THE VILLAGES, Fla. – Palm trees and golf carts line the streets of the retirement community dubbed “Florida’s Friendliest Hometown.”

Shops, restaurants, and doctors’ offices are all just a short ride away in The Villages , which spans Lake, Marion and Sumter counties. But in recent months, concern has grown after The Villages Health System filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The Villages Health currently treats around 55,000 patients with eight primary care facilities and two specialty care facilities.

“You know, you figure you know everything is run a certain way around here, and didn’t expect anything like this. This was kind of like way out of left field,” said Fred, a patient who has lived in The Villages for five and a half years with his wife, Linda. They have been patients of Vi

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