[ScottS]

I recently had the misfortune of having to use the Villages ER. Absolute worst experience of my life. We arrived at apx 5:15 pm. We were treated extremely rudely by the elderly gentleman registering patients. We first had to ask if that was the line, as there really was no formal line. His tone and customer service were appalling. And yes he was a paid employee and not a volunteer. We then were directed to the billing person, who was also untrained and very rude. She asked for my insurance information. I handed her the workman’s comp form which had all the info needed. She handed it back and said she needed my insurance card. After pointing out this was a workman’s comp claim and this was not going on my personal insurance, she snatched the papers back out of my hand and complained that she did not know how to file a workman’s comp claim. My wife quickly took me to a seat as she could tell I was about to snap. So 2 hours later we are taken back to get an X-ray on my injured right knee. After completing the X-rays we are taken back to the waiting room. After 3 more hours apx 11:00, the ER doctor makes an appearance, he starts sitting with the 8 or 9 people in the waiting room and discussing all of their medical issues right there in the waiting room amongst everyone there. They use to have this thing called Hipaa, apparently that doesn’t exist here in the Villages. By midnight it was finally my turn to have my medical issues discussed aloud in front of everyone. He diagnosed me with a bad knee sprain, ordered me some pain killers, a knee brace and crutches. At 1:30 my wife was tired of waiting and went to check on the above items. 3 times I was asked my height. 3 times they were told 5’9”. They brought out crutches and a knee brace that the lowest adjustment was for someone 6’2”. At 2 am I stormed out the front door with nothing that fit, and no pain meds as all the pharmacy’s are closed and they don’t give medications out at that ER. What a joke! Turns out, after going to a real doctor the next day, that I had a completely torn in half ACL. NOT A BAD SPRAIN! If anyone knows of a good lawyer I would love their name, as hipaa laws were broken, the misdiagnosis without out even doing an MRI was reckless. I even asked him why they weren’t doing an MRI, to which he responded we don’t do those here. What??? Are you kidding me? So after being there for about nine hours, we were worse off than when we got there, and the sad part is they will still get paid.

[vintageogauge]

Welcome to the club, most people will only visit there once and thankfully there are other choices now as not that long ago that was the only game in town. We had a terrible life threatening experience there and will never go back.

[Bjeanj]

For all our sakes, I hope you send this same information to the CEO of the hospital, also to whoever is in charge of running the emergency room.

[DavidCovid]

I very sorry about your recent experiences at the ER, but in my humble opinion, your case is not representative of the hard working and dedicated employees at the local emergency rooms. Additionally, I question the diagnosis you claim of a Grade III torn in half ACL which was missed diagnosis and that you just "stormed out the front door without any pain medication" when you where not treated quick enough. Sounds fishy to me and I call BS.

BTW - If you where completely honest, then I apologize. I suggest that you stop with the keyboard warrior stuff and seek legal action against the medical facility. It sucks that so many people talk trash about The Villages ER and never take any constructive action in correcting the problem so it doesn't happen again to the next poor guy seeking medical help.

[Nucky]

In November I spent 7 1/2 hours in the ER at the veterinarian. Sorry I meant the Villages ER. At that point, people were just doing their own thing. No masks, masks worn incorrectly, and normally I would have said something but I was too lumped up to argue with anyone.
It was really terrible.

The Doctor was a worn-out, beat-up clown. Not blaming him. Blaming management. I got no real assistance until I passed through the ER experience about a total of 20 hours after I arrived. This is the bad part.

Once I got to the room and for the next five days, I got the best care I ever received in any hospital anywhere. Everyone was exceptional.

I only had one small problem. While operating I absorbed a very bad infection. The operation was smooth other than the infection. I'm still battling with it. Would I go back? Depends on what the issue was at the time I needed help.

No lawyer. Not yet.

I have no chip on my shoulder but regret not standing up for myself like I normally would have with the masks.

[Villageswimmer]

Originally Posted by Nucky

In November I spent 7 1/2 hours in the ER at the veterinarian. Sorry I meant the Villages ER. At that point, people were just doing their own thing. No masks, masks worn incorrectly, and normally I would have said something but I was too lumped up to argue with anyone.
It was really terrible.

The Doctor was a worn-out, beat-up clown. Not blaming him. Blaming management. I got no real assistance until I passed through the ER experience about a total of 20 hours after I arrived. This is the bad part.

Once I got to the room and for the next five days, I got the best care I ever received in any hospital anywhere. Everyone was exceptional.

I only had one small problem. While operating I absorbed a very bad infection. The operation was smooth other than the infection. I'm still battling with it. Would I go back? Depends on what the issue was at the time I needed help.

No lawyer. Not yet.

I have no chip on my shoulder but regret not standing up for myself like I normally would have with the masks.

Sorry to hear of your experience. A “very bad infection” is not a “small problem”. No offense, but I think you may be misjudging care quality if you came away with this infection. I wish you a speedy recovery.

[Jayhawk]

Originally Posted by Nucky

The Doctor was a worn-out, beat-up clown. Not blaming him. Blaming management. I got no real assistance until I passed through the ER experience about a total of 20 hours after I arrived. This is the bad part.

Once I got to the room and for the next five days, I got the best care I ever received in any hospital anywhere. Everyone was exceptional.

Let me help you understand.

The Doctor was worn out because for the last 18 hours he was listening to one after another cranky patients complain about their hangnail or their headache or their sore throat or the scratch on their arm. Yeah, I'm sure there was the occasional real need but much of the Village ER traffic is old people who aren't happy unless they are miserable.

Once you got past that, the knuckleheads are gone and you are left with folks that needed to be admitted with real problems.

It's a damn shame what the health care workers and volunteers put up with to try and appease the entitled.

[villagetinker]

For future reference, there is a stand alone fully staffed ER on 466a just West of Buena Vista, between myself, my wife and a close friend this has been used 4 times all with excellent service and excellent results. This will always be my first choice if I need after hours care.

[asianthree]

Did your workman’s camp insurance send you to a specific facility. Most of the time most facilities will not treat you without proper paperwork, much less order a MRI.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Next time, OP, don't go to the emergency room for a non-emergency situation. You should've gone to Urgent Care.

[Mleeja]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

For future reference, there is a stand alone fully staffed ER on 466a just West of Buena Vista, between myself, my wife and a close friend this has been used 4 times all with excellent service and excellent results. This will always be my first choice if I need after hours care.

There is also a fully staffed ER on Hwy 441 by Stonecrest. I would think anyone who is familiar with The Villages Hospital ER would select one of these locations.

I have only been to The Villages Hospital ER once and had very good service. Of course I arrived about 5:30 am. Had my kidney stone diagnosed and home by 7:00 am.

In the future, unless it is a heart attack, I will probably suggest going to the ER on 441.

[Villagesshopper]

Unfortunately, I visit that ER in the height of Covid last August. My experience was completely the opposite, a professional group of folks Who really cared how I felt. They were kind patient and courteous, thank you so much for your expert treatment. I can’t thank you enough you got me better and out the door within three days. It’s now UF Health, I hope folks don’t think your Experience will be the same for them if They need to go there because they were awesome for me.

[Nucky]

Originally Posted by Villageswimmer

Sorry to hear of your experience. A “very bad infection” is not a “small problem”. No offense, but I think you may be misjudging care quality if you came away with this infection. I wish you a speedy recovery.

Thanks for reminding me. The first bill I received when I got home was for about $800 for the Sterilization of the utensils used in the Operating Room. They also misspelled my last name about twenty times on communication that was mailed from the hospital.

Other than the infection the rest of the crew upstairs was very good, excellent I would say. I was just trying to illustrate the difference between the ER and the main hospital. Trust me I know the infection is a damn shame. I get your point though.

[kaydee]

Why any one continues to use the Villages ER is beyond my thinking. Ocala Health ER in Summerfield is the only place my husband or I will go if either of us need medical attention. Just my opinion & speaking from experience!

[thevillages2013]

Originally Posted by ScottS

I recently had the misfortune of having to use the Villages ER. Absolute worst experience of my life. We arrived at apx 5:15 pm. We were treated extremely rudely by the elderly gentleman registering patients. We first had to ask if that was the line, as there really was no formal line. His tone and customer service were appalling. And yes he was a paid employee and not a volunteer. We then were directed to the billing person, who was also untrained and very rude. She asked for my insurance information. I handed her the workman’s comp form which had all the info needed. She handed it back and said she needed my insurance card. After pointing out this was a workman’s comp claim and this was not going on my personal insurance, she snatched the papers back out of my hand and complained that she did not know how to file a workman’s comp claim. My wife quickly took me to a seat as she could tell I was about to snap. So 2 hours later we are taken back to get an X-ray on my injured right knee. After completing the X-rays we are taken back to the waiting room. After 3 more hours apx 11:00, the ER doctor makes an appearance, he starts sitting with the 8 or 9 people in the waiting room and discussing all of their medical issues right there in the waiting room amongst everyone there. They use to have this thing called Hipaa, apparently that doesn’t exist here in the Villages. By midnight it was finally my turn to have my medical issues discussed aloud in front of everyone. He diagnosed me with a bad knee sprain, ordered me some pain killers, a knee brace and crutches. At 1:30 my wife was tired of waiting and went to check on the above items. 3 times I was asked my height. 3 times they were told 5’9”. They brought out crutches and a knee brace that the lowest adjustment was for someone 6’2”. At 2 am I stormed out the front door with nothing that fit, and no pain meds as all the pharmacy’s are closed and they don’t give medications out at that ER. What a joke! Turns out, after going to a real doctor the next day, that I had a completely torn in half ACL. NOT A BAD SPRAIN! If anyone knows of a good lawyer I would love their name, as hipaa laws were broken, the misdiagnosis without out even doing an MRI was reckless. I even asked him why they weren’t doing an MRI, to which he responded we don’t do those here. What??? Are you kidding me? So after being there for about nine hours, we were worse off than when we got there, and the sad part is they will still get paid.

How did you hurt your knee? Just curious, obviously you were working