[Hancle704]

Contacted a specialist's office today, (wife has been a patient of Dr. Steepy for several years) because of concern that she had developed another urinary tract infection. Was informed that since this doctor was now part of the Villages Healthcare System and no longer part of USF Specialty Care Physicians after closing her Villages Gynecology office last year, even though she is still at same location, wife would have to be set up as a new patient and I was connected to intake specialist. Our insurance was acceptable (Medicare and United Healthcare) but earliest available date for a "new patient" was September 15th or 5 weeks from now. Explained that she had been a patient of Dr. Steepy for years and it was about reoccurrence of a possible infection that could be verified by lab and treated with antibiotic only to be told a "new patient" appointment was necessary but would not be available for 5 weeks.

There has got to be a better way to transition patients when only the name on the building changes.

[sunnyatlast]

Originally Posted by Hancle704

Contacted a specialist's office today, (wife has been a patient of Dr. Steepy for several years) because of concern that she had developed another urinary tract infection. Was informed that since this doctor was now part of the Villages Healthcare System and no longer part of USF Specialty Care Physicians after closing her Villages Gynecology office last year, even though she is still at same location, wife would have to be set up as a new patient and I was connected to intake specialist. Our insurance was acceptable (Medicare and United Healthcare) but earliest available date for a "new patient" was September 15th or 5 weeks from now. Explained that she had been a patient of Dr. Steepy for years and it was about reoccurrence of a possible infection that could be verified by lab and treated with antibiotic only to be told a "new patient" appointment was necessary but would not be available for 5 weeks.

There has got to be a better way to transition patients when only the name on the building

My bet is the doctor doesn't even know her patient is having this problem. This dr. has an excellent reputation for being caring and attentive and skilled.

[Avista]

Will your wife be using a primary care physician at The Villages Health system? Once she has a physician there, someone will see her right away about her UTI.

I am also a patient of Dr Steepy and think the world of her.

[Hancle704]

No, she will not be seeing a primary care physician at Villages health System. She already has a PCP who is really patient care centered and despite having a relationship with Dr. Steepy, when she closed her practice and became part of USF Specialty Care group she continued to see this fine caring gynecologist and had no difficulty getting appointments. But now since she has affiliated with Villages Health System my wife is apparently expected to sign up with them after waiting 5 weeks for first available appointment as a new patient. Meanwhile there was no concern shown about the possible infection.

[Mudder]

So why not go to PCP for uti? They can test and give medication. Try Azo til she can see doc.

[Avista]

Villages Health told us that once we were signed up, we could come to them if we had a problem. This was even though we hadn't met our new primary care physician.

If you want to stay with your current primary care physician, visit him/her with UTI problem.

[Hancle704]

Have already done that, so there will be no need to wait 5 weeks. Just thought it would have been nice to continue with same doctor she had seen for several years when having this kind of problem in the past.

[Didiwinbob]

Handle74- could wife's Primary Care Physician?

[MoeVonB61]

Go to 441 Urgent Care in Summerfield (open 7 days a week) and they will run a quick Laboratory urine analysis and prescribe Macrobid or another prescription to cure. You can still get on the wait list to see Dr. Steepy...