[CFrance]

Originally Posted by goodtimesintv

True, but many of the reasons are mandated by it, such as "Meaningful Use" (whatever that is a euphemism for.....).

A former neighbor and primary care doctor gave me this blog article that reaffirms the "meaningfulness" of evaluating physician performance/quality by how many of their patients TRY to get registered on the required internet Patient Portal.

My "patient portal" at one of the nation's top teaching-research hospitals is a total headache to register and log in to, and for medical record viewing it is worthless, but it is top-notch for seeing and paying the many BILLS.

This is good for everybody to read, as is the whole blog:

In My Humble Opinion: MU With Or Without You

Mine at U of M(ichigan) was a piece of cake, both before and after Obamacare. In fact, I still log into it three years after leaving Michigan. (Their colonoscopy prep method is not only the latest recommendation, it's cheap, not nauseating, and the result has been hailed by my gastroenterologist, although he thinks I'm using his method, which involves either drinking a gallon or snot or buying a $90 prep.)

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by goodtimesintv

So......

Still wondering......

On a scale of 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest), how "meaningful" is any of this for that pesky thing called "patient care"??

Bottom line meaning of "meaningful use"

For the patient----nothing (0)---your physician was probably already doing any of the quality measures that count anyway

For the physician----nothing (0), other than it increases time spent on non-patient care, so it probably reduces direct patient care hours

For the bureaucrats----EVERYTHING (10+). This is exactly the type of crap they live for. The outcomes do not matter to them, it is the process of fulfilling "regulation" that is the essence of their existence

[Villages Kahuna]

Originally Posted by Wint1951

I get the impression after being here for one month, that all this building of new homes, so many people moving here and no actual plan of better health care exist. The Village Health centers are overwhelmed , cant even get registered with a doctor until the end of the year. Seems like no planning is going into this issue. I hope its not the case. I also understand the hospital ER wait is awful, especially in Snowbird season. I just hope i am totally wrong. What is a newbie to do, and as seniors we need good , reliable and quick health care. Again, I hope i am wrong, please tell me. Any ideas about how to get into a GP, or any clues as to how to see specialists?/ We are also young seniors so we are not on Medicare yet...

• Villages Health is well worth the wait. The doctors who work there are thoroughly vetted and, like the Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic, they all work for salaries. The original plan was to have 8 primary care physicians in each of eight care centers. Each doctor would have a patient panel limited to 12,500 people--about one-third of the patients handled by other primary care physicians in the area. They really do spend time with you and get to know you. At last count they were above 40 doctors hired and on their way to 50. A lot of them have already reached their maximum number of patients. That and the fact that they can only take so many "initial visits" on their schedules while still treating their existing patients is what creates the wait. But like I said, pick a center near you, check out the readily available resumes of the available doctors, and make a future appointment. Well worth the wait.

• Yes, the Villages Hospital ER is overloaded. But the big construction project nearing completion there will dramatically expand the ER. Maybe the greater problem is the hospital's ability to hire top notch medical staff. It's going to take a few years, but the facilities themselves are first-rate. In time, the economies of running the hospital will result in attracting doctors whose skills will match the quality of the facilities. In the meantime, there's Leesburg Regional, Munroe and Ocala General in Ocala. That's where my wife and I will go if and when we need hospitalization. I wish we could rely on TVRH, but it's going to take them a few years to catrch up with the rapid expansion of their market. The pressure that the Villages Health doctors will put on the hospital management will be a big factor in such improvement.

• As far as planning is concerned, you're very wrong. There's all kinds of planning going on, much with the involvement of the U of South Florida medical school and also United Healthcare consultants. In fact, there is a rumor that in time TVRH will become a teaching hospital for USF. But when the population that you're serving is expanding at the rate of 7,000 to 8,000 people per year, there's almost no amount of planning that permit the hospital to keep up with the demands placed on it. As the growth of The Villages reaches its maximum in a couple of years, and the expansion of the hospital physical plant and medical staff continues, the overall quality of health care will improve in a hurry. But we're a few years from that right now and while the problems you've cited are real, they're also unavoidable.

• By the way, trying to blame the problems we're experiencing at TVRH on ObamaCare is a ridiculous allegation. Our problems are almost purely the product of an imbalance in the supply of hospital facilities and the number and quality of doctors to serve the rapidly growing population of The Villages. For the last couple of years TV was the most rapidly growing municipality of its type in the entire U.S. All kinds of problems can result from that, although most have been avoided by superb planning and management by our Developers. In fact, had the Developers not sold their controlling interest in TVRH, my guess is that the problems being experienced there would be minimized.

[dbussone]

Villages Kahuna - I believe you meant to say that each doc is limited to 2500 patients - at least that is what they advertised on the front end.

[rockaway]

Originally Posted by billybye

There are plenty of good doctors here near TV - just look outside of The Villages Healthcare.
I have been very satisfied with Premier Medical Group. Always get to see someone same day if needed. I also am pleased with Citrus Cardiology (who UHC Village plan does not allow you to go to). I have BC/BS Medicare.

My wife has UHC Villages Plan and is being seen right now by
Citrus Cardiology with no problems.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

• Villages Health is well worth the wait. The doctors who work there are thoroughly vetted and, like the Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic, they all work for salaries. The original plan was to have 8 primary care physicians in each of eight care centers. Each doctor would have a patient panel limited to 12,500 people--about one-third of the patients handled by other primary care physicians in the area. They really do spend time with you and get to know you. At last count they were above 40 doctors hired and on their way to 50. A lot of them have already reached their maximum number of patients. That and the fact that they can only take so many "initial visits" on their schedules while still treating their existing patients is what creates the wait. But like I said, pick a center near you, check out the readily available resumes of the available doctors, and make a future appointment. Well worth the wait.

• Yes, the Villages Hospital ER is overloaded. But the big construction project nearing completion there will dramatically expand the ER. Maybe the greater problem is the hospital's ability to hire top notch medical staff. It's going to take a few years, but the facilities themselves are first-rate. In time, the economies of running the hospital will result in attracting doctors whose skills will match the quality of the facilities. In the meantime, there's Leesburg Regional, Munroe and Ocala General in Ocala. That's where my wife and I will go if and when we need hospitalization. I wish we could rely on TVRH, but it's going to take them a few years to catrch up with the rapid expansion of their market. The pressure that the Villages Health doctors will put on the hospital management will be a big factor in such improvement.

• As far as planning is concerned, you're very wrong. There's all kinds of planning going on, much with the involvement of the U of South Florida medical school and also United Healthcare consultants. In fact, there is a rumor that in time TVRH will become a teaching hospital for USF. But when the population that you're serving is expanding at the rate of 7,000 to 8,000 people per year, there's almost no amount of planning that permit the hospital to keep up with the demands placed on it. As the growth of The Villages reaches its maximum in a couple of years, and the expansion of the hospital physical plant and medical staff continues, the overall quality of health care will improve in a hurry. But we're a few years from that right now and while the problems you've cited are real, they're also unavoidable.

• By the way, trying to blame the problems we're experiencing at TVRH on ObamaCare is a ridiculous allegation. Our problems are almost purely the product of an imbalance in the supply of hospital facilities and the number and quality of doctors to serve the rapidly growing population of The Villages. For the last couple of years TV was the most rapidly growing municipality of its type in the entire U.S. All kinds of problems can result from that, although most have been avoided by superb planning and management by our Developers. In fact, had the Developers not sold their controlling interest in TVRH, my guess is that the problems being experienced there would be minimized.

Great post!!!!! I agree 99.9% (patient profile of more like 1000-1250-- ? typo)

Methinks I smell a retired healthcare administrator. I just hope you didn't confuse anyone with the facts!

[PaPaLarry]

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

• Villages Health is well worth the wait. The doctors who work there are thoroughly vetted and, like the Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic, they all work for salaries. The original plan was to have 8 primary care physicians in each of eight care centers. Each doctor would have a patient panel limited to 12,500 people--about one-third of the patients handled by other primary care physicians in the area. They really do spend time with you and get to know you. At last count they were above 40 doctors hired and on their way to 50. A lot of them have already reached their maximum number of patients. That and the fact that they can only take so many "initial visits" on their schedules while still treating their existing patients is what creates the wait. But like I said, pick a center near you, check out the readily available resumes of the available doctors, and make a future appointment. Well worth the wait.

• Yes, the Villages Hospital ER is overloaded. But the big construction project nearing completion there will dramatically expand the ER. Maybe the greater problem is the hospital's ability to hire top notch medical staff. It's going to take a few years, but the facilities themselves are first-rate. In time, the economies of running the hospital will result in attracting doctors whose skills will match the quality of the facilities. In the meantime, there's Leesburg Regional, Munroe and Ocala General in Ocala. That's where my wife and I will go if and when we need hospitalization. I wish we could rely on TVRH, but it's going to take them a few years to catrch up with the rapid expansion of their market. The pressure that the Villages Health doctors will put on the hospital management will be a big factor in such improvement.

• As far as planning is concerned, you're very wrong. There's all kinds of planning going on, much with the involvement of the U of South Florida medical school and also United Healthcare consultants. In fact, there is a rumor that in time TVRH will become a teaching hospital for USF. But when the population that you're serving is expanding at the rate of 7,000 to 8,000 people per year, there's almost no amount of planning that permit the hospital to keep up with the demands placed on it. As the growth of The Villages reaches its maximum in a couple of years, and the expansion of the hospital physical plant and medical staff continues, the overall quality of health care will improve in a hurry. But we're a few years from that right now and while the problems you've cited are real, they're also unavoidable.

• By the way, trying to blame the problems we're experiencing at TVRH on ObamaCare is a ridiculous allegation. Our problems are almost purely the product of an imbalance in the supply of hospital facilities and the number and quality of doctors to serve the rapidly growing population of The Villages. For the last couple of years TV was the most rapidly growing municipality of its type in the entire U.S. All kinds of problems can result from that, although most have been avoided by superb planning and management by our Developers. In fact, had the Developers not sold their controlling interest in TVRH, my guess is that the problems being experienced there would be minimized.

Very well said, and I agree, except for Obama Care!!! Health services can only get better down the road, her in The Villages. I'm very happy with my doctors and health service. When it comes to Dental, it's a different story. (Ugh)

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

• Villages Health is well worth the wait. The doctors who work there are thoroughly vetted and, like the Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic, they all work for salaries. The original plan was to have 8 primary care physicians in each of eight care centers. Each doctor would have a patient panel limited to 12,500 people--about one-third of the patients handled by other primary care physicians in the area. They really do spend time with you and get to know you. At last count they were above 40 doctors hired and on their way to 50. A lot of them have already reached their maximum number of patients. That and the fact that they can only take so many "initial visits" on their schedules while still treating their existing patients is what creates the wait. But like I said, pick a center near you, check out the readily available resumes of the available doctors, and make a future appointment. Well worth the wait.

• Yes, the Villages Hospital ER is overloaded. But the big construction project nearing completion there will dramatically expand the ER. Maybe the greater problem is the hospital's ability to hire top notch medical staff. It's going to take a few years, but the facilities themselves are first-rate. In time, the economies of running the hospital will result in attracting doctors whose skills will match the quality of the facilities. In the meantime, there's Leesburg Regional, Munroe and Ocala General in Ocala. That's where my wife and I will go if and when we need hospitalization. I wish we could rely on TVRH, but it's going to take them a few years to catrch up with the rapid expansion of their market. The pressure that the Villages Health doctors will put on the hospital management will be a big factor in such improvement.

• As far as planning is concerned, you're very wrong. There's all kinds of planning going on, much with the involvement of the U of South Florida medical school and also United Healthcare consultants. In fact, there is a rumor that in time TVRH will become a teaching hospital for USF. But when the population that you're serving is expanding at the rate of 7,000 to 8,000 people per year, there's almost no amount of planning that permit the hospital to keep up with the demands placed on it. As the growth of The Villages reaches its maximum in a couple of years, and the expansion of the hospital physical plant and medical staff continues, the overall quality of health care will improve in a hurry. But we're a few years from that right now and while the problems you've cited are real, they're also unavoidable.

• By the way, trying to blame the problems we're experiencing at TVRH on ObamaCare is a ridiculous allegation. Our problems are almost purely the product of an imbalance in the supply of hospital facilities and the number and quality of doctors to serve the rapidly growing population of The Villages. For the last couple of years TV was the most rapidly growing municipality of its type in the entire U.S. All kinds of problems can result from that, although most have been avoided by superb planning and management by our Developers. In fact, had the Developers not sold their controlling interest in TVRH, my guess is that the problems being experienced there would be minimized.

Well said. As usual. Always look forward to reading your posts and find my head going up and down.

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

a) not true
b) totally uncalled for

I'm sure there are greedy doctors. There are greedy lawyers, greedy teachers, greedy politicians and of course, greedy used car salesman.
The reality is that for those whose main aspiration in life is wealth, it is A LOT easier to skip 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school, 3-7 years of residency and pursue a MBA instead.
For me personally, I had always said that the day I spent 51% of my time doing paperwork instead of patient care I was done, and I hit that mark this year.
Obamacare is not the sole cause of any of this, it is simply an insurance plan (and a power grab and a tax increase and a redistribution of wealth). But it's impact on the practicing physician has so far been negligible. The big impact has been the big government and insurance industry bureaucratic mentality. They have no idea what a physician actually does, but they believe big government can do it better. So they go about it in the only way they know how---regulation and data collection. I really can't blame them, after all, if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. It is those in power who pursue this policy as a national health care goal that are to blame.

golfing eagles: what you express here as to my understanding is true.
The expansion(intrusion if your a doctor) accelerated in the early 1980's by insurance companies who desired to emulate medicare's price controls (DRG's ,etc). Insurance companies suddenly demanded second opinions, certification for the need be admitted to the hospital ,etc. All of this was then exacerbated with the advent of Obamacare which has nothing to do with improving health care but a government demand that health insurance carriers abandon insurability rules and liberalize benefits to anyone and everyone.

Now Obamacare certainly carries with it a smooth populist tone but that is not the reality of economics and the housing collapse was a prime example.

One would only argue to infinity if Obamacare was even necessary (ie providing insurance for the uninsured) but the fact is Obamacare did not even resolve that issue.

What you state as trends within your discipline carry to such an extent that some doctors have resorted to treating patient on a cash basis and having their patient mail their paid bills to their insurer. As Obamacare evolves it chages and the changes continue to be for the worse. It has the medical profession and insurance companies in the constant state of confusion attempting to meet the government demands.

Being a doctor is as challenging as being a cop in today's America

As to The Villages Health Care System its a waste of time and energy to debate it because like everything connected to TV it ends up as an argument of being anti-developer or pro developer...a subject that should not even enter a discussion such as this.

Personally, I found the Ocala HealthCare System responsive and friendly having utilized since my arrival in 2006.

[linda_sears]

Google goolge and Google before you go to any doctor. Check their credentials. Ask around about them. Check their record. Be your own advocate. There are some great doctors but their are some really horrible ones too.

[fred53]

Originally Posted by linda_sears

Google goolge and Google before you go to any doctor. Check their credentials. Ask around about them. Check their record. Be your own advocate. There are some great doctors but their are some really horrible ones too.

believe everything you read...especially on the internet....there are some real crazies out there that you can't please no matter how hard you try and allowing them to post their opinions is akin to letting kids judge teachers...some docs are bad...if you find one change docs and report them...anything can be lied about and fudged on the internet..while it can be a great tool it can also allow the tools among us to rule...

[linda_sears]

Originally Posted by fred53

believe everything you read...especially on the internet....there are some real crazies out there that you can't please no matter how hard you try and allowing them to post their opinions is akin to letting kids judge teachers...some docs are bad...if you find one change docs and report them...anything can be lied about and fudged on the internet..while it can be a great tool it can also allow the tools among us to rule...

Check state records. Check for malpractice. I said check credentials not listen to rumors in person or the internet.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by linda_sears

Check state records. Check for malpractice. I said check credentials not listen to rumors in person or the internet.

You're dreaming. There ARE some really horrible docs out there----and YOU'LL never find them on google. These quacks usually have reasonable credentials, know how to fly under the radar, and leave an impeccable paper trail in their wake of destruction. They may even have a loyal following. One who comes immediately to mind had very loyal patients---but this was because he was handing out amphetamines to truck drivers and night shift workers. Healthgrades listed him as the #1 best primary care doctor in our town, at least until his license was revoked for Medicaid fraud. Healthgrades also listed an ophthalmologist as number 1 that I never even heard of---The only other doctor here who EVER heard of him was another eye doctor who came here in 1967, and he was already DEAD at that time. "If it is on the internet, it MUST be true"
Don't think malpractice record tell much unless it is well out of the norm---most cases are bogus, frivolous actions taken by ambulance chasing lawyers and their clients in an attempt to extort a quick settlement---some of the best doctors are sued the most frequently, probably because they are perceived as successful, and also may be perceived to be too busy to fight and therefore more likely to settle
You can look at state licensure actions and professional misconduct office reports, but by the time these actions are taken, you are already looking at the worst of the worst
It also works the other way. Back in the day, there was a cardiac surgeon named Randy. National open heart mortality rates at the time were 1.3%, Randy's rate was 4.7%. OMG, what a butcher!!! Oh, but Randy trained with best, was acknowledged as one of the 5 best in the country, on a par with Shumway, Cooley and Spencer. But Randy would operate at Kings County Hospital, would not pick and choose his cases like the other, would take high risk cases and give them a chance---and he save 90+% of them, at the cost of having his personal statistics look bad.
So I disagree with your internet approach. The best way to find a good doctor is to ask your family, friends and neighbors.

[linda_sears]

This is such a friendly forum with open minds willing to listen to new thoughts and ideas that's what I love about it

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by linda_sears

This is such a friendly forum with open minds willing to listen to new thoughts and ideas that's what I love about it

No, not at all. I wasn't closing out anyone's ideas or opinion. Just relating my opinion based on 35 years experience. As you know, things aren't always as they seem. You also probably know the internet can be a great source of information and a horror show at the same time. It's not always easy to tell the difference