[CFrance]

Originally Posted by glenn prescott

I spent 10 + hrs in the e.r. down there in october, while my father was having open heart surgery upstairs I had an uncontrollable stomach issue no need to get graphic, but I too was sent back to waiting room screaming from abdominal pain went to use bathroom and found it plastered in blood, finally when I started to lose my mind I was given percoset for the pain and discharged, being a Paramedic I questioned this decison as I hadn't eaten for 2 days and percoset, wait for it... makes you vomit especially on an empty stomach I was treated like a drug seeker and by far was the worst care I have ever recieved I will take my little backwoods ER any day , I hope by the time I move there things are better

Are you talking about Shands ER or Villages ER? Just trying to clarify.

[tucson]

Originally Posted by LillyD

As I sit in the ER waiting room with a partial bowel obstruction I am concerned with the level of care in TV.

They say it will be a 5 hour wait. Called Leesburg and Ocala and they have along wait.

Thinking of going to Gainsville. Anyone have experience there?

Yes, I have had alot of experience at Shands. My husband goes there for his Primary Care and others. They saved my son's life when he was 3yrs old. My husband's former Dr. @ Mass.General in Boston referred him to go there when we moved here 8 yrs ago. We think we're very blessed to be only 55mi away to one of the best hospitals in the country! We've heard of people going there from far away as Miami.

[glenn prescott]

I'm sorry I was referring to Munroe, being a paramedic going on 31 years fire/ems I have been in the samllest of ER's to the biggest in boston and the care I recieved in florida was nothing short of horrific there triage system hmmm I wont post what is on the tip[ of my tongue right now but it was the worst care I have ever received bar none

[Maryland Girl]

I was very concerned about moving to TV because of the uncertainty of quality medical care. We have now been here 18 months and, overall, we are satisfied. Recently I had to be admitted to TVRH for blood clots which formed under my cast. I had to wait in the waiting room for over 6 hours. When I was finally taken back into the ER, there were people on gurneys in the hallway. I was given a room, placed on a gurney, hooked up to IV's and there I stayed for over 24 hours. I was told there were no beds upstairs. Finally, I did get a room on the second floor. The room was private and clean and the staff were absolutely wonderful. I think I got excellent care, including a CT scan to make absolutely certain it was the cast that had caused the blood clots and not something more serious. The CT found a pulmonary embolism. The experience was a mixed bag but then going to my PC doctor can be a mixed bag. I am grateful for the care I received and am even more grateful when I get my insurance benefit statements that say "Other Amounts Not Covered - 0.00."

[buzzy]

Originally Posted by buzzy

So what other hospital ER (not urgent care) should we choose, when the need arises?

Any suggestions?

[ilovetv]

Originally Posted by Maryland Girl

I was very concerned about moving to TV because of the uncertainty of quality medical care. We have now been here 18 months and, overall, we are satisfied. Recently I had to be admitted to TVRH for blood clots which formed under my cast. I had to wait in the waiting room for over 6 hours. When I was finally taken back into the ER, there were people on gurneys in the hallway. I was given a room, placed on a gurney, hooked up to IV's and there I stayed for over 24 hours. I was told there were no beds upstairs. Finally, I did get a room on the second floor. The room was private and clean and the staff were absolutely wonderful. I think I got excellent care, including a CT scan to make absolutely certain it was the cast that had caused the blood clots and not something more serious. The CT found a pulmonary embolism. The experience was a mixed bag but then going to my PC doctor can be a mixed bag. I am grateful for the care I received and am even more grateful when I get my insurance benefit statements that say "Other Amounts Not Covered - 0.00."

These are important points in bold. It appears the doctors and nurses were paying attention and doing what needed to be done, but administrators apparently didn't care that your 24-hour stay in an ER room kept it from being used to treat 24 other people waiting in ER waiting area during that time.

[Blessed2BNTV]

Got here at 11 am had the CT scan right away. Was told it was a 5 hour wait in ER.

Got called back to an ER room at 8 pm, nurse finally came in at 8:45 pm

It's now 9:35 and I have not seen a physician. Took over an hour to find my CT scans.

Oh and there's fecal matter on the floor in my ER room.

I will NEVER use TV Hospital again.

I am private pay.

[Hancle704]

Yes 30 million more people being covered and nothing spent for additional hospital beds, larger staffed ER's, more Doctors or Nurses. Just more IRS agents to make sure people have coverage.

I recall the days when our doctor could order a direct admit because he was going to treat the patient in the hospital. Now most people go via ambulance or get driven to ER which is understaffed, does not have enough beds and the patients must wait for a bed to open up, then they are treated by hospitalist who have no prior relationship with the patient. Somehow this does not appear to be progress despite hospital being golf cart accessible.

[bluedog103]

Originally Posted by LillyD

Got here at 11 am had the CT scan right away. Was told it was a 5 hour wait in ER.

Got called back to an ER room at 8 pm, nurse finally came in at 8:45 pm

It's now 9:35 and I have not seen a physician. Took over an hour to find my CT scans.

Oh and there's fecal matter on the floor in my ER room.

I will NEVER use TV Hospital again.

I am private pay.

Thanks for the real time updates. I'm truly sorry for what you're going through. Hope things get better for you.

[gerryann]

Originally Posted by LillyD

Got here at 11 am had the CT scan right away. Was told it was a 5 hour wait in ER.

Got called back to an ER room at 8 pm, nurse finally came in at 8:45 pm

It's now 9:35 and I have not seen a physician. Took over an hour to find my CT scans.

Oh and there's fecal matter on the floor in my ER room.

I will NEVER use TV Hospital again.

I am private pay.

Sorry for your ordeal. Hope you get treatment soon...good treatment. Keep us posted.

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by LillyD

Got here at 11 am had the CT scan right away. Was told it was a 5 hour wait in ER.

Got called back to an ER room at 8 pm, nurse finally came in at 8:45 pm

It's now 9:35 and I have not seen a physician. Took over an hour to find my CT scans.

Oh and there's fecal matter on the floor in my ER room.

I will NEVER use TV Hospital again.

I am private pay.

I assume the CT was for stroke? That is why they did it right away (within 1 hour is our standard). You can be assured that if your CT showed a blockage you would have been given TPA pronto. My guess is that your CT was negative and thus it was not urgent. Priorities rule the ER - that's just the way it is. Private pay has nothing to do with it.

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by Heartnsoul

Just Wait till the new Affordable Healthcare law kicks in. You've seen nothing yet!!! 30 million more coming in thanks to americans who voted for it. And us seniors will be the First ones to feel it.

So what are those “thirty million more” doing for health care under the present system? Are the somewhat sick simply getting sicker, and the very sick just dying without access to care? This is America? What is wrong with this picture?

I must say that my one and only experience in a hospital ER in my entire life was at Villages Regional several years ago, the situation was extremely serious and, for me, the care was superb. It is obvious from this thread, however, that this has not been the case for everyone. As long as there are Americans--our fellow citizens--who do not have access to care and have no choice but to use hospital emergency rooms for what should be routine care, this problem will continue and possibly even worsen!

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by rp001

The place is opulent. It seems to me the money has been spent in all the wrong places. Simplify the decor

Seriously? Are you serious? OPULENT is the word you use?

Please - I work there 3 shifts a week as an RN and the place is almost the opposite of opulent. Yes we have a few well appointed rooms but the vast majority are just run of the mill hospital rooms. The cafeteria needs an upgrade, the staff rooms are small and under equipped. I could go on and on.

Yes, the hospital is expanding by about 100 beds (19 more in ER). But that will be awhile yet.

Yes, the wait can be long in ER and even longer to get a bed if admitted. But I see first hand when I work in ER that serious patients are seen to on a true triage rules basis.

Yes, some patients are way too demanding of the RN's and CNA's time with trivial matters that take away from our ability to handle the truly needy.

Yes we have things to work on but we have over 200K people (TV and locals with the vast majority being elderly) to serve. When you run the numbers it just doesn't work sometimes.

[blueash]

Originally Posted by Quixote

So what are those “thirty million more” doing for health care under the present system? Are the somewhat sick simply getting sicker, and the very sick just dying without access to care? This is America? What is wrong with this picture?

I must say that my one and only experience in a hospital ER in my entire life was at Villages Regional several years ago, the situation was extremely serious and, for me, the care was superb. It is obvious from this thread, however, that this has not been the case for everyone. As long as there are Americans--our fellow citizens--who do not have access to care and have no choice but to use hospital emergency rooms for what should be routine care, this problem will continue and possibly even worsen!

I suspect if they did a chest Xray on you, they would find that you actually have a heart, a good heart

[Blessed2BNTV]

CT scan was to check for blockages which showed a slight blockages in my bowel.

I am not a healthcare worker so I do not know protocol. In the 12 hours I was in the ER they never drew blood. They took my blood pressure when I arrived but did not taken any vitals when I finally went back to the ER. Mentioned to the nurse and he took my blood pressure - which was 9 hours after arriving.

I would think they would have drawn blood to check white blood cells - but they didn't.

I am blessed to be healthy so I checked myself out and leaving in the morning to go back to Atlanta, where we live most of the year.

I love TV - just not the healthcare system.

What I took from this experience was to check out healthcare before I really need it. Will be looking for primary care doc at Shands.