Villages Healthcare System
 

Would appreciate any comments, pro or con, regarding your opinion of The Villages Healthcare system. Since it has been in use for awhile, I am sure there are many opinions out there. We are debating about whether or not to join. Thanks for your replies.

We go to the Pinellas Center and are very satisfied. The doctor spends whatever time is needed with us. Needed to get in once when pretty sick and got a same day appointment with no problem.

Have been a patient at Colony for 2 years. Happy with it. There were some growing pains in the early days (their capabilities didn't always match their PR), but things now seem to work well.

DH and I both go to Mulberry. Very satisfied, especially now with all records on line. Focused, attentive staff. Drs spend time as needed at each visit. My dr picked up a few things that my previous primary physician (up north) should have. Would recommend.

We were very happy with our first meeting with Dr. Perez in Pinellas. We wanted to get in before the available slots were filled, even though we will not be full time Villagers until next year.

I go to the Santa Barbara location. I joined the VHC on line before they even opened. I love it !!

I agree completely. We both go to Santa Barabra and love it. Very caring and prompt care always!

Join Village Health in Colony, Dr. Long very happy,now if I can decide what health insurance Advantage or Medicare sulplement be all set.

Love the system! Dr. Long is attentive and focuses on me, not paper work. Always on time. Can't beat it!

Not impressed so far. We had an incident over the weekend with a rather serious fall in which my wife injured her eye. We were out of town. The emergency room told her to see an ophthalmologist as soon as we got back home. I called 1st thing in the morning (8am) and Dr Perez is totally booked. After I complained long and loud they gave us a 5pm appointment with a physicians assistant. I don't want a PA this is my wife and this is her vision we're talking about here. Finally they told me to call back tomorrow at 7:30 and they would see if they could get her in till see 'a doctor'. What happened to the same day appointment they are so proud of? So far I am not seeing a whole lot of that ' we care' I was told to expect. Just the same old medical bureaucracy . Not a great way to begin a relationship.

Do you need a referral to see a specialist?

For something as serious as an eye injury, I would run--not walk--to an opthamologist. That is a true emergency. I'm surprised the staff at the Health Center encouraged you to wait.

I hope your wife is doing well.

Yes you do. It is an HMO. You have to have a primary Dr. and everything must be approved through him/her. If you want to go to any specialist, you must have a PPO to avoid needing referrals. You don't even need a PCP if you don't want one.

I would have gone to an urgent care center.

The Villages Health does work with one Medicare Advantage Plan, United Healthcare. Many of the their patients are enrolled in this plan, but others like myself are not. I have a Blue Cross Blue Shield Plan. I don't need a referral. The Villages Healthcare Plan is not an HMO.