[bdabob]

My houseguest became quite ill yesterday and the paramedics were called and they transported him to The Villages Regional Hospital, arriving at 8:45 last night. He was given some anti nausea medicine, checked his vitals, and told him to take a seat in the waiting room, which was around 9:20.
He was next seen at 04:30 this morning, a wait of seven hours. While in the waiting room we heard one patient complaining that they had been there just over 10 hours! Still another said they had been there over seven hours.
To me, these wait times are unacceptable. If not addressed, what will the wait times be when the new villages being built start to get filled up?

[jebartle]

Could you go into more detail....I'm sure you must have complained while there, what was their response?....Is your houseguest OK?

Originally Posted by bdabob

My houseguest became quite ill yesterday and the paramedics were called and they transported him to The Villages Regional Hospital, arriving at 8:45 last night. He was given some anti nausea medicine, checked his vitals, and told him to take a seat in the waiting room, which was around 9:20.
He was next seen at 04:30 this morning, a wait of seven hours. While in the waiting room we heard one patient complaining that they had been there just over 10 hours! Still another said they had been there over seven hours.
To me, these wait times are unacceptable. If not addressed, what will the wait times be when the new villages being built start to get filled up?

[TNLAKEPANDA]

Just wait until the Affordable Care Act gets into full swing. They are predicting a severe shortage of doctors. My wife was an RN all her working life and the fact is too many people run to the ER when they do not have an emergency situation. It sounds like your guest truly needed to be in the ER.

[bdabob]

Without boring you with too much detail, he has a pre existing GI condition that we were concerned had flared up again; it turned out to be an infected GI bug, which is the good news, but he was severely dehydrated and took two bags of IV to stabilize.
Every ER experiences non emergency visits and they need to prioritize their "incoming", but a seven hour wait what could have been a major abdominal issue is far too lengthy.
The woman who had been there over ten hours was admitted finally which means they deemed her condition worthy of a bed and at least an overnight stay.
The admitting desk said these waits are standard which is totally unacceptable, in my opinion.

[John_W]

If you're wondering why no one is replying, it's because this subject has been brought up dozens of times. Just do a search for TV emergency room, here's a thread from last year with 324 replies. TV emergency room

Here's another The Villages Hospital ER

Another E.R. village hospital

[justjim]

Originally Posted by bdabob

Without boring you with too much detail, he has a pre existing GI condition that we were concerned had flared up again; it turned out to be an infected GI bug, which is the good news, but he was severely dehydrated and took two bags of IV to stabilize.
Every ER experiences non emergency visits and they need to prioritize their "incoming", but a seven hour wait what could have been a major abdominal issue is far too lengthy.
The woman who had been there over ten hours was admitted finally which means they deemed her condition worthy of a bed and at least an overnight stay.
The admitting desk said these waits are standard which is totally unacceptable, in my opinion.

Thanks for your post and update regarding Villages Hospital ER. I was hoping the wait time was better but I agree with you that this is unacceptable.

We plan to go to Leesburg or Ocala if we have a similar need.

[bdabob]

Originally Posted by John_W

If you're wondering why no one is replying, it's because this subject has been brought up dozens of times. Just do a search for TV emergency room, here's a thread from last year with 324 replies. TV emergency room

Here's another The Villages Hospital ER

Another E.R. village hospital

No responses expected; just venting.

[CFrance]

The fact that the woman waiting 10 hours was finally admitted makes me suspect they don't have enough beds at the hospital to handle the demand in the winter season.

[shcisamax]

Originally Posted by bdabob

To me, these wait times are unacceptable. If not addressed, what will the wait times be when the new villages being built start to get filled up?

THAT is the real concern. 7 and 10 hour waits in the ER now...what happens with the buildout? (Oh silly me, there is no buildout)

Today my neighbor called 911 describing symptoms of unconscious and difficulty breathing and the ambulance arrived 15 minutes later. One ambulance went right on by and my neighbor was confused until 911 said there were four ambulatory calls at that time.

This density of aged population dictates a need for far more emergency services than a normal population distribution. When is someone going to figure that out?

[rockyisle]

We go to Munroe Regional in Ocala. I think I'd rather die on the road trying to get medical attention that die being ignored in the waiting room at TV's hospital. We have nothing but fabulous things to say about Munroe.

[twinklesweep]

Originally Posted by TNLAKEPANDA

Just wait until the Affordable Care Act gets into full swing. They are predicting a severe shortage of doctors. My wife was an RN all her working life and the fact is too many people run to the ER when they do not have an emergency situation. It sounds like your guest truly needed to be in the ER.

Above emphasis mine. Long before the Affordable Health Care Act, this has been true for years: that "too many people run to the ER when they do not have an emergency situation." And during all those years, for those without insurance who used/do use the ER in this way, guess who's paying for the services they receive?

Originally Posted by twinklesweep

Above emphasis mine. Long before the Affordable Health Care Act, this has been true for years: that "too many people run to the ER when they do not have an emergency situation." And during all those years, for those without insurance who used/do use the ER in this way, guess who's paying for the services they receive?

No, not everything is an emergency but there are many services that you can only get in the hospital, especially at night when all the urgent care places are closed. We should have an urgent care center that is open 24 hours.

If TVRH is going to keep people waiting then they should have some recliners there.

Originally Posted by rockyisle

We go to Munroe Regional in Ocala. I think I'd rather die on the road trying to get medical attention that die being ignored in the waiting room at TV's hospital. We have nothing but fabulous things to say about Munroe.

I love your answer, it's sad that it made me laugh. I agree--I go to Leesburg since I'm in the south end.

[shalomuall]

My friend fell on a walk in the afternoon and got a gash in her head and face and was bleeding a lot. We called the rescue squad and they took her to Leesburg Hospital since they said that The Villages ER was too full. We were there for many hours. They took her off the ambulance and put her in the waiting room. There were many people there with stomach bug and flu. It was awful. After about 3 hrs they took her in for cat scan and then back to waiting room. Finally, after about 4 1/2 hrs they called her in for stiches. They had to do it in the hallway because there were no rooms available in the ER. It was crazy. So not sure where is better.

[Chi-Town]

24 hour urgent care centers are usually extensions of hospitals. We are way overdue.