Question about Medical/Hospitals

[SamSam]

We just arrived yesterday and 23 more family members are coming today to celebrate our anniversary. Today a group that arrived earlier went to AK and while there my Step Dad started feeling very poorly, looked ashen, and was sweating profusely (sounds like heart). They called first aid, but he started feeling better. They are coming back to the villa but I'm afraid that he's trying to say he's okay so he won't put a hamper on everyone's fun. I'll talk to him, but I'm sure he'll be stubborn.

My question is, what hospital would you recommend if this happens again? I know recently someone was saying to avoid Celebration like the plaque, but I simply don't remember where was suggested to go.
I would really like to have some suggestion, I'm, of course, pretty worried.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If you are staying on property the closest hospital is Celebration. That actually is a good hospital. The next-closest is Dr. P. Philips (formerly Sand Lake) Hospital which is North of WDW.

If there is a major emergency, accept whatever the ambulance takes him to; they know what is available and also what is best for what his condition is.

 

[jcb]

I don't know the hospitals in Orlando but I just wanted to say I hope all is well with your Step Dad.

 

[moepanz]

Dr. Phillips was amazing with my mom. She was taken there by ambulance from Cape May Cafe. She spent 2 nights there and was transferred to Orlando Regional Medical Center. The care she received at both hospitals was amazing. When in the ambulance I asked if we were going to Celebration and the EMT basically said that the more serious stuff they take to Dr. Phillips. I hope all goes well and you won't need any of this info. If you just want to get him to a Dr you can also call the front desk they will give you the info for Centra Care which was good too (for a Dr. visit non emergent) they will send a van to pick you up (only waited a few mins) and then they will drop you back off after the appointment.

again I hope all goes well

 

[wdwscout]

I have taken a teenage boy (one of my scouts) to Celebration Hospital and it wasn't a horrible experience.
I have worked in hospitals and emergency rooms for 30 years and can usually tell right away when it's not a good place. I found Florida Hospital in Celebration to be a little slow, but it was the midnight shift and a bare bones staff. But the care was good and appropriate. We were back in Fort Wilderness in a couple of hours.

The hospital in Celebration is part of Florida Hospital- and there are several locations in the Orlando area. I do not know if one location is better than another or if one specializes in cardiac care or not.
If he needs an ambulance though, he will be taken to Celebration (as we were).

I hope he is just a little out of sorts from the excitement and a little rest and a lot of hydration will have him back to normal soon. But if he has any history of heart disease (or other issues) it's better to be on the safe side and get him checked out.
Maybe an urgent care center instead of the hospital - if you are not having an emergency.

Downtown Disney used to have a health card facility- I am not sure if it's still there or not- but someone else may know.

Happy Anniversary- I hope everyone stays healthy!!

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I have also heard good things about Celebration Hospital, and it is, after all, the closest. I will keep you all in my thoughts. Here's hoping it was a fluke!

 

[SamSam]

Thank you all for your swift responses and good wishes. I'm making note of the information and keeping it with us. Right now he's resting in the villa and insisting he's fine, if he has another spell we will insist he see a doctor. He doesn't have a history of heart trouble, but he is diabetic.

Again thank you so much...these boards, especially DisUnplugged Podcast is the best!

 

[mrzrich]

Thank you all for your swift responses and good wishes. I'm making note of the information and keeping it with us. Right now he's resting in the villa and insisting he's fine, if he has another spell we will insist he see a doctor. He doesn't have a history of heart trouble, but he is diabetic.

Again thank you so much...these boards, especially DisUnplugged Podcast is the best!

Did he check his sugar?

 

[SamSam]

Did he check his sugar?

Yes, and he was good. He turned in early tonight (thank goodness) and we will monitor him closely tomorrow. If there's even a hint of a problem, he doesn't get a say in what goes on, he goes to get checked out.

With 23 family members here, I think we will overcome his unwillingness to see a doctor (if we think it's necessary). Bless him, I know he's worried about putting a damper on this gathering, but we're much more concerned about his health than anything else.

 

[daneenm]

Yes, and he was good. He turned in early tonight (thank goodness) and we will monitor him closely tomorrow. If there's even a hint of a problem, he doesn't get a say in what goes on, he goes to get checked out.

With 23 family members here, I think we will overcome his unwillingness to see a doctor (if we think it's necessary). Bless him, I know he's worried about putting a damper on this gathering, but we're much more concerned about his health than anything else.

I've been wondering how your Step Dad is, Sam. Is everything OK today?

 

[SamSam]

I've been wondering how your Step Dad is, Sam. Is everything OK today?

Thank you. He is better and insists he's fine, but he doesn't seem quite like himself. He is taking it slower, but we're still worried and all the rest of us are watching him and taking care that when he seems tired, someone in our group will say 'I'm ready to go, why don't you come with us', and he does quite willingly.

Tomorrow we have our anniverary celebration at Epcot in the evening, and my mom and stepdad have already said they are sleeping in and taking it easy in the morning (good).

I'm still really worried about him, and we're all watching him closely but you can't force a person to go to the doctor. If he has another episode, we will though.

thank you for your concern, I really appreciate it. We're here with 20+ family members, some that haven't been together in 5 years so this is an important event for all of us, but not worth risking the health of my stepdad.

He is really enjoying himself though and seems to love watching the interaction between everyone so that's a good thing.

 

[daneenm]

Must be stressful juggling so many family members and being worried about him. Hope the rest of your trip goes well and he is back to normal soon.

Happy Anniversary!

 

[SamSam]

Must be stressful juggling so many family members and being worried about him. Hope the rest of your trip goes well and he is back to normal soon.

Happy Anniversary!

Thank you, yes it is stressful being 'responsible' for so many family members, and worrying about DSD. It's a stressful, DH and I are trying to make sure all (including 11 who have never been before) have a good time, while watching over my step-dad to make sure he's not worse than he's letting on.

Over all it's going well, and like I said, everyone is watching out for step-dad.
The very positive side is so many family members together for the first time in 5 years.

Thank you so much for your concern and good wishes.

 

[kaligal]

The closest hospital isn't necessarily the best.

Any hospital can handle a broken arm or a dehydrated person. However, even in this day and age, not every hospital has a cath lab or the ability to put in stents. You'd think so, but no. They could put you on a helicopter to one that does, I assume...but not every hospital has the ability to treat an emergency heart problem.

Minutes matter when you're having a heart attack. Better to drive 10 more minutes to a hospital with a decent cath lab than waste an additional 10-20 by stopping at the closest hospital.

I don't know the deal in Orlando and wouldn't have any idea where to direct someone.

I hope someone does.

Of course, you don't know that it is a heart problem. It could be a variety of things.

People who turn grey are not OK. You don't need a doctor to tell you that. Something is wrong. Even if they have stopped being grey for now, they should be evaluated by at least one doctor. If it were me, I'd be encouraging that. You can't force a grown man to go to the hospital...but you can always call 911 if he passes out or stops breathing.

 

[rwdavis2]

In 2008, my wife spent 3 days at the hospital in Celebration and thought the care was excellent. She's a former ICU nurse and is currently a Nurse Anethetist and she was very impressed.

 

[SamSam]

Yes, we are definitely calling 911 if it happens again, right now he is still insisting he's okay and absolutely will not consider seeing a doctor while here.

rwdavis- that's good to know, especially after hearing not so good things about the Celebraton Hospital.

We are watching for any sign of something going amiss (regardless of what he says) and will not hesitate to get him in for care.

Thank you all for your help and good wishes.

 

[rwdavis2]

Yes, we are definitely calling 911 if it happens again, right now he is still insisting he's okay and absolutely will not consider seeing a doctor while here.

rwdavis- that's good to know, especially after hearing not so good things about the Celebraton Hospital.

We are watching for any sign of something going amiss (regardless of what he says) and will not hesitate to get him in for care.

Thank you all for your help and good wishes.

My wife, an asthmatic, had come down with pnemonia and when the breathing trouble started we pulled into Saratoga Spring and had them call 911 and EMTs were there in 5 minutes. The got her stablized in the ambulance and off we went to the ER.