[Cassie325]

Driving behind the Walmart on Rt 466....on Woodridge Drive....near the church that is being built.....there is a sign near new construction....it states "Coming Soon...Gracious Retirement Living".

In my past life in the Senior Housing world....this slogan was used for a company called Holiday Retirement Corporation. They are an independent living company....similar to the new Freedom Pointe....only you don't have to "buy into it".

So in the next year there are two huge independent communities slated to open, a huge assisted living (on Rt 301 just outside TV's), the new nursing home, the two new hospitals (one a VA and the other a short term rehab) and then possibly 1 more hospital (TVRM) South of 466A....

This is going to be one fabulous medical arena.....not that it is not right now....but that also gives the area so much more opportunity to employ many people....which of course adds to the housing of families in the area....which of course adds to the amount of people utilizing the entertainment in the squares....which of course helps the local economy when they go to the shops and eateries in the squares....the benefits just go on and on!!!

I guess I was smart and a head of the game when I moved my family down here!!!

Not only is TV's great for those that want to retire, but also for many people looking for employment, especially in this tough economy.

God Bless The Villages!!

[Muncle]

Well said, Cassie. Very thoughtful comments about the health care potential of this area and the other impacts that would bring about.

[SABRMnLgs]

Fabulous medical area???? Yeah right. Maybe if your a MD, an RN, LPN or CNA. But try being a radiology or lab tech or any of the other ancillary services we went to school for.
Prior to our moving here (which was one of the prime reasons) was because of all the doctors offices here. Doctors need ancillary employees don't they? Apparently not! We sent out over 60 resume's and received not ONE reply. We took the 5 day rent a house plan so we could check it out.
I visited over 20 doctor's offices in those 5 days. Not one of them had
radiology or labratory facilities.
We have lived here almost 3 years now, there has been one ad for radiology and none for lab in the local fishwrap.
Luckily I was able to wangle a day or two from the mobile company I used to work for in Orlando. They branched out into the Leesburg,Ocala and Gainesville area.
Hopefully with the new VA facility (14 years with the VA) and the new hosital (26 years in hospital work) I might be able to find a job a few days a week.

[golf2140]

It may be because no one can compete with Lake Imaging. They do a complete job and your in and out in minutes.

[graciegirl]

I just wish that an oncology facility as big as Shands in Gainesville or Motts in Tampa would move here. They could and they should and that would remove an emotional roadblock for me wanting to live here full time.

It would be profitable for them for sure. We are heading in the right direction on Medical services but I still have a wish list.

[Grill Meister]

Graciegirl, to disabuse you, my wife went to Moffitt in Tampa and Mayo in Jacksonville and inquired re chemo and radiation treatment. Two separate authorities in oncology told us that chemo is chemo and radiation is radiation regardless if it is administered at MD Anderson in Texas, or NY or wherever and that we have some very qualified oncologists and radiologists right here in TV.

Fear not, Graciegirl.....in that respect you have good professional care available to you. I wish I could say the same about other med care here.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by SABRMnLgs

Fabulous medical area???? Yeah right. Maybe if your a MD, an RN, LPN or CNA. But try being a radiology or lab tech or any of the other ancillary services we went to school for.
Prior to our moving here (which was one of the prime reasons) was because of all the doctors offices here. Doctors need ancillary employees don't they? Apparently not! We sent out over 60 resume's and received not ONE reply. We took the 5 day rent a house plan so we could check it out.
I visited over 20 doctor's offices in those 5 days. Not one of them had
radiology or labratory facilities.
We have lived here almost 3 years now, there has been one ad for radiology and none for lab in the local fishwrap.
Luckily I was able to wangle a day or two from the mobile company I used to work for in Orlando. They branched out into the Leesburg,Ocala and Gainesville area.
Hopefully with the new VA facility (14 years with the VA) and the new hosital (26 years in hospital work) I might be able to find a job a few days a week.

I don't know but am wondering if having xrays is being replaced by having ct scans? Or is being used more?

[SteveFromNY]

Originally Posted by GILMERMURRAY

Two separate authorities in oncology told us that chemo is chemo and radiation is radiation regardless if it is administered at MD Anderson in Texas, or NY or wherever and that we have some very qualified oncologists and radiologists right here in TV.

Fortunately, I have no experience with oncoloy recently, but I do have some with radiation. There are definitely differences, but not based on geography. The newer machines have very much improved capabilities. The area targeted is much more precise. And some in fact incude (in the radiation machine) a daily cat scan prior to each treatment so the target area can be adjusted. In the old days external tatoos would be the only thing used.

So should you need rdiation, I would definitely suggest investigating the age of the machine in use.

[graciegirl]

I think that it takes a very good technician and M.D. to place the markers for your radiation. And I too have been told that the age of the machine and the quantity of like diagnoses handled by the faciltiy are factors as well.

I am not a medical person, but I do know that the radiation can affect uninvolved areas in a negative way if it isn't administered correctly.

It really is an exact science and I was very fortunate to have an excellent radiation M.D. and some wonderful techs as well.

They even promised me after taking the intake pictures that I wouldn't end up on HotBabes.com.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by SABRMnLgs

Fabulous medical area???? Yeah right. Maybe if your a MD, an RN, LPN or CNA. But try being a radiology or lab tech or any of the other ancillary services we went to school for.
Prior to our moving here (which was one of the prime reasons) was because of all the doctors offices here. Doctors need ancillary employees don't they? Apparently not! We sent out over 60 resume's and received not ONE reply. We took the 5 day rent a house plan so we could check it out.
I visited over 20 doctor's offices in those 5 days. Not one of them had
radiology or labratory facilities.
We have lived here almost 3 years now, there has been one ad for radiology and none for lab in the local fishwrap.
Luckily I was able to wangle a day or two from the mobile company I used to work for in Orlando. They branched out into the Leesburg,Ocala and Gainesville area.
Hopefully with the new VA facility (14 years with the VA) and the new hosital (26 years in hospital work) I might be able to find a job a few days a week.

Can this be blamed on the covenants?

[downeaster]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I just wish that an oncology facility as big as Shands in Gainesville or Motts in Tampa would move here. They could and they should and that would remove an emotional roadblock for me wanting to live here full time.

It would be profitable for them for sure. We are heading in the right direction on Medical services but I still have a wish list.

Last year I underwent 45 "doses" of radiation, prostate cancer, and no side effects. (Plumbing works fine). Since December I have received 45, coincidence, chemo infusions over a nine month period for a rare form of cancer that I will not bore you with. I am now on an oral chemo drug (once a week) and seem to be making progress. All here in The Villages and Ocala. I am confident I received first class treatment. I am not making a recommendation, just stating my opinion. .

[barb1191]

Having lived in TV seven years now, I can honestly say from MY experiences with the medical profession in TV that no way would I want to be treated by any of them. I have a terminal illness and I can recall one dr telling me she can no longer do anything for me and for me to just go home, wait it out and then go to hospice. WOW....I walked out of her office (in the Sharon Morse Bldg) feeling I was just given a death sentence; btw...that was three years ago.

As a native of MA, I returned to Mass General Hospital in Boston that is highly rated as one of the world's best. I told my Boston oncologist what this FL dr in TV said to me and and his team of experts were horrified that I had to experience such inhuman behavior. They disgnosed me as still a viable candidate for continuing active care.

I see the doctors' offices in FL as just plain offices with a computer, files and no medical equipment. All they do is hear your story, take your pulse, bp, and refer you to a lab or specialist. I was amazed at how stark their offices were. Never to examine patients and just don't have that sense of caring. My GP in MA would have you change into a hospital gown in the exam room, check eyes, ears, throat, bp, pulse, glands, breast exam for any lumps, vaginal exam, pap smear, blood draws.....on and on. Big difference from FL offices.

One exception to the Florida medical profession's shortcoming....and that is Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. A wonderful facility and staff that I will return to during our winter months in TV. Thank goodness for that. Even more impressive at Moffitt is simply....they don't even charge for parking or valet service. Also so much better than Shands and so very immaculate.

Another huge plus that just happened unexpedtedly is that both my oncologists (Dr Lancaster at Moffitt and Dr Penson at MGH) are very good personal friends and went through medical school together. How lucky am I? LOL

This is just one person's experience and opinion....for what it's worth. .....barb

[Muncle]

Originally Posted by SteveFromNY

Fortunately, I have no experience with oncoloy recently, but I do have some with radiation. There are definitely differences, but not based on geography. The newer machines have very much improved capabilities. The area targeted is much more precise. And some in fact incude (in the radiation machine) a daily cat scan prior to each treatment so the target area can be adjusted. In the old days external tatoos would be the only thing used.

So should you need rdiation, I would definitely suggest investigating the age of the machine in use.

Over the last year, I've had 40-something radiation treatments at the Robert Boissoneault Oncology Institute and several chemo regimens at Lake County Oncology & Hematology, each located next to TV hospital. While the results may not have been all that sunny, I completely endorse the competence and professionalism of all personnel with whom I've dealt at both places. I cannot address the technical aspects of the radiation equipment that Steve cites, but agree that it would be well worth investigating. I am aware that there are some different radiation techniques and equipment that we did not try. I discussed these with my medical and radiation oncologists and all agreed that they would have no effect. (Life's a bitch, ain't it!)

Bottom line, Gracie et al, there's a good selection of cancer treatment facilities in and near TV. However, just like the good restaurants, they're very available during the summer, but a seat or table can be harder to come by in snowbird season.




`

[SABRMnLgs]

Someone wrote that "CT scans are replacing x-rays". That is incorrect and it will never happen. Call it overkill. For a number of reasons. I won't get into the medical aspect of it, it's boring and I could go on for paragraphs.
But things are done in a certain order for a reason.

Routinely, if there is a problem x-rays are done first. Then on to a CAT scan, or an MRI, Thermonuclear, etc.

Example, after my wife fell in Wal-Mart, she had radiographs of her knees. When the radiographs showed a possibility of a fracture or an ACL/PCL tear she had the MRI. Why? Because you are unable to see these things (soft tissue) on a radiograph.

If you have an obvious fracture, then an x-ray is possbly all you will need.

And the other reason is cost and usage. An x-ray unit wether portable or staionary, while expensive, still costs a lot less to purchase and maintain than other genres of medical photographic equipment.

Lastly, the only unit viable enough to be used portably is an x-ray unit. There is just no CT, MRI, or Thermonuclear unit that you can roll to a patient's room, to a nursing home or a private residence.