Nearly 88% of Americans have a typical place they go to for medical care. In Antelope Valley, there are several hospitals serving different areas. Some specialize in trauma while others propose a diversity of services to accommodate patients and those in need of help. Hence, it is critical to look for a hospital that offers flexibility and the services that you need. One way to find this information is to look at independent reports that review hospitals. The criteria that are used will include specialty rankings, performance in procedures or condition, and the number of patients treated.
Medicare and Financial Means of Payment are Important
When choosing a hospital, you would also like to know if your hospital insurance coverage is accepted. For example, Medicare patients might have modified their health care plans if they are not happy with the coverage. Thus, it is possible that you have an expanded coverage and can afford extra services that were not covered in your old plan. Whether you want to change the provisions of your current care plan or intend to shift to another provider, you must know what can be included by your insurance in the hospital of your choice. It is essential to ask as well if the hospitals are part of the Medicare or are in the network of your Medicare Advantage Plan – Health Maintenance Organization or Preferred Provider Organization (HMO or PPO). This factor can influence whether you will go to a certain hospital or not. The financial viability of a hospital is also a significant concern. To illustrate, Antelope Valley Hospital is the recipient of a ‘BBB’ long-term rating by the Standard and Poor’s Global Ratings, a first in the hospital’s history. According to CEO Edward Mirzabegian, “the rating is a positive reflection on the hospital and its future.”
The State of Hospitals in the Valley
Antelope Valley Hospital is a public hospital. The 420-bed facility offers a variety of medical services. It has adequate staffing including specialists that work in certain medical areas. Its level 2 trauma center is the only one in Northeast LA County. Although the hospital is not nationally ranked in the US Health and News report, the hospital covers gastroenterology & GI surgery, neurology & neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology & lung surgery, and urology.
Another hospital in the Valley is Palmdale Regional Medical Center. It is primarily a general medical and surgical facility. It is known for 2 adult procedures where it excels such as those related to cardiology and heart surgery. In addition, its performance in nephrology is excellent. Other areas of coverage include neurology & neurosurgery, gastroenterology, and diabetes & endocrinology. If you move further, you might want to consider going to the LAC-Olive View-UCLA Medical Center. It offers services in areas such as lung cancer, pneumonia, neurology, nephrology, and cardiology.
Medical services in Antelope Valley and surrounding areas are respectable with a reasonable quality of services and equipment, and infrastructure. Where you will check in depends very much on the proximity of the hospital to your residence, whether your doctor works in that hospital, or if the facility offers after hospital care. It can also depend on whether your bills will be covered by the Medicare health plan.
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