Hospital ratings
 

In an emergency, which hospitals near The Villages have the best ratings?

I believe there is a problem with the Medicare method of rating hospitals. As I understand it there is an assumption that all hospitals have a similar patient base. Unfortunately for hospitals in this area there is a greater portion of older patients, which leads to a higher-than-average death rate at the hospitals and therefore a lower rating. I do not know of any other rating system, bear this in mind when you start getting replies. The other problem is many of the hospital ERs are being used for NON emergency purposes, which causes major backups, especially during snowbird season. There are now several local stand alone ERs as well as a few Urgent care facilities.
NOTE: it appears if you call an ambulance, you will NOT have a choice of which facility you want to go to, we had this happen personally.

We called for ambulance for wife this past Jan. We told them er on 466a and they took her there.

Neighbors experience; as long as the requested facility is accepting patients they honored her request.

I would guess it all depends on the ambulance affiliation(s).

In an emergency the closest one is the best

I can see that if it’s life and death the ambulance takes you to the nearest hospital. But what I was wondering is if, for example, years ago, I broke my knee cap in Kailua in Hawaii and the ambulance took me to their nearest hospital. But once it was stabilized, I had a choice of where to get surgery. (That hospital was amazing, after I was sent home they called me every day two times a day to see how I was doing.) I never had that experience once I’ve been discharged before.

The reason I am asking this question because my insurer wants to guide me to certain hospitals, I would like to chose my own and if that hospital is not on their list, I go with a different insurance company.

You are correct. The demographics of a hospital's catchment area greatly affects its rating, and there is even more. Medicare generally bases its ratings on outcomes in 4 DRG's----acute MI (heart attack), CVA (stroke), CAP (Community acquired pneumonia) and nosocomial (hospital acquired) infections. A somewhat poor score in any of those drags the rating down, even if they were 100% in hundreds of other DRGs. And note, the outcome of any of those 4 DRGs gets much worse as the population ages.

On the other hand, specialty hospitals get extremely high ratings---I haven't looked but 10 years ago the #1 rated hospital was solely an ENT facility in Utah, generally followed by single specialty eye hospitals. As you can imagine, there aren't many strokes, heart attacks or pneumonias in those facilities, so their numerator is ZERO.

And lastly, because of the way the data is reported and collated, these ratings lag 2-3 years behind the actual situation at any given facility---no different than looking at a restaurant review from 3 years ago.

I find it kind of naive and misleading if the demographics is not taken into account in evaluating and rating a hospital. My FIL was CEO of the largest cancer hospital in my northern city and while they lost a lot of patients because of the nature of their illness, the hospital is considered one of the best in the country.

A doc told me some years ago when someone reports with major illness, the goal is usually to keep them alive long enough to pass on from some other disease.

I would ask the ambulance crew which hospital they would go too, if they were the patient.
They know which A&E's are best.

Perhaps with a cardiac event, but not for all emergencies. I would rather travel farther to wait for way less time when I get there and be seen by competent doctors. I only traveled 10 minutes to get to the former Villages hospital, but then proceeded to wait 12 1/2 hours to be negligently misdiagnosed and sent packing. My next trip was approximately an hour and a half drive to Gainesville, where I was seen immediately and admitted to critical care where they proceeded to save my life. Closest most definitely wasn’t even close to being better.

To be honest after spending less than helpful ED on 44, then a never again trip to villages hospital. Both of us agree take a chance and just drive to Gainesville.

Now if UF will ever get the stroke bus up and running it will be a great improvement getting important treatment in route from your home.

It’s akin to the way crime statistics are compiled. The vaunted per capita explanation. You could have a double homicide in Anywhere USA and for at least those few hours, that community is the most dangerous place in the country.

Last Fall I had 2 heart attacks back to back followed by immediate 5 by pass surgery. Adventhealth Ocala was flawless in my care and today I am doing very well. They combine faith in God and prayer along with medical wisdom. I couldn't have been better taken care of anywhere.

When we moved here, one piece of advice we got was, if it is life or death, do whatever it takes to get to Gainesville. My wife got extremely sick. Her primary care doc referred her to a specialist in Ocala who referred her to an other specialist in Ocala who said she needed to see a specialist in Gainesville - who saved her. Now, all our doctors are in Gainesville. It's worth the hour drive up there.

The VA hospital in Gainsville...

I will start by letting you know I am a nurse…
Just to clarify for you, the hospital in TV is now a UF Health Hospital…the same as “Gainesville” which is UF Health. University of Florida Health hospitals all used to be called “Shands” hospitals. I moved here from Jacksonville & we all know that there are 4 major hospital names there (plus Mayo) BUT, for trauma…Shands (UF Health) is the absolute best. So when we think of the hospital here in TV, think University of Florida Health (same as Gainesville.) That being said, ANY hospital is only as good as the employees that work there.

Very recently my wife was experiencing symptoms of a heart attack. I took her to the ER on Rt 44 across from Brownwood. We were pleasantly surprised by the care received. She was not having a heart issue but they were very thorough with her care

In NY, the closest one is REQUIRED. My mom always went to one hospital - 1.1 miles away. The ambulance took her to the other hospital a mile away - which she never went to. They didn't know who to call (the other hospital did) and she was alone in a coma for three days.

I wonder if whether or not you are taken to the hospital of your choice depends on the health problem and the ER status. Last year my husband was taken by ambulance to the hospital of our choice.

I sort of disagree. The highest rated hospital on Long Island has the HIGHEST death rate - because they take all the worst heart conditions.

AdventHealth/Waterman (not AdventHealth/Ocala) has the highest rating between Orlando and Tampa and Gainesville. That’s what I use. They are fanatical about avoiding MRSA, and that is one reason why their rating is so high. I had a hip replacement there (Dr. Radnothy), and I was very pleased with the care. It’s about 35 minutes’ drive for me. Also, if you are in their system, if there is a problem that demands the most advance treatment, such as a very rare heart condition, they can send you to AdventHealth/Orlando, which is the top-rated hospital in Florida.

GE post #7....addresses this perfectly

Having been in the Villages Hospital (now UofF) I can say things have changed for the better. The last three ER visits were less than 45 minutes. Once admitted, it is the difference between night and day since the university took over. The staff is very attentive and caring. Big, big difference from days gone by.

Ambulance took husband to The Villages Hospital after he fell and broke knee. They took X-rays. He sat in a chair only to be told six hours later that they don’t do orthopedics. Had to hire transport to get him home only to call ambulance next morning to take him to another hospital.

Hmm how long ago was this?

I'm afraid I have to disagree to disagree.

When talking about NY, the whole Health Dept. reporting is, well, wonky. As chairman of Quality Assurance, then Chief of Staff and member of the Board of directors of a Central NY hospital, I dealt with these issues for over 15 years.

The first thing to realize is that NYC area was treated entirely differently than the rest of NY State. The NYSDOH targeted many upstate hospitals because politics/philosophy made them impotent in the NYC area. Many NYC hospitals did not even bother to report the required data to the state, and the state could do nothing about it, since NYC was where the votes were. Long Island wasn't as bad, but they still got pretty much a "free ride" as far as the state went.

Now, when it is state the highest rated hospital had the highest mortality rate, that is not unusual. May I assume you are referring to St' Francis in Port Washington? (possibly Winthrop?). I did a rotation in 1982 with Randy Griepp---one of the top 5 cardiothoracic surgeons in the country at the time. He had a very high mortality rate since he would take on cases that others wouldn't touch, plus by operating at Kings County his cases were far more advanced. I believe he ran about 4% mortality while Spencer, Shumway and Cooley were running 1%. When the media started publishing these numbers he looked pretty bad, because they didn't explain it.

Bottom line, unless you are on the inside, these numbers should be taken with a grain of salt. Since I am not "on the inside" in Florida, I am just as much in the dark here as the rest of you.

great information! thanks for sharing!

First, IMO, every hospital has mostly good people with some bad apples or bad services. I worked in hospital-based cancer centers for nearly 40 years, and I learned to ask coworkers where they would go for XYZ services, so I would ask your primary care doctor and specialists where they would recommend. Individuals, like me, may base all of our opinions on limited data, even a single good/bad encounter, so a large grain of salt with posters. I had an afib issue and went to UF off 44. The ER wait was not trivial as there were others ahead of me. Once I was seen, I was very comfortable with the physician, staff, facilities and care given as well as their recommendations. Another qualitative measure is using Press Ganey scores (in my experience many hospitals use it), which are based off patient ratings, and while it's only how people "felt" about their care, it's enough of a sample to give you an idea.

You can choose which hospital you want to go to. I specified the er on 466a and at first they said if I needed to be hospitalized it would be another transport and I would have to pay. Was in and out with x rays mri and a cat scan in two hours, much better than the. Villages hospital.

Avoid if possible the HCA facilities in the area.

Quite impressive. I'm glad you were well care for and had a wonderful outcome.

I'm glad that your wife had such good care.

5 1/2 years ago my husband had a stroke. He was airlifted from TV hospital to Gainesville. I can't say enough good things about the care he received in ICU Neuro. They did not expect him to survive but thankfully he is here today. I'll keep a very long story short but he ended up in several different parts of the hospital and one was Pulminary where a nurse saved my husband's life after a cardiac arrest. Later when I thanked the nurse he was so humble about it. All in a days work.

I can’t say enough good things about HCA Florida North Florida Hospital in Gainesville. That facility saved my life after the former Villages Hospital failed me miserably.

U.S. News rates hospitals, I’ve found it very helpful.

https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals

Tp clarify my initial comment, the Villages ambulance would NOT take my wife to the ER at Trailwinds as they were positive her shoulder was broken and would require surgery, so the transport had to be directly to a hospital. She ended up at the former Villages Hospital, no orthopedic surgeon on call, so had to be transferred to Leesburg. Great surgeon and care.

Where you are taken is apparently completely at the discretion of the ambulance. They usually default to the closest ER even if they know that facility does not offer the service you clearly need. Not their problem. voice of experience.

Gainesville is the way to go
 

All I can say is go to shands this is the hospital that has saved my life 3 Times. In the last two years. Stabilize and move immediately if that is what you can do. PS the last time they saved me was last Tuesday.

Y'all intelligent old folks crack me up
 

You are attempting to discuss relatively minor medical issues as "emergencies". Just drive your wife or husband to wherever you want her or him to go. You can pretend to know if its worth driving to Gainesville because you know best. You've even got a Chief of Staff ranting about NYC...this ain't NYC and a broken kneecap or shoulder is not an emergency. I was an Emergency Room RN for over 30 years at a major Trauma and Burn Center. If you are dying you will NOT be dictating where you will go to die....so get over your entitled selves please. Your reflux or arthritic pain is NOT an emergency and you should go see your PCP about it instead of keeping your Tee time. I guarantee you will not care what emergency room you land in when you actually have an event and we won't care if you have Medicare Supplement or Advantage.....Don't abuse the Emergency System because when you do you kill someone that actually needed it!!! For those stuck on the CMMS ratings...aka Medicare...My career was at a known hospital system in Baltimore, which is home to Medicare and Social Security, and I know Hospital Surveyors. Don't trust their ratings unless you believe all government workers are actually conscientious workers, committed to their jobs, and only thinking of your lives, like you believe they are. But that's just an insiders view and not what you'll see on CNN. Take away what you will and say what you will about me...but I will stilI know truth and laugh at your lament over where's the "best". The "best" is exactly what treatment you need at the moment...and nothing more or nothing less

Interesting post. Now, I read the testimonials, and nobody was advocating rushing to the ER with "arthritis". I did see acute MIs, stroke, orthopedic surgery issues and neuro ICU admissions.

Meanwhile, the topic is "hospital ratings", so I would not categorize explaining the inner workings of the system "a rant". (BTW, is the above a "rant" about Baltimore????)

But we can agree about the surveyors. I think we both know you get a citation for a doorknob that is 1/2 inch too high or a faucet that leaks 1 drop per hour, not to mention they plant 2 people in medical records to make sure i's are dotted.