[Freehiker]

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.

Ugh, paragraphs

[Paula]

Originally Posted by Mleeja

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.

The Summerfield ER (Ocala Health) is just south of Del Webb and it is the best invention ever!!! I was whisked in and was immediately treated by a team of professionals, including a medical doctor. While there, I couldn't imagine why anyone would go to The Villages hospital ER and face potential hours of wait time and misery. If you need an ER, do check this or any other free standing facility!

[Pedrocarrasco01@yahoo.com]

Originally Posted by 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!

.
I would use the Ocala Health Emergency Room located on 441 in front of Del Webb Spruce Creek Country Club, would not use the Villages Hospital on 441, great care used couple of times very happy, had a skin cancer that my dermatologist was concerned with, she send me to Shands in Gainesville, great experience, they got all of it, tremendously happy, one thing that I found was Shands owns the Villages Hospital, I needed to take a Covid Test 2 days before surgery, since both are the same health care entity, I wanted to take the test here since I did not wanted to drive the 50 plus miles to Gainesville, I called Shands and was told “we don’t trust any testing unless is done here” so I drove and got the test then 2 days later had the procedure. When a sister company does not trust testing from another sister testing site, that is to me concerning and a good reason not to use it.
No I won’t use it unless extreme emergency.

[Travelingal702]

Originally Posted by JMintzer

I'm amazed at how many people use an Emergency Room for "non-emergency" care...

It only overloads the system and makes everyone wait longer.

Their are so many Urgent Care facilities around that were designed fo just such "non-emergency" care...

But no, the "I want it now" mentality takes precedent...

By all means, go to Urgent Care. There is little, if any, wait time. If you know it's NOT an emergency (aka: Life threatening), why, OH WHY would you go to an emergency room, where you KNOW you're going to have to wait? There are so many Urgent Care facilities around, plus the newly opened facility on 466A.

[graciegirl]

Unless we are seasonal residents, we should have an established physician and not use the ER at any place for things that are NOT an emergency.

This may have been terribly painful but it was not life threatening.

[jbrown132]

Took my wife there about about five years ago and had a similar experience. Without getting into details about what was wrong with my wife, after seven hours the doctor makes his appearance explains to her what is wrong and then starts reaming her out saying she shouldn’t have come to the emergency room. At this point I had had enough and asked him if someone came to the emergency room with multiple contusions and abrasions would it take them seven hours to see a doctor. He said probably yes. I then told him if he didn’t shut his mouth he would be seeing a doctor in about seven hours. Next time if it is not life threatening go to Leesburg or Ocala.

[rmd2]

Your mistreatment and misdiagnosis is why I will not go to The Villages ER or Radiology (X-Ray) Department. They incorrectly diagnosed me with osteomyelitis (bone infection) and I was facing a bone marrow procedure as well as the possible amputation of my big toe. Fortunately I went to Shands in Gainesville where I found out the Radiologist in The Villages Hospital incorrectly read my X-Ray as osteomyelitis. I now go to Sand Lake Imaging for my X-Rays. The Radiologists who read the X-Rays there are in Orlando and in my opinion better. It's a scary world here in The Villages for decent health care.

[rmd2]

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.

You may have staph (from a dirty OR room) or MERSA you better get that taken care of pronto.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by 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.

My two cents worth. Mark Twain said something to the effect that we do not make any progress because we lose what was. While I would be lost without my computer we have lost both privacy and good manners.

Your initial contact with any business sets the tone for the entire experience. Apparently that is what happened.

Sadly, the Villages Hospital does not have a good reputation. Turning around the hospital is difficult. Turning around the reputation is perhaps a harder job.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by jbrown132

took my wife there about about five years ago and had a similar experience. Without getting into details about what was wrong with my wife, after seven hours the doctor makes his appearance explains to her what is wrong and then starts reaming her out saying she shouldn’t have come to the emergency room. At this point i had had enough and asked him if someone came to the emergency room with multiple contusions and abrasions would it take them seven hours to see a doctor. He said probably yes. I then told him if he didn’t shut his mouth he would be seeing a doctor in about seven hours. Next time if it is not life threatening go to leesburg or ocala.

Triage.

triage
noun [ U ]
UK /ˈtriː.ɑːʒ/ US /ˈtriː.ɑːʒ/

the process of quickly examining patients who are taken to a hospital in order to decide which ones are the most seriously ill and must be treated first:

[Notsocrates]

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.

That was very bad and should not have happened. Rather than sue, you should file a formal complaint with the FL board of medical examiners. There was 1. a violation of confidentiality and 2. negligence in not referring you to an orthopedist. A simple examination by any competent clinician can diagnose a complete ACL tear. Since you suffered no loss or injury (thankfully), there is nothing to compensate you for.
A board of medical examiners has power of medical license to affect change.

[Rr23070]

What was your attitude when you got there? I was in there this past Sunday, the care was outstanding.

[cj1040]

File a complaint letter with the hospital director.. that is the best way to bring it to their attention.

[rmd2]

Originally Posted by The Mountaineer

I have a one-word suggestion: Ocala.

When I had a problem during one of my winters there that's where I went. 3 days in the hospital, problem solved.

The Villages' medical care, which 140,000 senior citizens at its disposal, is not what it should be. Wise people go to Ocala and do far better for it.

Quick question - Did you use the Ocala Hospital on 441 or the Ocala West on 200?

[cj1040]

Yes my daughter is an ER doctor treating everything from abusive drunks who fell down to dying people. Not an easy job. Complain to the hospital director about rude desk clerks and inefficiency you experienced