Hospital Question
 

I have a question please if anyone knows the answer.
If I/husband have a serious medical issue (stroke/shock/heart attack) and an ambulance is called, I was told that we would not be able to request being taken to another hospital but MUST be brought to The Villages Hospital.
Does anyone know if that is correct?
Thank You.

Did you happen to ask whom ever stated that, why that is?
They would know better than anyone I'd imagine, if they are making that statement.
It could be a region/zone/area thing...where local ambulance service will only transport within certain mile range or is contracted to only provide transport to a given location(s). In this case, nearest being TV Hospitol...in other words, you cannot ask them transport your husband 2900 miles to Portland OR General, because your favorite doctor is there. (as an example).

How Florida counties handle ambulances | News | The Villages Daily Sun | thevillagesdailysun.com

https://www.districtgov.org/images/p...2009-05-08.pdf

https://www.**************.com/2022/...-reports-have/

It's not a simple question. Depends on the circumstances and a hospital's current load, capacity and capabilities.

From St Cat’s driver strongly suggested Leesburg General, due to MI. But they wanted to go to villages hospital, so that’s where patient was taken

Leesburg has been the destination along 466a. No idea if mandatory but it’s been first rate care

From my short experience with a friend of mine in TV, the ambulance took him to where he could get the fastest treatment. They have constant contact with the nearby hospital emergency rooms. If one is overloaded, you wouldn't want to go there. After all, it is an emergency.
Once they took him to Ocala, another they took him to Leesburg. But this was about eight years ago.

It depends if Leesburg is full, then Ocala is in the mix. But everyone has a choice where they want to go. Suggestions can be made, but no bus driver can make it mandatory where you go. It’s your choice, your body, your insurance.

Unless you need Level 1-2, then you aren’t capable of talking to make a choice

A friend of mine from Stonecrest was transported by ambulance to Advent health in Ocala by his request for passing blood.
No questions ask.

From my experience with the Villages Hospital, it would be way quicker to drive someone to Boston or NYC if you were looking for faster (and actually get competent) treatment.

From my experience this past August do not go to the villages hospital . I don’t understand why this hospital is still open?

#1
 

I have been told this is #1 in the area.

Ambulance
 

[QUOTE=kmspla1952;2166827]I have a question please if anyone knows the answer.
If I/husband have a serious medical issue (stroke/shock/heart attack) and an ambulance is called, I was told that we would not be able to request being taken to another hospital but MUST be brought to The Villages Hospital.
Does anyone know if that is correct?
Thank You.

As of Oct 1 VPSD is now responsible for ambulance transport. All other updates / info prior to Oct are obsolete. According to the fire chief, unless you are critical (stroke, heart attack, etc) you can request transport to a neighboring hospital, i.e. Ocala. If critical you will be taken to nearest hospital.

My experience and those of friends and relatives have had excellent care at the Villages and Leesburg hospitals. Problem is short staffed and the ER seems to have many patients without insurance, or so it appears from talking with some staff that doesn’t violate HIPPA.

Not correct. You must be firm polite and strong.

Yes, In the case of a potential life threatening illness, Parametics by law are required to transport a patient to the nearest facility, they can be over ruled by dispatch. When you become stable enough, you may request a transfer to a facility of your choice. I know back in my home state of Mass. there're were several hospitals that we transported to. Different hospitals were rated better for different incidents. Only some were trauma centers, only a couple were stroke centers. etc. In some cases if the ER was full, the dispatch might divert you to another facility. When a transport starts, the Parametic calls into dispatch with all the vital info on the patient. Dispatch is in the ER of certain hospitals, manned by nurses, maybe even a doctor. Dispatch makes the final call.

Choice of hospital
 

You may choose to go to the Villages, Leesburg, or either of the Ocala hospitals. My wife was even taken to Shands in Gainesville.

Ambulance
 

It happened to me and if you are a emergency you will go to the closest hospital always that's what the ambulance driver told me no discussion

Your LOCAL ambulance company depends on where you are when you have the problem. I live within sight of The Villages hospital and the last time I went to an ER and I drove to Waterman because I had a choice. My friend need to go to an ER and I drove to Waterman because I has a choice. If you are in Sumter County and The Villages the VPSD will pick you up. Lake, Marion, Sumter outside of the villages each have a different ambulance service. The Villages Hospital is getting better according to CMS ratings. They went from one star to two stars on the CMS hospital rating site. An F to a D.

Not true. You can choose whichever hospital. However, if it’s a serious heart issue, etc, that person would need to go to a level one trauma unit. The ambulance drivers would tell you which hospitals are

You can tell the diver where you want to go. However, a serious heart issue will mean they would have to be taken to a trauma unit.

I had a very unpleasant experience at The Villages ER in May 2022. The nurse (not an RN) who first took my vitals was seriously abusive towards me. I reported it to the hospital’s administrator and he seemed indifferent. Secondly, it took them a very long time to discharge me. They said “we’re working on the paperwork.” I was there waiting through an entire shift. Saw new personnel arrive at the nurses desk after 8 hours. Avoid this place.

This is true. My husband had a stroke almost 4 years ago. I didn't want my husband to go to The Villages Hospital but the ambulance drivers insisted. He ended up being airlifted to Shands in Gainsville. Since then Shands has bought The Villages Hospital. I don't know how equipped it is for serious trauma/injury now that it is owned by Shands.

LUFwUs, you answered it as honest as you can get, there shouldn’t be any arguments!

GOOD ONE ! :clap2: And so true

Ask to be taken to Leesberg
 

My friend was recently taken by ambulance to Leesberg Hospital. She requested to be taken there and she was. She was having heart issues.

Go to Advent Waterman in Taveres if you live south. If further north, go to Ocala General.

Whatever you do DO NOT GO TO THE VILLAGES REGIONAL HOSPITAL. Unfortunately, Leesburg Hospital isn’t much better.

OMG - Hospital Question......
 

I cannot believe this response..... this is the reason, if it's a medical question, ask someone in the medical profession. Cardiac = Trauma Unit. Not unless you were shot or stabbed in the heart or it was ripped out of your chest in an auto accident........
And I will add...... Leesburg has a great cardiac reputation, some of the best.... Ocala Regional has a new Comprehensive Stroke Unit..... State of the Art.
Please find someone in the profession.... maybe your doctor ??? to direct these questions to.
As far as the ambulance transport, I would contact the company directly and get an answer.....

Your ambulance company won't have the answer. Like I said earlier, if it's a life threatning incident, they will go to the closest facility. ER/dispatch makes the final call based on many variables.

Insist on Leesburg or Clemont

On Nov 27th a friend called me to state that due to a unknown medical condition that was discovered during a routine doctor’s appointment, she was sent by ambulance to Leesburg. She is the sole and capable caregiver of her severely disabled husband. I live in the Marion County section of The Villages but possessed the only key to the house. It was late afternoon and my friend had been sitting in a recliner since 9 am.
When I entered the home, found him (a very large man ) sitting in the recliner that would not go upright with out a manual assist from a person shoving from the back. He was unclothed from the waist down to facilitate the use of a couple urinals. He was pasty looking, large amount of bilateral edema and short of breath even while speaking. I had not seen him in a couple years.
I phoned their doctor who instructed me to call 911 for an ambulance and send him to Leesburg. She would call ER to inform to expect him. Since he was stable at this time I called the non emergency sheriff’s office and requested no fire truck-but ambulance and that per doctor’s order he was to be transported to Leesburg.

When the ambulance arrived, the personnel questioned my friend if the edema and shortness of breath were of recent onset. He said no and they refused transportation. I said that I had to leave. They told me that someone else was probably dying because they were at his house. I replied that he had a cell phone and if he was still in that physical condition trapped in a broken recliner with just snacks and two urinals, I would call 911 again. They said they would come and leave again. When I said I would call again, they threatened to call the sheriff and have me arrested. I then told them I would request the ordering doctor to call and it they could charge her.
They said if they took him, he would be turned around -sent home- He would have to pay every penny for not only the ambulance but the entire hospital bill. His condition was deteriorating and he said he was getting very dizzy and begged to go to the hospital. Their reasoning was that I used the non emergency number and said doctor advised an ambulance and he should have used a paid service. They spent at least a half hour arguing.
After placing him on the stretcher, I assumed they would preserve his dignity and cover him at least with a paper sheet. Nope a nearby hand towel was used for his manly areas. He was breathing like a blow fish out of the water- no 02 offered or head of stretcher placed in upright position.
Friends walked by him later in the ER on their way to visit his wife and he looked so bad they didn’t recognize him. He was clad in hand towel only.

The end of the story is after the doctors examined him and told the wife he was a “real mess”, he was admitted for five days- his wife for four days.
He needed help. Trapped in a broken chair, unable to move for hours in poor condition. I am glad I was there to see that he finally had assistance.
Not much more to say about your great new ambulance service.

Ambulance is required to take a critical to the nearest facility

If it’s a medical emergency, they should transport to the closest hospital. It wouldn’t be fair to other people if you’re tired up ambulance unnecessarily.

A qualified YES to the above quote, only the hospital has some ability to accept/decline the situation given their current situation in ER depending on level of care needed and the distance to available same level of care. If they are swamped/overwhelmed/lacking beds, the can accept or decline acceptance UNLESS the level of care required demands otherwise. The receiving hospital has the final call in accepting any run that is not life threatening.

NYC and Boston hospitals ARE THE BEST for special care in Northeast and south in USA
 

That is why flotida is not the best state for special care. which leave me to say think twice before you move there.

Not true
 

They took me to Leesburg on request

Last night the ambulance team (marion county) asked us where we wanted to take my father in law. We said the closest hospital is The Villages. They said The Villages is full right now with 40 people waiting in the ER. They said it might be worth the 20 minute ride to Leesburg or Ocala. We chose Ocala. We thought about the new Advent Health in Belleview which is an ER but they don't have beds. Maybe it would be a different protocol for a more serious emergency.

Personally if you could get them to Jacksonville, Florida Mayo Clinic that where I would go, but it’s an emergency you my not have choice. I had a terrible experience at TV hospital too!

This is so sad. I'm glad you were there to help.

Not in the Villages but in Fl. Auto accident. Ambulance driver told me there were 3 hospitals close by that could handle me and I could pick the one I wanted.

So, let me see if I got this right:
There’s seems that we don’t have good hospital (going by past post/replies) in the area (The Villages) and now if one wants ti be transported elsewhere most likely staying in the area?
The Villages with all its beauty (homes, grounds/golf courses, shopping and let’s not forget entertainment) does not have a good medical facility or a way to at least take someone to a different hospital?