I will NEVER set foot in advanced dermatology again.
 

I will NEVER set foot in advanced dermatology again.They refused to believe that a spot was cancerous after doing a botched biopsy that came back negative. I pointed it out 3 times and they kept chanting that the biopsy was negative despite the fact that by their own measurement it was growing. When it started to ulcerate I dumped those jerks and went to see a real dermatologist. unfortunately at that point it needed a huge graft which has left my head looking like a moonscape. If that wasn't bad enough, my wife was still going for stelara shots for her psoriasis and they have screwed up every time by not getting the drug in on time despite the fact that she proactively called them ahead of time every month....and they never have the decency to call and say they did or didn't get it. causing her to lose a day of work because she takes off, shows up and NO SHOT HAS BEEN OBTAINED FOR HER. these people in that office, front to back of house are incompetent and not to be trusted.

Who is the Doctor?

What is the doctor's name? I think they are in my PCP plan.

I am sorry to hear about all this. It sounds like even though it continued to grow the place was NOT malignant. Thank Heavens.

Seems to be several doctors in that office. Could you please let us know which one you saw? Information would be helpful.

the problem was less with the doctors and more the staff. I was initially biopsied by dr. Bond but the problems came with the follow up via PA's under the non-supervision of whomever the female doctor there is, I say whomever since she didn't bother to introduce herself and was deep in conversation with one of the assistants on some topic unrelated to my case, when I called her over and asked how it could be nothing when its growing in size, she too just referred to her notes based her answer on that instead of looking at a cancer that was starting to ulcerate...too bad they didn't have an intern there because even an intern would have recognized an obvious squamous cell cancer. As far as my wife's experiences with her treatment, that's just plain staff incompetence, they even tried to blame the problems on my wife.....who has had to call the insurance company, the pharmacy that supplies the drug and the doctors office before every single shot because they have failed to do their part at the doctors office every single time...nope three strikes they are out!!:cus:

it was a squamous cell cancer that was growing very fast and considering that I am a transplant patient on immuno-suppressives, it was extremely dangerous and for that reason I won't go to a practice that endangered my life out of laziness.

What we don't know is the Dermatologist version of this story. However, if accurate as described by the OP both of these situations could possibly amount to malpractice.

I've been to four different determatologist here and haven't found a good one yet.

Who are you going to now? I wish you well.

UF Dept. of Dermatology
 

Try the Department of Dermatology at the University of Florida in Gainesville. It's only an hour away and within a mile of the exit off of I-75. I saw them last month and was more than satisfied. With restaurants and a "real" mall nearby, it can be a nice day trip, if you choose to make it such. In any event, I feel that my health is well worth the trouble of a one hour drive to reputable doctors who are affiliated with a well-respected teaching and research medical center. As a retired registered nurse, I know that the best medical schools choose the best undergrads; the best residency programs choose the best medical students; and the best medical centers choose the best new doctors. The most outstanding doctors simply have too many better offers than anything The Villages has to offer. Frankly, if I were an outstanding, top-of-my-class, 30-something new doctor looking to start my career, why would I ever want to live near The Villages, when I had so many better opportunities? There's simply nothing near here that would appeal to a young doctor, hoping to settle down, build a practice, and raise a family. Go to Gainesville. You won't be disappointed.

I'm so sorry for your doctor trouble. The more I read about health care in TV I find I am starting to rethink my decision to live here. Perhaps a change of address, even though I've only lived here a very short time, might be something to consider. Wonder if I can sell a six week old gardenia without much grief.

Diane - My experience with doctors in the Villages has been very good. I have a gp, an endocrinologist, a gastroenterolgist (sp?), a urologist, and a cardiologist and feel that the treatment that I have received from these doctors is first rate. You just need to find the right doctors if your experience is bad.

John

You might. can you pm me details? If you aren't happy you should be.
Kitty

Thanks for letting me know that what I hear may be the exception and not the rule.

If you think you made a mistake by moving to The Villages, I would just have to say you should have checked out everything before moving.

However, if your home is only 6 weeks old, you will be able to sell without much of a problem - except you are not allowed to make any profit on it no matter what agent lists for you. Any profit would have to be given to The Villages.

There is a one year time period that you cannot sell and make a profit. This is to discourage flipping.

I did do what I thought was a great deal of due diligence before moving to TV. As far as selling, breaking even would be fine but I haven't quite decided to pack up yet. I made an off the cuff comment.

Don't even think about it. On or off the cuff!

Thank you. Still figuring it out. I miss what was and am not yet used to what is.

I use several doctors in and around the villages that I am more than satisfied with, don't let my one bad experience color your view of the care available here.

I share your concerns with Drs in TV and have had two bad experiences so far. I think it just takes some homework to find someone you like or go outside the area like Gainsville or Jacksonville for your major work ups.

As a passing point, I have heard that you can't sell a new house for 1 year after you buy it but that could just be a rumor. Just something to consider.

I am going back to my Dr. In Orlando this week. Next time I'll try someone around here. I'm not ready to quit on TV yet.

A lot to offer
 

The Villages have a lot to offer, how about our charter school, no crime, plenty to do, good restaurants. I do think TV should offer doctors something more, how about letting them have a resident card?
How many think its a good idea, or do you have another idea?

Sorry, I have no other ideas. Wish I did. But I say if they want a resident card, they can buy a house here.

my last word on AD
 

today my wife went for her last visit to advanced Dermatology to pick up her records and get her last dose of Stelara from them, she waas informed she could self inject it...was given her records and a syringe. She was NOT given any instruction on how to inject this shot as REQUIRED by the manufacturer for self injection, just here's your stuff, goodbye. Needless to say something went wrong and an $8,000 drug wound up wasted. happily my lawyer says we have a good basis for a malpractice suit. good riddance to a terrible practice.

why would you give anything extra to doctors? they don't give you anything for nothing! Do you think that would make the good doctors give up an existing practice to come here? Let's face it, a good experienced doctor isn't giving up a practice elsewhere, at best they might open a second office here, that's why you have all the medical groups here staffed with doctors who just passed the US boards.

WOW, what an awful experience. According to this link, the first self-injection is suppossed to be supervised by a medical practicioner. You have to keep Stelara refrigerated and then let it come to room temperature before injecting. Lots of things need to be explained..like where to inject...must be injected at a 45 degree angle etc. I'm shocked that they would just give your wife a syringe without instructions. How about disposal of the syringe...you are NOT supposed to just throw it in the regular garbage. Hope your wife is OK.

Stelara Official FDA information, side effects and uses.

It's not a drug to be taken lightly. When I called the insurance company about a replacement they were 'disgusted', their word, that she was given no instruction at all. It is in my lawyer's hands now.

I don't blame you I too expect quality service when I am paying for it. Don't get take my money else where!

[B]"If you think you made a mistake by moving to The Villages", I would just have to say you should have checked out everything before moving" [/B] Most people can't visit TVs enough to possible know everything about the villages or the surrounding areas... You find that out after you live there for year or two. That's why forums are good source tap knowledge from people that has been there awhile!

I too have a complaint regarding Advanced Dermatology
 

Three years ago I went into Advanced Dermatology with a spot on my upper lip. Without doing a biopsy on the area they used liquid nitrogen and I could feel the over-spray but assumed there would be no residual effects. I now have a depigmented area the size of a jelly bean under my nose which started out being the size of a pencil tip. I am currently undergoing a treatment, at my expense, to hopefully repigment the area at the cost of $250.00 a treatment.(let's just hope it works.) I addressed it with Advanced Dermatology but without ever requesting to see the area, they refused to take any responsibility. To further my frustration with them, I repeatedly pointed out two separate areas of suspicion to them at visits and was told the areas looked alright. Long story short, they were both finally biopsied and diagnosed as squamous cell cancers and surgically removed. I have since moved-on and found a new dermatologist which I am scheduled to see for the first time in August. Live and learn but a reminder each time I look in the mirror!

Trust Instincts
 

A couple of years ago I had a little spot on my arm. I was out of town and saw a Dr. in southern Florida who said I had an infection and gave me a prescription for antibiotics. I did not take them as it just didn't sound right.
I came back home to The Villages and saw a PA at a local Urgent care because ours was not open late Sunday, and he said it was an infection and again gave a prescription of antibiotics. Again it did not seem right I didn't fill the prescription and I went to the Urgent Care in Lake Sumter (who I swear by) and sure enough the Dr. there said it was probably a form of skin cancer. Cut it out sent to a lab came back as a mild form of skin cancer and sent me to Dr. Tram to have it treated. Message from this is to trust yourself, know your body and if it doesn't feel/seem right it probably isn't.:sigh:

I understand your reasoning but you may be wrong. Our son has had a very successful practice for 22 years. He is, however
, thinking of selling his practice and joining a group practice. Why? Because he is tired of all of the paperwork, government regulations, insurance companies, staffing problems, paying the mortgage, payroll taxes and on and on. He says I just want to practice medicine.