Quality of S. Florida Healthcare (Miami, Tampa: health insurance, home, schools)

[Stoptothink]

What is your opinion on the quality of healthcare in S. Florida?

Did you ever feel like you need to go somewhere else in the country to find the right care?

[griffon652]

Believe it or not the question you asked is so complicated that if someone wanted to really delve into the subject it would be an "essay long" answer. However, I'm sure you are not looking for something that long. So I will sum it up for you briefly. Please keep in mind that my answer is NOT based on anecdotal evidence or personal experience. Its based on studying many mechanics of the healthcare industry in an in depth fashion. I would guess 95% of people never have the need or the will to study the healthcare subject in-depth so their answer will be based on personal experience.

Please note that I'm answering this question based purely on high quality physician availability (for all specialties) in the tri-county area. When you take into consideration your particular health insurance and its limitations on who you can see; then then the answer becomes ticker. In general though, the better insurance you have the closer you will get to my answer below as far as health care.

-S. Florida is among the best places in live in terms of having access to a disproportionate number of physicians of all specialties. This means you have a high probability of finding a doctor who you will "click with" in terms of what you personally look for in a physician.

-However, as far as the "skill" level of doctors; I would assume that it to be about average. Meaning, compared to doctors across the US, FL physicians will not be bad or good, just average. Since its impossible to measure actual skill level of doctors (which is why no study exists on the subject) I based on answer on the "job quality" for physicians in Florida. The pay, benefits, risk of malpractice lawsuit, work satisfaction is literally in the middle (22 out of 50) when it comes to jobs for physicians (across all specialties). Just like with all jobs on the planet, higher job quality attracts the best talent. So based on this concept S. FL doctors are average.

Please keep in mind that the above doesn't mean there are no "best of the best" doctors here. Just that there are less of them then parts of the country where the job quality for doctors is higher. For example, one of my regular specialists has what I informally call "double ivy league certification." He went to med school in the "ivy league" of med schools and did his internship at one of the best hospitals in the country. He has been voted "top 100 specialists of his type" multiple times by the most medical journals in the country.

[Ombrages]

I will give my opinion on the matter. I have been working in critical care for the past 13 years. I have worked in the Northeast, Florida (Fort Myers, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale) as well as in California. Generally speaking, when compared to the other areas I have mentioned, I have found the quality of health in Florida to be not that great... You would think a State with so many seniors would have great healthcare but actually it's quite the contrary.

[Stoptothink]

Originally Posted by Ombrages

I will give my opinion on the matter. I have been working in critical care for the past 13 years. I have worked in the Northeast, Florida (Fort Myers, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale) as well as in California. Generally speaking, when compared to the other areas I have mentioned, I have found the quality of health in Florida to be not that great... You would think a State with so many seniors would have great healthcare but actually it's quite the contrary.

Thank you for posting. If at all possible, can you elaborate as to what specifically is inferior as compared to other regions of the country?

[Ombrages]

Originally Posted by Stoptothink

Thank you for posting. If at all possible, can you elaborate as to what specifically is inferior as compared to other regions of the country?

Sure. I can only speak for the sector in which I work, which is inpatient, acute care. As some may know, Florida is home to many hospitals owned by for-profit corporations. The primary concern for these hospitals is, of course, to generate maximum revenue by cutting expenses. This translates to cheap/antiquated equipment and nurse-to-patient ratios that are stretched to the limit. Additionally, wages for healthcare workers (excluding physicians) are within the lowest in the nation, which of course does nothing to attract and retain a talented workforce. I just feel like the standards aren't set very high regarding patient care & monitoring when compared to what I've witnessed out of state. Regarding physicians, I pretty much agree with what Griffon has mentioned regarding 'skill'.

I'm not saying that it isn't possible to get quality healthcare in So Florida. I would just do my best to get informed (by asking friends and family) on where to go and who to see.

[City Guy997S]

Originally Posted by Stoptothink

What is your opinion on the quality of healthcare in S. Florida?

Did you ever feel like you need to go somewhere else in the country to find the right care?

Seems like old people live a long time in Flariduh so they must be doing something right...........

[Huasho]

I am 70 yrs old, active exerciser, every day, here in SW Miami...My PCP for the last 5+ yrs has not been changed and also my HMO Insurance attached to my Medicare Benes.

I have a Baptist Hospital at a mile and a half from home, and that is also where my PCP's Offices are located.

I cannot complain about my benefits, of course that helps in that I take No Medicines, I have no Ongoing health problems, and in cases where I need fast response without using an E.R, I have gotten it without delays.

I worked all my life to enjoy my retirement yrs and I actually feel blessed for being this confortable with Health Coverages so hard to find in these days. I have people other than my family that look after me and are concerned with my quality of life.

[blueherons]

I think the healthcare is excellent.