in The Villages HealthCare System my hubby just saw the neurologist at the Brownwood Specialty Offices and we loved him. He took time with us and diagnosed the problem, then explained thoroughly the diagnosis and the treatment to both of us. I don't remember his name and am not home right now. We are traveling. If you need his name I can get it for you when I get home this weekend. We only waited 15 minutes to see him and when he came in the office with us he said he had been researching the history so he could get a handle on my hubby's problem before he saw him.

Excellent suggestion, and I don’t think one needs to be a member of TVH to see one of the specialists.

You are probably taking about Dr. John Castaldo. He was my husband's neurologist and I can't say enough good things about him. Very honest and caring.

Did you get his name ?????

I think it might be Harsha Rajashaker. I have seen him over some pain issues. I believe he is a neurologist/pain management guy. If it is indeed him, yes I liked him. Very personable and direct.

Call the Neurology Department, University of Florida (Shands) in Gainesville. They are true professionals.
352-273-9000

I second that.

This thread was asking for opinions on neurologists near and far.

Many responses were given three months ago and then the OP revived the thread with the above question. I hope he has found a neurologist in three months.

I did find the name of the suggested doctor but he does not take Florida Blue (BCBS). And the crazy thing about this? he's from Allentown Pa.close to where I was from. Oh well, still looking.

Jim, sounds like I am going to give it a shot.
Thanks!
Russ

And don't pass on Mayo Clinic because of their billing practices. If you have a good supplemental plan and medicare, it basically works out. Talk to them, just don't go with the "they don't accept medicare" statement.

In my experience, that place runs like clockwork.

If it wasn't Valencia...I don't recommend him! Our experience sounded almost similar to yours. Hope you find someone......

Neurologists
 

Avoid Dr. Smirnoff at all costs! Talk about rude, the word was created for him and his staff which is comprised of many family members. Billing practices are also questionable.

This has been brought up in the past and seems like a place to avoid.

Try U of F Shands in Gainsville. All my experiences there have been positive and outcomes as expected. Big teaching hospitals usually are on the forefront of new technology and techniques.

UF Health Shands in Gainsville is excellent. Ocala hospital has good reputation also. Stay away from TV hospital.

Neurology at USF Tampa (Moffitt center). I see them for MS care. Efficient and attentive.

...and while you are at it (reporting to cardiologist) why not advise your insurance carrier/representative.

There is a Neurology Center of Excellence on 466 and Rolling Acres.

It all depends on the ailment, the physicians, facility utilization.

When I was pursuing their services it happened to be that their "quota" of medicare participants did not allow any additional patients. The representative stated they had a certain percentage of medicare patients. That was in September and they noted it would be well into the following year before an opening could be available. They were quite happy to provide alternate providers that were mostly past Mayo physicians.

I passed. Went through the same process at Shands and was admitted to a physician a week later.

Dr. Kim in Ocala. A friend of mine is seeing him. Good credentials.

Neurologist
 

We recently started seeing the neurology department at the Mayo in Jacksonville. We couldn't have asked for a more thorough and pleasant experience. We decided to go to the Mayo anytime we need to see any kind of a specialist. They jump through hoops to schedule all of your appointments on the same day, with any/all of the specialists you need to see. For instance, on any given day we may see an ENT, a neurologist and imaging. We have found that multiple hotels offer a "Mayo" rate, so we drive up the day before our appointments and spend the night, enjoying the wonderful seafood restaurants.

I believe they accept medicare patients if the patient or their supplemental insurance pays a 15% (?) upcharge.

Each person needs to call the clinic and discuss their particular situation. As I said before, it depends what supplemental insurance pays. It would be a shame not to go to Mayo Clinic because their billing practice is unclear, especially because their neurology dept. is so highly recommended.

I understand how Mayo works with Medicare and my insurance. It has worked for me, and did for my husband for many years.

Ohiobuckeye
 

I'm not going to sit here & criticize the TVH, but I can tell you my experiences. A month before we moved here I had a 5 way heart bypass & I got a bone spur on my gum in my mouth from the tool they used to hold my tougue down to insert the breathing tools down my throat. But my heart surgeon told me absolutely don't get the flu or a virus. Well it was flu season & I had to get this bone spur out of my mouth. To make a long story short after sitting 4 1/2 hrs. in woiting room with 3 people sitting in there with puke buckets, I got in. I got in to see a PA, not even a Dr. he diagnosed me with a cold sore, which he was absolutely wrong as I found out that I was right later. We had such a bad experience there that we insisted on seeing the CEO of TVH, she looked at all the paper work & said in her exact words, "You got to be kidding me". We got our $3,552. hospital bill thrown in the garbage & she couldn't of been nicer in her comments to use & she said this will never happen again. So personally I will never get treated at TVH again, NEVER. I'm sure they good for some things but I'll never go there if I ever have any heart issues. Actually were moving closer to the #1 heart hospital in the country & it's not in Florida!

Both my wife and myself have received excellent, no compromise, neurological care at UF Shands in Gainesville. I have gone their for other things as well. Only a one hour drive door to door and it's world class medicine.

Disgraceful.

??? sounds like Smirnoff.

We have gone to Gainsville - Shands and have been seeing Dr. Heller. He is amazing. The downside is we waited 3 months for the appointment even with a referral. Good luck.

Dr. Jose Gaudier MD in Ocala

Shands Movement Disorder Center
 

Can’t say enough about Shands and their doctors. Both my wife and I had Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery there with fabulous results for Parkinson’s and Essential Tremor.

Mayo Clinic Jacksonville or Florida Hospital Orlando for anything serious

Dr. Michael Pully MD PHd at the University of Florida in Jacksonville is a very fine Doctor of neurology.9042449922

Dr. Anette Nieves - BEST
 

Avoid Dr. Smirnoff at all costs! He has been a negative subject at Parkinson's groups. Dr. Anette V. Nieves is excellent. She has an office right near Lowe's on 441. Takes 3 months to get in but she is also a movement specialist. Also an office in Ocala easier to get an appointment there. We were going to SHANDS trying to get DBS - but once you are disqualified and they are Number 1 in this surgery - they didn't have any other help or advice (probably just the one doctor because we've heard Melissa up there is excellent) so we have got excellent results with Dr. Nieves. She is recommended by the entire group.