USA: Update on the fraudlent donation we received two weeks ago today. The Chronicle of Philanthropy took note of our press release and followed up with their own warning to public charities. Reporter Holly Hall phoned Dana Burchfield, Assistant Controller at Purvin & Gertz in Houston, Texas, and learned that the unathorized checks are still… [Read more…]
October 25, 2011
MISSOURI: Last week we had a very unusual occurance. Our patient advocacy organization received a fraudulent $1950 donation, apparently in a campaign meant to harm a Houston, Texas based energy industry consulting firm. We didn’t need the disruption in our efforts to launch a new childhood asthma program – but criminals don’t really care who they… [Read more…]
October 24, 2011
USA: MedlinePlus published this report today about our nation’s hospital efforts to cut the use of unnecessary antibiotics, which is aimed at curbing the escalating problem of antibiotic resistant infections. The good news: the programs are working in participating hospitals! The bad news: only 1/3 of the nation’s hospitals are participating in these efforts. The excuse for… [Read more…]
October 19, 2011
It would seem that in order to be a top-ranked healthcare facility in this country, all you have to do is hire someone clever enough to creatively fill out treatment compliance forms, or simply claim you’re great. I’ve seen three reports in the last week confirming that this is exactly what’s going on in our nation’s hospitals. It’s about real… [Read more…]
September 29, 2011
USA: Earlier this week a story broke across the newswires about a gorgeous little boy – Aaron Pointer – who had an asthma attack last year in Matteson, Illinois, and died while being shuttled by ambulance from hospital to hospital over 11 agonizing hours. Read his story, but know that you will never forget his… [Read more…]
September 22, 2011
USA: Alicia Cole is an actress, an HAI survivor, and one of the best spokespersons we have in the war on Hospital Acquired Infections. After battling for years to come back from flesh-eating bacteria she got in a dirty California hospital, Alicia is now healthy enough to step in front of the camera again. Her… [Read more…]
September 16, 2011
USA: We’ve been following the epic battle between Public Good vs. Blunt End Secrecy all week regarding the Obama-ordered removal of the public database of physician disciplinary action and malpractice records. Today, the Jedi struck back. They released the blackened database – all of it – despite the administration’s order. St. Louis Post Dispatch has the story. Go Jedi!… [Read more…]
September 15, 2011
NY: Trisha Torrey aka Every Patient’s Advocate wrote this open letter to hospitals in New York state regarding their data in the latest performance report released to the public for the state’s hospitals. While sone of her comments are directed at specific institutions, IMHO this letter should be sent to every hospital in the country. It is… [Read more…]
September 14, 2011
USA: You know that I don’t put much stock in hospital ratings, but the Joint Commission released this smallish list of Top Performing US hospitals in certain critial care areas today. So I’m publishing it here. There are only 405 names on this list – containing the top performing 14% of all hospitals who report… [Read more…]
September 13, 2011
USA: This isn’t Star Wars, but if feels like patients and advocates are stuck in some sort of good vs. evil, Dark Side vs. Light Side battle with Sith lords. FYI to the Star Wars Geeks in the readership: Okay I loved the first three movies, and I didn’t even mind the fourth, but I’m not a… [Read more…]
October 28, 2011
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