To the Editor:
I work in the local healthcare industry and we have many friends and family using the healthcare in The Villages. Our family doctor is good and some of the urgent cares are fine other then huge wait times! However the hospital and ER have a horrible reputation I have spoken to nurses who worked there and said they were lucky to leave with their license intact due to some of the practices going on and things they are asked to do that are not good patient care. One major issue is the nurse to patient ratio is too high.
The horrible wait times of 4-8 hours or longer in the ER is second in the list of complaints. Recently we were in a contact warning room at the villages hospital, however instead of the items being outside the room (gloves, gowns, etc) they were in the room with the patient and where the patient has had contact. These things are basic quality care that is not being met so I don’t know how they can even begin to say it is “world class”!! I have worked in “world class” hospitals, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and Childrens Hospital of Milwaukee and Marshfield Clinic in Marshfield Wisconsin. And The Villages is not it at least right now.
We need our hospital to have many things. For one, a children’s hospital for the people who run the urgent cares, clinics, stores and restaurants and keep people in The Villages happy the workers need this for their kids! Or at least an ER that has great pediatricians on staff! In addition, I am Not sure if UF will help or not as we have also experienced their care having lived in Gainesville for 4 years and most people living in Gainesville recommended North Florida Regional over Shands for service And overall care, however for cancer care Shands is good however Moffit in Tampa or Mayo Clinic (Jacksonville’s) both have a wider depth of care for cancer patients. Personally we have had the absolute best care at Waterman Hospital their ER is bar none one of the best ERs I have experienced they are quick and thorough!! We know advent has recently acquired them so will see how that pans out. To create the world’s best hospital would combine Waterman’s ER with Moffitt/Mayo Cancer care with Children’s hospital and University of Iowa’s patient care! The final piece running the hospital like Richard Bronson from Virgin Airlines, treat your employees well and they will take care of the company! Taking the best pieces from each place and putting them into one facility that is how you create “World Class” care! Just my two cents!
Lynn Gruman
Oxford Oaks
