Medical Care in The Villages
 

The following is nothing more than a personal assessment of general medical care in The Villages. My own experiences, biases and opinions shape the tone. It is meant to do no harm but rather to encourage the focusing of energy into improving our system. I would be delighted if but one future Villager found it helpful in some way.

Five or is it six years ago, when we purchased our home in the Villages, a concern was the quality of medical care available here. We were getting long of tooth and leaving the Northeast's world class care options like Columbia-Presbyterian, The Kessler Institute, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering and others. Over many years we had established relationships with a wide assortment of medical professionals we have great confidence in.

When we first arrived, we realized that medical care in The Villages was going through growing pains and a metamorphosis of sorts. After research, trial and error, we found a great General Practitioner. At that time it wasn't easy because it seemed like no one was taking new patients. Since then, we have secured quality medical and dental care that we are very confident in. In some cases, the exchange of medical information here on TOTV was very helpful. We also discussed options with our new GP, friends and neighbors.

Initially, reports on hospital care suggested mediocrity at best. We were advised by many including medical and emergency service professionals to go to Leesburg Hospital for emergency heart and medical treatment. Since that time, we have witnessed positive changes in the level of emergency care at The Villages Hospital. I recall a public recognition and acknowledgement of the problem by hospital administrators. There were staff and leadership changes. It appeared someone was paying attention. The same sources that suggested Leesburg as the first option, now say improvements have placed The Villages Hospital on a par with their sister care center. Personally, I now have confidence in both facilities. They are part of the Central Florida Health Alliance. Someone more conversant may want to explain the relationship in more detail.

I guess that recent comparisons would be based on personal experience. On that note, I did have an emergency admission at The Villages Hospital. First, on entry to the hospital, I routinely reached for my insurance card and was waved off and told we're going to take care of you first. That is a first for me. I was then promptly taken to an examination room where in less than 5 minutes I was being examined by a physician. I realize that every experience may not be the same, but if my treatment was more typical than not, I would have to say the experience was exceptional. I have heard of many positive reports and a few that might not agree. On balance there seems to be more positive than negative.

Medical care is a very personal thing. In that regard, The Villages offer an extraordinary number of options. There are abundant specialty alternatives available. All of them are easily accessible....most by golf cart. If you haven't gone to the doctor or dentist in a golf cart......it's different.

Arguably, our town is the most rapidly growing community of its kind in America. Consistent with that distinction are growing pains that surface when medical services try to keep up. Mistakes are made. Markets, watchdogs and balanced media should play a role in molding and elevating the caliber of care. Energy, especially at our age, is likely better spent on improving the system then wasted on blanket vilification of what is wrong. When I was young and very angry over a chain of events, my father told me to step back. He then said, "Never tear something down unless you can offer to build it better." I know, almost every body's father told them that at some time in their life. Our fathers were very smart. They must have gone to school together. :beer3: Here's to our fathers and building it better.

If you got this far, thank you for indulging the ramblings of a Villager with no tee time today.

Have a great day.

Dear Cabo.

I found your post insightful, considered, personal and food for thought. Medical care was and is a huge consideration for us in making the move here to a full time home.

I believe that several years ago the doctors who practiced around this area did not have the education and background that I would choose as....excellent. I am a person who has been called a doctor picky person.

Now someone is going to say that there are good doctors who don't graduate from the top five medical schools in this country and I will agree. But, there are people in the the lower fourth of the class, people from another country who are getting established and other medical personnel who just couldn't get a position at a prestigious medical facility. They often start in small rural areas. And many of them become excellent. And some don't.

So when my loved ones have life threatening physical problems I want the best available. I have learned a lot about cardiac surgery, renal surgery, and cancer care and I feel satisfied that the people who are close to me have received the best that we could give them.

As this area grows to be as big as many cities in Florida, it is attracting more skilled medical personnel. So our growth is very good to improve the medical care in our area. I think it is good now and getting better every day.

I learned early on that you have a much better chance to survive if the doctor and facility have seen many, many, cases of the exact malady that you have. That is the reason that I was always told to seek a large teaching hospital for Helene's severe congenital supra valvar aortic stenosis. We did. She is here with us. I want to keep the good times going.

You are right Cabo. It is personal. We don't have time to get a medical degree when we are diagnosed with cancer. We have to seek the best care that we can get.

Many areas with population of 100 thousand people have more than one facility for cancer, heart, arthritis, eye surgery etc. etc. I think the competition keeps them seeking higher accreditation....and we can't lose sight of the fact that medical care is a business.

Just my very personal view too.

Two well thought out positions. thanks!

I greatly appreciate Cabo's positive spin. I am lucky enough that I haven't yet had to seek emergency medical care, but I am comforted that the positives of "our very own" facility are better and better.

I know any number of folks who have been here since even before the hospital was built. Most of them also came from where world-class hospitals were the norm or where teaching hospitals were It. Unfortunately, many of them still think all medical practitioners in The Villages are fourth class! It saddens me, but they're set in their minds, so who am I, also set in mine, to disabuse them? :confused:

SWR
:beer3:

Thanks for sharing of the thoughts. I for one appreciate the sharing of thoughts here.

Medical Care in The Villages
 

As a newbie and just wishing I could move this year and not next, I want to say a big thank you for what you said. As those of us from big cities with medical conditions that need care, and are now under control, it is good to hear that the care is getting better all the time in The Villages. The one fear that I have is finding GOOD Doctors and from my time a good GP is the one you see the most and they will give you names of Doctors that they think are good as they want to keep you coming to them. Just joined but been reading since last Sept.:read:

I've been working in a medical practice for the past year. We have dozens of providers. And you know what? Every patient says the same thing "I think I have the best doc in this place". It's human nature to think that you've made the right decision when it comes to your own health care.

Cabo, you're not alone ...
 

Unfortunately, I don't live in TV, I only rent for one month each year. But, I want to second your opinion of TVRH Emergency Dept. Two years ago I fell, hitting my head on pavement, and had lots of bleeding. Upon arrival at the ER, I was quickly taken to an exam room and treated. Like you, it was within 5 minutes. While I did need to flash my insurance card at reception, my insurance information also wasn't taken until I was medically discharged. That was a first! I hope to never need another visit to the ER, but if needed, I would not hesitate to go to TVRH ER.

I have over 35 years of health care experience. The quality of care at The Villages is about average. It approximates the quality in smaller communities. It is good for bread and butter issues, but travel to a university medical center for anything out of the ordinary.

:BigApplause: Thanks for the insight...sent you a PM. We all need to share our info and opinions....yours was particularly well thought out!
Char

I moved to The Villages "Belvedere" 7 years ago and there wasn't a Southern Trace or even a grocery store, we had to go to Albertsons on 441. Now in 7 short years we have a first class hospital, many physicians and now we are getting a MOFFITT. Someone pinch me, this is the most wonderful place on earth. ...I am very happy.

The Villages Regional Medical Center
 

I was down in JANUARY and interviewed a Nurse recruiter for my own decisions on where I want to work. She anwered my questions honestly. Then I was allowed to tour with the captain of the 600 volunteers, the floors that I was interested in someday working. I found that the atmosphere to be inviting and not so stressed as some of the other hospitals were. It is my goal to work for the Villages Regional Medical Center now. When you get to talk with the actual employees, one can see why they chose to work there also. I want to work where the employees are proud and happy with their work. Actually cannot wait to work and care for the people of the area.

Also, I met Gracie and she is as gracious as one gets !!!

Gotta jump in here as I needed to find a provider fairly soon after we arrived here due to some medical issues that need routine monitoring. I was blessed to find people fairly quickly...not always an easy task in a new area, for sure. We live here permenantly and I don't have the ease to return back to where we came from...which would be nice but costly. I have to say..so far I've been impressed with the medical providers I've encountered. As someone shared here..."perhaps it is 'bread and butter' kinds of issues" and ne could/should go to a larger facility if needed for special issues. Having said that...the town we came from had a very good, but small hospital. We always utilized it even though within a 1/2 hour driving time there were 4 other much larger ones (one even a teaching hospital). Many in our town would opt for that drive but you know, I heard MORE stories of mistakes etc. re: those hospitals than I did from our smaller one. "IF" the doctor's felt a patient needed a specialist they would always refer them out. I'm very relaxed about choices here in our new home!!!! :clap2:

Request for Doctor Recommendations.
 

:) We are fairly new here to TV and have heard some horror stories :ohdear: about the medical profession here. Now that we are full-time villagers, we need to get established with a new physician and dentist. May we have some names which you would recommend. Thank you.

I asked around right away (also thinking about horror stories of FL physicians) and was given Dr. Burris's name in Lady Lake. I see his nurse practioner, Sylvia Wallace. I've been very happy with that decision. She will refer me out to the people that address various issues (physical therapy etc)

I also asked around (at my church mostly) regarding a dentist. I heard good things about Laural Manor Dentistry (Dr. Still) and went there. Was VERY impressed with the care received!!

Have had some back issues so went to Dr. Daniel Spurrier's seminar and ultimately made an appointment with him and now am getting great care. He's conservative, NOT knife happy! I'm currently dealing with it through a pain management provider.

I'm sure there's a plethora of good providers here! As someone else stated as T.V. grows it will draw more "world-class" people and we'll have many to choose from that will have great qualifications. I always check where they were educated and what their credentials might say as well. The internet is a great way to do this checking!! Also IF you hear more than 3 or 4 complaints by word of mouth about someone...that would be a red-flag for me for sure!! A sour word here or there might just be just that--sour grapes.

Hello fellow Villagers,

I'm new to the Villages and am slowly finding my feet around here. We love it here.

I read the above posts and thank every one for posting, it is very helpful.

Now, my question is who's a GREAT chiropractor around here?

I left the best chiropractor in the world where I came from and need a replacement ASAP as I can no longer sleep due to my back being out of alignment.

If anyone can suggest a really EFFECTIVE one, I would be forever in your debt.

Thanks so much !

Wife and I have been very happy with the care given by R. Kim Etheredge, D.C. He has offices at LSL and Fruitland Park.

Ditto on Etheredge Chiropractic.

Great post and thank you. :BigApplause:

Dear Cabo.

I found your post insightful, considered, personal and food for thought. Medical care was and is a huge consideration for us in making the move here to a full time home.

I believe that several years ago the doctors who practiced around this area did not have the education and background that I would choose as....excellent. I am a person who has been called a doctor picky person.

Now someone is going to say that there are good doctors who don't graduate from the top five medical schools in this country and I will agree. But, there are people in the the lower fourth of the class, people from another country who are getting established and other medical personnel who just couldn't get a position at a prestigious medical facility. They often start in small rural areas. And many of them become excellent. And some don't.

So when my loved ones have life threatening physical problems I want the best available. I have learned a lot about cardiac surgery, renal surgery, and cancer care and I feel satisfied that the people who are close to me have received the best that we could give them.

As this area grows to be as big as many cities in Florida, it is attracting more skilled medical personnel. So our growth is very good to improve the medical care in our area. I think it is good now and getting better every day.

I learned early on that you have a much better chance to survive if the doctor and facility have seen many, many, cases of the exact malady that you have. That is the reason that I was always told to seek a large teaching hospital for Helene's severe congenital supra valvar aortic stenosis. We did. She is here with us. I want to keep the good times going.

You are right Cabo. It is personal. We don't have time to get a medical degree when we are diagnosed with cancer. We have to seek the best care that we can get.

Many areas with population of 100 thousand people have more than one facility for cancer, heart, arthritis, eye surgery etc. etc. I think the competition keeps them seeking higher accreditation....and we can't lose sight of the fact that medical care is a business.

Just my very personal view too.

These two posts sure eased my mind as a future Tv'er.

Thank you cabo35 and Gracie. :BigApplause:

Russ, what practice do you work in?

Searching for a doctor is like going through a 4th class directory. If I'd have known it was this bad, I'd have rethought buying here....

I think the quality of doctor's here is less than US standards...at least in GP or Internist choices.

There are bad apples in every basket. We are very happy with the doctors that we have had contact with in TV. You just need to keep looking and ask neighbors who they recommend.

Medical Care
 

Wife and I move here 19 months ago. ALL of the doctors we've found have been far better then what we had on Long Island. Both their staff and equipment have been top notch. I'v got cardio, ortho, urologist, general and today on very short notice I found a great Dentist ( thanks to recomendations from totv ). My wife found a cardio, GP, and internist. I also had the pleasure of using TVRH day surgery for a recent knee operation. As I said I found ALL of our Drs to be very good. Maybe it's just luck on our part or the Dr's we had up north were that bad. Just our opinions

hooray!
 

I was glad to hear that so many are happy with their docs. While I was there 2 weeks ago, a man at the pool did nothing but complain about how bad the health care was there. He went on to say that of course he was from New York and was used to The Best in the World. Well I am a nurse sooo all of this concerns me.

Just another thought...it is a bit negative so help me out here. Since most patients are under Medicare....it seems like a "One Horse Town" so to speak and wonder if things go bad for Medicare if the docs will leave. If docs can't cover their expenses....Medicare does not reimburse adequately this could be a huge issue. BTW....I don't want this to go political....but it is a concern so please stay generic.

If everyone who is pleased with their doctors would specify the doctor's name it would be helpful to those of us who continue to search for someone we can be happy with. Thanks!

Not there yet.

Search around TOTV and you'll see lots of suggestions on good GPs.

As far as medicare changes go - yes I see some adjustments but I would really doubt a mass exodus in local docs. Just TOO many patients in one concentrated area.

Drs
 

Dr Cowin Ortho
Dr Paulk Urologist
Dr Smolarski GP
Dr Vishnu Yelamanchi Cardio
Dr Yalini Yelamanchi Internist
Dr Baskar Gastro
Colony Modern Dentistry

Just my opinion

I NEVER believed in chiropractic care until I met Dr, Liz McLeod at McKenney Chiropractic in Belleview (352-245-8955)

Speaking of medical care; my son, who is currently in paramedic school and employed by Marion County Fire Rescue, told me those new Sumter county EMS transport trucks (blue & yellows), only carry a "jump bag." They carry virtually no EMS supplies on board.

I think it's about time the Villages Fire Dept. handles their own transport to hospitals. That's where the money is made for fire depts.

If I go down with a heart attack, I hope it's not in Sumter county.

It is indeed human nature....and cognitive dissonance reduction! I have had occassion to see two doctors here.. One I was not at all impressed with. He was dictating his notes BEFORE he said word one to me! The other seemed very through and on top of things. I am hoping for the best.

Although a relatively new Villager,
 

I sense adequate care, not necessarily excellent care. I researched heavily for an internist, and met with her last week for the first time. I found her
to be all I had hoped for and more, but what seems illusive is what will happen if... if I need more than a fabulous internist?

I was fortunate to work for over 20 years at Mount Sinai Medical Center on Miami Beach in administration. As I look back at my years there and concurrently their growth as a major medical center, I so wish the Morse
and Schwartz family had looked to an affiliation with them...a partnership if you will...to provide a Center for Eexcellence for the Aging here. Between
technology, computerization, and avionics - the ability to recieve the care quickly, the skills and techniques of a teaching hospital, and evening my odds
of quality care in the third, third of my life is of more importance now than I ever would have thought.

The medical machinery, so to speak, which these large not for profit hospitals must acquire to keep up with or use with research is not something most community or even regional for profit hospitals can afford. I have seen that close up and personal. A medical center like Mount Sinai could have a presence here, if asked. But, it would take asking and the mix of for and not for profit policies and procedures. What a bold and striking move to look at over 80,000 (and growing) elderly with the opportunity for affordable, qualitative, and outstanding resources.

This is the only area in which I see The Villages as a planned urban development having missed the mark. On the other hand, the standard of care practices required of these medical center facilities might not mesh with current staff of the hospital here, therein lies the rub. A non certified Board physician might not be allowed to practice in the scenario I outlined, and therein lies the rub for some of our physicians here. I only know I was
fortunate to be a part of a large team of the best physicians and medical experts I've ever known, and it is worrisome to me, if needed, to try and get that care here. But, I'm going to try.

What you're talking about is why the affiliation with USF and the health study was formed, and why Moffitt Comprehensive Cancer Center has come here.
http://villages.health.usf.edu/

As for possibly needing a "more fabulous" internist, that is affected a lot now by the fact that hospitalists are used in more and more hospitals, and they do the in-hospital care. We have seen some of the most excellent, experienced and wise internists quit doing private practice and take a hospitalist position because they are fed up with the headaches of running a practice and trying to make ends meet. Even with a "more fabulous" internist, the hospitalist may or may not be fabulous and skilled and wise.

In the end, we're always ready to seek another opinion in Gainesville, Tampa, Orlando, Miami, or wherever.

Talk to everyone you meet and also go online and google the doctor's name. I would have to say I've been VERY fortunate since we moved here. EVEN got a diagnosis of a chronic illness that was missed "up north" and got put on treatment immediately. TOTV is a good resource (if you ignore the pessimists and chronically negative folks) for making good assessments on where to find a good practioner. We ALL need to be our own advocates in health-care and that transcends down to our appointment/visits. Ask questions and dig deeper with them. Remember it's a doctor's "practice"---they aren't gods nor do they know EVERYTHING!!

I have been a patient in The Villages Hospital and the over-all care was excellant (was there for 5 days)...coming through from the ER and on to surgery later. I can say there were maybe with emphasis on "maybe" two practioners I wouldn't want to see again out of many! So as someone else said on this thread---you'll find "so-so" folks in every "basket" and you need to be the one to assess!! My thinking is that when TV was smaller and before there even was a hospital---that you wouldn't have the care here you have been used to, but as the area grows we will get some health=care here that will be great!!!

See post entitled "Sumter County EMS" under Gen. Discussion

I was very worried about medical care here
 

I came from a town with a very well thought of medical college. The presence of Univ. of Cinti med school increased the excellence of medical care across the board in that area. I came here and tried several physicians before I settled on Joan DeRiggs, PAC. She is a Physicians assistant in with Dr. Azzizulah. I am very pleased with her care, she is very knowledgeable and thorough. When I need to see an MD I see Dr. "Winn" (pronunciation correct, spelling not correct.)

I saw Stephen Bookbinder, a rheumatologist in Ocala who was not terribly personable and changed to Dr. Miguel Gonzales in TV and Leesburg. Dr. Choudry is a neurologist with whom I was very pleased. I switched cardiologist to Dr. Georg Couterier in Spanish Springs. I am pleased with him as well.
We go to Serenity Dental Spa in SS and are happy with them.

I am glad that you had a good experience with Dr. Choudry. I saw him just once and found him to be condescending and rude. He didn't like the fact that I questioned him as to why I needed a very expensive medication that he wanted to prescribe. He got angry when I questioned him as to why he was insisting I go see another specialist at Celebration Hospital. I was just supposed to listen to his recommendations, not say a word and not ask any questions. I don't operate that way when it comes to most areas of my life so, needless to say, I didn't go back. His communication bordered on abuse and no patient should have to put up with that from anyone. I was referred to him for two issues and both resolved themselves on their own and through other holistic measures. He MAY be a good neurologist but he was not the right one for me.

I moved here from Minneapolis in 2006. I found a good dentist via a referral from a family meneber. However I have gone through two primary care docs. My preference is to be with docs associated with the Munro system. I presently use my cardiologist as my primary and attempting to find a primary associated with Munro. Unfortunately I have had to be hospitalized twice since arriving and found Munro staff to be professional, friendly ,etc. My brother also had two serious operations both at Munro and I was so impressed with the staff.

A number of my neighbors have also found dificulty in locating a primary but I think it has to do with shortages of primary doctors around the country.

I agree. As a retired physician who has worked in private practice and in academics, most of the primary care physicians in this area have training in either foreign programs or midlevel US programs. Many villagers are used to high quality primary care in Minnesota, Chicago, Boston, NY, Philadelphia, etc. We have a large number of well educated, sophisticated retirees who miss the good primary care they received "back home." Wouldn't it be great if we as villagers can get internists from USF, Mayo, or UF here, just as we have a branch of the Moffitt Cancer Center? Just a thought, what do others think?

You are so right about the backgrounds of most of the physicians here.

Getting excellent care for us seniors is a selling job and one that requires a LOT of expertise in starting a teaching medical facility...and good teaching medical facilities take decades to evolve. Seems that those with the research funds would be interested in an excellent geriatric facility...if the medicare funds don't dry up.

Follow the money.

(You forgot to mention Cincinnati.)

You'll just have to come out of retirement, Doc....... :)

Fat chance, huh ?