Florida Hospital EMS

I went to Florida Hospital's sleep center to be evaluated. I admit I did not know what to expect having never done this before and by the time I got out of there I did not know any more. They treat this like it is a dark practice known only to those that work there. When I was diagnosed with sleep apnea they called me up and informed me that I needed to have another sleep study done. I asked what for and they told me to be fitted with a mask and cpap machine. Ok. The night I went for the fitting the tech put a mask on my face and I could not exhale because of the amount of air being forced into the mask, she tried another and the same thing happened. I asked her if she had a mask that just had two prongs going into my nostrils thinking I could breath thru my mouth and that worked. But the mask was so flimsy I could not move all night long. Little did I know this was going to be the mask they would put me on. They told me that their branch that would furnish me with a mask and machine would be getting in touch with me with in a week. Towards the end of the second week not having heard anything yet I called the sleep center. They had no answers but said they would call their office to find out what the hold up was. I got a call back the next day telling me that I was out of their insurance area and that they would have to send my Rx to another company. Within 2 hours I got a call from that company (there competitor) and was scheduled to have a mask fitting in 5 days. Now 29 days have gone by and I found this wonderful tech to talk to with the company I am now with and we discussed my nasal mask and she recommended a full face mask. I went to their location got the mask and what a difference. I slept like a baby. Now it is day 30 and the new company asked me when my appointment was scheduled for with Florida Hospt's doctor that wrote my Rx. I told them I did not know anything about having a follow up appointment. They told me who to call so I did and at first Florida hosp's sleep center said I did not need a follow up appointment and I said the company I am with told me I can not order supplies until I have that appointment and that the Dr confirms I am benefiting from the CPAP. She asked what insurance I had and I told her she said Oh and she said yes I need to have a follow up appointment and it is scheduled to happen in ONE MONTH! So I have to keep using the same filter that I am supposed to change every two weeks for 2 months. I highly recommend if you are going to have a sleep study done to find a competent facility where they keep you informed and you don't have to battle your way to answers

The phone number listed is a fax number...duh!

My daughter went there with severe, sharp chest pain and waited for four hours - during which time she was left alone, then shifted around from one room to another and despite her obvious pain, made to walk instead of being transported in a wheelchair or on a gurney. Only after several hours of shivering with the cold and crying in pain was she finally given blankets, and a sofa to lay on. Because she's young (23), much of her complaints were ignored. They were about to discharge her with Tylenol until I talked with the doctor on the phone, and suddenly she needed to be admitted. Wow.

They treated me well and I also took my daughter to Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children (http://www.floridahospitalforchildren.com/), also in Orlando, and it was a great facility as well.

Hospitalist are HORRIBLE! They come into your hospital room, uninvited, you don't know who they are and all the sudden you get a HUGE bill from them! What happened to your own physician caring for you.