No commentary needed here. See what my friend Susan shared with me about her recent experience: I had a routine colonoscopy, then 5 days later, I began to hemorrhage and passed out on the street corner. Some passerbys helped me and called an ambulance, but I ended up in the St XXX’s ER, one of […]
What Can We Learn from Susan’s Horrendous Hospital Stay? Read More »
We all think we know what healthcare reform means — we think it means something about universal healthcare, right? You might be surprised to learn that “universal healthcare” isn’t what it’s about at all. It’s about shifting who gets healthcare, figuring out how to pay for it, and knowing that any success we find will
Healthcare Reform – Do You Understand the Questions? Read More »
One important theme in the information I share with patients, is to help them better understand their frustrations with healthcare as a basis for understanding how to get past those frustrations. Point-of-view is always a good place to begin. Understanding the point of view of whatever it is that stands in your way can help
Frustrated by a Hospital Stay? Doctors Are Frustrated, Too Read More »
From time to time I’ll read an article written by a doctor about his or her experience as a patient. Several have written books about their experiences, and what they learned from them. Often their own patient-hood causes some sort of epiphany. That “aha!” moment that helps them GET IT. Their work is no longer
Doctors as Patients – Maybe This Should be Part of Med School? Read More »
When I received my cancer diagnosis in 2004, and proved I didn’t really have cancer at all, it was the first time I had ever heard or known about that form of misdiagnosis. It’s backwards from those we hear about more frequently. Most of the time we hear about a “missed diagnosis” — meaning someone
Have You Been Diagnosed with Cancer? Are You Sure the Diagnosis is Correct? Read More »
I don’t usually write about local or state news because my work is really more broad than that — however — an article in my local newspaper about a local hospital and wrong-site surgery just begged for some additional information! Wrong site surgery — a “never event” that takes place an estimated 100 – 200
Wrong Site Surgery — What Happens Next? Read More »
It’s been awhile since I’ve posted. In that time I’ve been the Gramma-sitter for my two little grandsons while their new baby sister arrived (welcome Kyla Shay!), buried my ex-husband’s cremains (he died last April), spoken to two groups of patients, recorded two radio shows and finished my book proposal. Enough excuses, you say! But
Daniel Was Misdiagnosed with SPTCL, Too Read More »
When I was (mis)diagnosed with SPTCL (subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lyphoma) in 2004, I was handed a book, published in July 2004, that stated that “fewer than 100 cases have been reported in the last decade.” Yeah — really, really rare. Because that’s a book used by oncologists all over the world. Then, from Fall 2004
Daniel’s SPTCL Diagnosis is Suspect, Too Read More »
