Are you satisfied with Medical Services in the Sarasota/Venice Area? (Tampa: fit in, renting)

[daveysue]

Hello,
We are a retired couple who have sold our 2-story home in Michigan and are now renting a home near Wilmington, North Carolina. We were going to use this year to decide which neighborhood to buy a house possibly in N.C. but we were also researching further south and we would like to explore living in Sarasota, we have both spent vacations there and love the gulf beaches and the area.
My husband has had knee and back surgeries and we are hoping to live somewhere with excellent medical facilities, both for urgent care as well as possibly knee and back attention, and who knows what else!
I would love to hear from some seniors or anyone about their impressions with the hospitals and clinics there, - does anyone feel they had better facilities where they lived previously?
We had excellent hospitals in Michigan, never had to wait for surgeries for more than a month or a month and a half.
Thank you for any information! Considering we want this to be our home we would definitely like hear about the quality of medical services. Also any sources where these facts would be available.
Please note we both have private insurance coverage as well as my husband's medicare.
Thanks.

[Nancy in Nokomis]

I am happy with Sarasota Memorial Hospital after a recent stay in their cardiac unit. I have been told to avoid Venice Hospital at all costs.

[photoman_6]

if you can't find excellent medical care in the area you're not looking.
No problems here, from our regular physician(actually a walk-in clinic that has been nothing but the best), our specialist, hip surgeon and hospital.

[Headacher]

Interesting to read "avoid Venice Hospital at all costs". I wonder how bad it is.

I can't believe I never thought to ask this question about hospitals. A major reason we haven't been able to get serious about a move to FL is my wife's health. We'll certainly need to know the best hospitals and Doctors.

I recall reading on this site about a new Hospital complex being built in Nokomis on Laurel Road at 75. Has there been any more news on that?

[sware2cod]

Very satisfied with the choices as well as the quality.

[SoFLGal]

I'm very pleased with the medical services in the area. My father had a heart transplant up at Tampa General about 15 years ago and is still alive and kicking. He started his care at Sarasota Memorial. My primary doctor and dentist are in North Port (south Sarasota county). All medical care has been very good.

Now, that being said, I can't say the same for nearby Charlotte county. IMO, the medical care in that area is not good at all. My mother in law spent a lot of time in the Port Charlotte hospitals before she passed away and I thought the care was subpar. My father in law is being prescribed meds that I think are way too strong, by a doctor in PC. Just not a big fan for the medical care system in the Charlotte area.

[daveysue]

very interesting! We've been through (my husband) two back surgeries, two knee surgeries (on the same knee), and myself a hysterectomy all in Michigan. Care was excellent and the wait time was that there was NO wait time... just when we were ready to have it done.
Is that how things are here in Sarasota?

[SoFLGal]

Originally Posted by daveysue

very interesting! We've been through (my husband) two back surgeries, two knee surgeries (on the same knee), and myself a hysterectomy all in Michigan. Care was excellent and the wait time was that there was NO wait time... just when we were ready to have it done.
Is that how things are here in Sarasota?

I can recommend an orthopedic surgeon in Sarasota. Dr Sugar is excellent. My middle daughter kept having issues with her knee popping out of place when she played soccer. Dr. Sugar saw her a few times and put her in a brace, took some xrays, etc. We were very pleased with his expertise, wait time and the office in general. I'm not sure if he deals with spinal issues.

I would suggest you get hooked up with the doctors you think you will need when you come to town so you are a patient of their and feel comfortable with them. Then if you need them you could just make an appointment.

[daveysue]

Thanks for your reply. I think from all I've heard that medical issues are taken care of in Florida as well as anywhere else. We have a lot of research to do.. in terms of what the extra costs are after buying a house.
We really love the area we are in here in N.C. but we really wanted the warm weather year round as do so many aging people. We really have one shot at buying and owning another home (we don't want to move again!!) so we want to get it right. We will be researching the Sarasota area as we feel we have enough income/savings to fit into a safe, quiet probably HOA type neighborhood, a close drive to the beach, if there is a golf course there all the better.
That's our plan

[macrodome2]

Originally Posted by daveysue

We will be researching the Sarasota area as we feel we have enough income/savings to fit into a safe, quiet probably HOA type neighborhood, a close drive to the beach, if there is a golf course there all the better.
That's our plan

Take a look at Venice while you research Sarasota. It fits what you say you are looking for and may be quieter than Sarasota.