[ChrisTee]

Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna

The Villages Regional Hospital is rated, using various statistics collected by Medicare, and compared to all other hospitals in the state. It has consistently been rated in the lowest quality class. If you’ve ever had the need to be treated there, particularly in the Emergency Room, you will have no reason to disagree with those ratings.

I had to visit their ER last week for the simple infusion of a couple of units of blood components. After checking in the ER, I waited 2 hours for the required “cross and match “ blood test. Then I was directed to sit in the waiting room until called. I sat there another 7 hours until finally called for the simple 30-minute procedure. The halls inside the ER were lined with patients on gurneys or beds awaiting admission to the hospital. After completion of the procedure I asked the nurse whether she had used the proper number of units ordered by my doctor. No, they had gotten that wrong during admission. Then after finally getting the proper amount of blood—at 3 AM—I had to wait another 1-1/2 hours for a doctor to sign my discharge paperwork. It turned out that there was no doctor on duty, he didn’t start his shift until close to 5 AM.

NEVER AGAIN WILL I USE THE VILLAGES REGIONAL HOSPITAL! When I related my experience to my doctor, he shook his head saying that he had hoped that the University of Florida’s ownership would have made a difference, but it has not. Later I had a conversation with a senior rep of a healthcare company doing business with TVRH. He said, “It’s simply a bad hospital. It’s understaffed and badly mismanaged and continues to make the same life-threatening mistakes that should have been corrected years ago. I also questioned a friend who had been a nursing supervisor at TVRH. Her reply? “Don’t go there. It’s a bad hospital—that’s why I quit.”

There are better hospital choices in Ocala. Even Leesburg Hospital, with the same U of FL ownership is better. BEWARE OF TVRH!

What a mess- inexcusable. Thanks for sharing. Sorry you had to go through it, and glad it wasn't worse.

TV Hospital NEEDS FIXING!! They have plenty of revenue! No excuses!

[Fast Freddy]

All the talk in the world isn't going to fix the issues.
How to start a citizen group to organize change would be better than just posting words that medical needs fixed.
Or are such committees a big waste of time and frustration for the volunteers?
Has a new Medicare rating number come out for The Villages Hospital since UF take over?
Villager's have waited long enough for these big promised changes to take place at the local hospital as stated in the Villages Sun newspaper.
A new 60 bed hospital is to be built at Trailwinds in Wildwood this year, hoping it gets started soon.

My opinion is that the Villages Sun newspaper needs to take responsibility in presenting the honest medical issue facts, especially about the local hospital issue as presented in this blog/discussion and M.D. quality and overload situation. Probably never going to happen.

Do you notice all the construction in the south part but nothing about the emphasis on medical facilities, a school yes, medical clinics/hospital no. Responsible development for a senior community?

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Fast Freddy

All the talk in the world isn't going to fix the issues.
How to start a citizen group to organize change would be better than just posting words that medical needs fixed.
Or are such committees a big waste of time and frustration for the volunteers?
Has a new Medicare rating number come out for The Villages Hospital since UF take over?
Villager's have waited long enough for these big promised changes to take place at the local hospital as stated in the Villages Sun newspaper.
A new 60 bed hospital is to be built at Trailwinds in Wildwood this year, hoping it gets started soon.

My opinion is that the Villages Sun newspaper needs to take responsibility in presenting the honest medical issue facts, especially about the local hospital issue as presented in this blog/discussion and M.D. quality and overload situation. Probably never going to happen.

Do you notice all the construction in the south part but nothing about the emphasis on medical facilities, a school yes, medical clinics/hospital no. Responsible development for a senior community?

Would be a great opportunity for the Village Sun to take a leadership role in improving conditions at the hospital but apparently that is not what the developers wants the papers role to be.

[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Would be a great opportunity for the Village Sun to take a leadership role in improving conditions at the hospital but apparently that is not what the developers wants the papers role to be.

Surely you jest . The Sun is the mouthpiece of the Developer.

[Madelaine Amee]

In my opinion .... yes, I am entitled to one . TV is a great place to retire for as long as you are healthy and active, but when the years creep up on you and you can no longer get around like you used to, or when your body starts to decline, then this is not the place for you.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Madelaine Amee

Surely you jest . The Sun is the mouthpiece of the Developer.

It would be nice but didnt exactly say I would expect that to ever happen. Would think that it would be in the developers advantage to improve hospitals around here.

[Madelaine Amee]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

It would be nice but didnt exactly say I would expect that to ever happen. Would think that it would be in the developers advantage to improve hospitals around here.

Why? He is selling homes as fast as they go up, and I believe he no longer "owns" the hospital. That is now part of Shands.

The Developer is a GREAT businessman, he found his golden goose and as long as people want his product he does not have to be bothered with the minor details such as hospitals.

[Jeff & Judy]

I'd like to help others avoid the issues (mostly costs) that I had.

If you're thinking this new facility is for Urgent Care - think again. It is a true Emergency Room and it will cost you MUCH MUCH MUCH (did I say MUCH?) MORE than an Urgent Care center. If you are having life threating injuries and it's the closest place - sure, go there. The facility was very nice, the people were friendly and seemed to know their business - but the costs - I can only say, it's one of the contributing reason our insurance rates are so high. Read on if you'd like to see the details and what Florida Blue had to say.

I recently cut open the tip of my pointer finger and had some difficulty getting the bleeding to stop after about 20 minutes, so I thought maybe I better go somewhere in case I needed stitches, or whatever. Had seen the new HCA Florida Ocala Hospital building near Lowes on 466A - so off I went. As it turns out, all the doctor did was "super glue" the cut, no stitches or butterflies - in/out in under an hour with most time doing administrative things. Now I'm getting the bills! In rough numbers, they billed Florida Blue $5400 for the use of the "facility". Luckily Florida Blue had a pre-negotiated rate of $2200 - which basically I had to pay $1400 of because I hadn't yet reached my deductible. Then I received the doctors bill for another $2800 which insurance covered $2700 of. What was very interesting is that my cut was billed as a Level 5 Service (1 being the most minor and 5 being worst). If my cut finger (only needing super glue is a Level 5, what the heck is level 1 - "thinking about getting hurt next week"?). I have challenged the Level 5 rating and am awaiting HCAs response. I fully realize that it won't make any difference for the $100 I had pay in this case (luckily the first bill took me to my deductible limit), but because it's the right thing to do and one of the reasons I'm sure our insurance rates are so high!

I called Florida Blue to let them know that I think that they and I were being scammed (insert your own descriptor here) for $5000 (or $8200 if the facility usage hadn't been pre-negotiated). The agent was appreciative and understood that I was trying to save them money, but said that it's all up to how the doctor classifies the injury and so they simply accept the categorization. He then informed me that the next time I have a medical injury like this, DO NOT go to an Emergency Facility, but rather find a place that is listed as an Urgent Care Facility. This will result in much less costs - lesson learned (plus I hope to not cut my finger again).

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Jeff & Judy

I'd like to help others avoid the issues (mostly costs) that I had.

If you're thinking this new facility is for Urgent Care - think again. It is a true Emergency Room and it will cost you MUCH MUCH MUCH (did I say MUCH?) MORE than an Urgent Care center. If you are having life threating injuries and it's the closest place - sure, go there. The facility was very nice, the people were friendly and seemed to know their business - but the costs - I can only say, it's one of the contributing reason our insurance rates are so high. Read on if you'd like to see the details and what Florida Blue had to say.

I recently cut open the tip of my pointer finger and had some difficulty getting the bleeding to stop after about 20 minutes, so I thought maybe I better go somewhere in case I needed stitches, or whatever. Had seen the new HCA Florida Ocala Hospital building near Lowes on 466A - so off I went. As it turns out, all the doctor did was "super glue" the cut, no stitches or butterflies - in/out in under an hour with most time doing administrative things. Now I'm getting the bills! In rough numbers, they billed Florida Blue $5400 for the use of the "facility". Luckily Florida Blue had a pre-negotiated rate of $2200 - which basically I had to pay $1400 of because I hadn't yet reached my deductible. Then I received the doctors bill for another $2800 which insurance covered $2700 of. What was very interesting is that my cut was billed as a Level 5 Service (1 being the most minor and 5 being worst). If my cut finger (only needing super glue is a Level 5, what the heck is level 1 - "thinking about getting hurt next week"?). I have challenged the Level 5 rating and am awaiting HCAs response. I fully realize that it won't make any difference for the $100 I had pay in this case (luckily the first bill took me to my deductible limit), but because it's the right thing to do and one of the reasons I'm sure our insurance rates are so high!

I called Florida Blue to let them know that I think that they and I were being scammed (insert your own descriptor here) for $5000 (or $8200 if the facility usage hadn't been pre-negotiated). The agent was appreciative and understood that I was trying to save them money, but said that it's all up to how the doctor classifies the injury and so they simply accept the categorization. He then informed me that the next time I have a medical injury like this, DO NOT go to an Emergency Facility, but rather find a place that is listed as an Urgent Care Facility. This will result in much less costs - lesson learned (plus I hope to not cut my finger again).

Another problem is that, if you had Medicare and a supplement plan, you would have paid nothing at all. So, a facility like that can locate near The Villages where a lot of people are on Medicare. Those patients can show up and the facility can rip off the taxpayers all they want. The facility, the patients, and the Government don't care. What a system!

[Djean1981]

We'll be there full time starting early next year. This is a huge concern. I guess we will need to drive a bit for medical care..