[RedChariot]

Originally Posted by rp001

Sounds like your facility was willing to spend a little money and actually manage those that were in limbo. What is the difference from your operation than that at the villages? Is it only money or having the knowledge and ability to manage the circumstances? In my opinion what is missing here is just plain management. What they do have leaves a lot to be desired.

We were a facility that was in an under privledged area. Non Profit. Often in the red. Have the state walk in and ask you why each patient was being held in the ER will keep you on your toes. If you do not provide organized care, it can open you up for liability. We were in the business of caring for people. The patient was our priority. Nursing needed to set up another Nursing Unit called ER Holding. ER dept staffed it. Senior Nursing Adm on duty made the decision on where that staff was being relocated from. Used Critical Care agencys and Per Diem nurses, in addition to our own staff. All documentation and care was exactly the same as any other unit in hospital. Cardiac monitors, Nursing assessments, pneumonia screenings all the same. So the standard in house was the same as the ER Holding. We were not in a seasonal community, but there are busy times in all hospitals. Flu season could be overwhelming with many sick elderly patients. Senior Nursing Adm would prioritize with the ED physician and staff on who needed the bed first. We were a teaching facility and the Residents were part of the solution. An On Call Operating Room and staff was available for emergency ORs. I so understand the issues TVH is facing. I cannot speak to what they have done to provide care and comfort for those waiting for a bed. As others have said, I am concerned about health care in FL.

[janmcn]

While watching the horrific coverage from Boston the last two days, anyone can see what a difference some of the best healthcare in the country makes. The paramedics had a choice of some of the best hospitals in the country within a mile and a half including MA General, Tufts, Beth-Israel, Brigham and Women's, and Children's Hospital. Lives were saved because of the superior treatment these people received.

Whether you live or die seems to depend on what part of the country in which you live. They also have universal health care which covers about 90 plus percent of adults and 100 percent of children, and of which 85 percent are very pleased.

[mommieswamie]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

One more post on the subject:

We also have a very high number of dumps. Families who are just tired of taking care of their family members. They know the medicare rules by heart and will 'dump' their loved one in ER knowing that in 3 days Medicare will pay for another stint in rehab. They dump the patient at ER and then never come see them in the hospital. Most of these patients are not medically needy enough to take up the room on the medical floor but we can't just call a taxi for them and send them home so they occupy a room that could otherwise be used to free up the ER holds. Sad but very, very true.

OK enough ranting - off to golf

I have no idea why I am responding to this, as I am now at Mayo Clinic and a full plate already, except that part of your post, for lack of a better word, infuriated me.

Not everyone who is admitted under the scenario that you describe above is a "dump". We are only one family so I can only speak to our experience. I have cared for my husband at home for four years as he declined with a progressive neurological disease. Last fall, I took him to The Villages ER on the instructions of our primary care doctor for a possibly very serious condition. He did not have the very serious condition, but after being examined by the ER doctors, the decision was made to admit him. I went home as I was quite sick myself. I was never able to visit him in the hospital as I was ill the entire time he was there. He was then transferred to a rehab hospital.

What guaranteed do I have that my husband was not one of those that you consider to be a "dump"? After all, by your definition and description, he fits the picture exactly. My husband never was and never will be a "dump." He is loved beyond description.

[jimmy D]

Terrible I know that Munroe or Leesburg and Waterman at Taveras are much better I am sorry for your troubles. Waterman, Leesburg and Munroe acce[t United and PCP

[gomoho]

World class health care would be awesome, but I for one would prefer living somewhere that provides world class living. I can't imagine sitting in a city that provides the best health care with nothing else to do, but wait to have use that. So when you think you should have thought twice about moving here because of health care you might want to think again. No, it's not right at your door, but it is within reach.

[gerryann]

Originally Posted by gomoho

World class health care would be awesome, but I for one would prefer living somewhere that provides world class living. I can't imagine sitting in a city that provides the best health care with nothing else to do, but wait to have use that. So when you think you should have thought twice about moving here because of health care you might want to think again. No, it's not right at your door, but it is within reach.

Everyone has their priorities.

[ilovetv]

Originally Posted by janmcn

While watching the horrific coverage from Boston the last two days, anyone can see what a difference some of the best healthcare in the country makes. The paramedics had a choice of some of the best hospitals in the country within a mile and a half including MA General, Tufts, Beth-Israel, Brigham and Women's, and Children's Hospital. Lives were saved because of the superior treatment these people received.

Whether you live or die seems to depend on what part of the country in which you live. They also have universal health care which covers about 90 plus percent of adults and 100 percent of children, and of which 85 percent are very pleased.

As much as the bad ER situations at TVRH are absolutely appalling, I don't think it's fair to compare care at The Villages Regional Hospital that's about 13 years old to Boston hospitals that have been in existence since the founding of our nation and are centuries old.

Also, the wealthy seaport and international trade center of Boston was a lot different economically than this pasture land here in what was one of the poorest counties in FL when TV was starting to build.

I was going to list just the founding dates of the Boston hospitals mentioned, but I thought this was interesting stuff:

Massachusetts General founded in 1811

Tufts Medical Center's origins date back to 1796 when the Boston Dispensary was established as the first permanent medical facility in New England, and one of the first in the United States. Early donors included Paul Revere.

In 1894, the Boston Floating Hospital was established by a Congregational minister, the Rev. Rufus Tobey. At the time, many believed in the cleansing and therapeutic qualities of sea air to improve health, and Tobey had heard of a hospital ship for children in New York. For the next 33 years, two successive ships were home to the hospital for children in Boston Harbor.

In 1931, after the second Floating Hospital for Children ship was destroyed in a fire, the hospital was relocated to a permanent building onshore.[3]
New England Medical Center was established in 1930 as a union of the Boston Dispensary, the Boston Floating Hospital for Children, and the Trustees of Tufts College. The Pratt Diagnostic Clinic was added in 1946, and in 1950 when Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts University School of Dental Medicine relocated to Chinatownthe name was expanded to New England Medical Center Hospital.[

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston, Massachusetts is a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. It was formed out of the 1996 merger of Beth Israel Hospital (founded in 1916) and New England Deaconess Hospital (founded in 1896).

Among independent teaching hospitals, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center consistently ranks in the top three recipients of biomedical research funding from the National Institutes of Health. Research funding totals nearly $200 million annually.

Brigham and Women's represents the 1980 merger of three Harvard-affiliated Boston hospitals:
Peter Bent Brigham Hospital established in 1913
Robert Breck Brigham Hospital established in 1914
Boston Hospital for Women established in 1966 as a merger of:
Boston Lying-In Hospital established in 1832 as one of America’s first maternity hospitals
Free Hospital for Women established in 1875

Children's was founded in 1869 as a 20-bed facility at 9 Rutland Street in Boston's South End and became affiliated with Harvard Medical School in 1903. Below is a partial list* of historic milestones:
1891: Children's establishes the nation's first laboratory for the modification and production of bacteria-free milk.
1920: Dr. William Ladd devises procedures for correcting various congenital defects such as intestinal malformations, launching the specialty of pediatric surgery.
(Wikipedia)

[rp001]

Originally Posted by gomoho

World class health care would be awesome, but I for one would prefer living somewhere that provides world class living. I can't imagine sitting in a city that provides the best health care with nothing else to do, but wait to have use that. So when you think you should have thought twice about moving here because of health care you might want to think again. No, it's not right at your door, but it is within reach.

The sad truth is that it could be, and is advertised as "world class". Someone has got to be kidding or just has their head in the sand

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by rp001

The sad truth is that it could be, and is advertised as "world class". Someone has got to be kidding or just has their head in the sand

I don't recall reading those exact words. But my memory isn't what it used to be. Can you link us?

[rp001]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I don't recall reading those exact words. But my memory isn't what it used to be. Can you link us?

Just part of the "Marcus Welby" advertisements that had been floating around here.

[rp001]

The whole Moffitt center advertisement campaign.

[hotrodgirl]

The TV ER is the one thing that concerns me about having moved here. My hospital in the Chicago suburbs has been around approximately 20 years and truly has wonderful doctors and nurses. World class? We are used to quality healthcare there and advanced technology and I would expect nothing less. It runs like a well oiled machine most often, and I am comfortable recommending it. Here, not so much. I believe I would prefer Ocala or U of FL in Gainesville if there were time. I have heard about the wait time from neighbors who have also stated a lack of concern for patients. Shameful! I do hope for improvement in the future as TV continues to grow. I must also admit I have not personally had to use the ER here, so I hope what I understand from those I have spoken with is partially hearsay? Then again, they have no reason not to tell the truth... It is the one caveat in my otherwise near perfect world here in the bubble!

[gerryann]

Originally Posted by hotrodgirl

The TV ER is the one thing that concerns me about having moved here. My hospital in the Chicago suburbs has been around approximately 20 years and truly has wonderful doctors and nurses. World class? We are used to quality healthcare there and advanced technology and I would expect nothing less. It runs like a well oiled machine most often, and I am comfortable recommending it. Here, not so much. I believe I would prefer Ocala or U of FL in Gainesville if there were time. I have heard about the wait time from neighbors who have also stated a lack of concern for patients. Shameful! I do hope for improvement in the future as TV continues to grow. I must also admit I have not personally had to use the ER here, so I hope what I understand from those I have spoken with is partially hearsay? Then again, they have no reason not to tell the truth... It is the one caveat in my otherwise near perfect world here in the bubble!

I feel as you do and it does worry me. I had a fantastic healthcare system within minutes in Wisconsin. Prior to living in TV, I was in Naples, Florida with also exceptional healthcare choices. I don't believe TV's hospital is bad, it is just overwhelmed with the amount of patients. TV is bursting at the seams.

[dillywho]

Originally Posted by Mack184

Since you're ready to blame the "young & the poor" you might want to know that the average age of a TVRH patient is...78.

My apologies since I seem to have offended you. I reread your other post about the people with means which referenced leaving a portion of their estate. I agree with that statement. Some very wealthy people often build a wing. I was not slamming the young & poor as a whole. I'm old and certainly not rich....comfortable right now, yes, and we have to live very modestly. I realize that some people are not even as fortunate as we are.

I'll try again. If someone can afford to smoke these days and get numerous tatoos (don't know what they cost but understand the good ones are not cheap), body piercings, drive new cars, etc. then they should be able to contribute to their own health care. If they feel good enough to go across the street for a smoke before waiting to be seen, then what is the emergency? BTW, it was dusk and there were some Urgent Cares still open until midnight. Why not go there?

[applesoffh]

Well, at least ONE person had excellent and immediate care in TV Hospital! Did you real the column in today's SUN? Honestly, it had to be written in response to all the complaints both on TOTV and around the "compoud". We must all be crazy, because the columnist said it was just wonderful! Sorry I can't remember her name...already tossed the paper.