Miscellany from the week, not requiring full posts on their own…. …………………………….. My big news is ready to be sprung! Although, through today’s blog, I’ll announce it “softly” — a bigger announcement is in the works for this week. You may be familiar with About.com — tens or hundreds of millions of visitors each month […]
From the desk of (12/1/07)… Read More »
In 2003, after taking Zoloft for six weeks to help him sleep, Woody Witczak, a vivacious, intelligent, energetic and happy man, hung himself — and died. ………………….. Last evening I leafed through my December issue of Consumer Reports. There on page 65 was my friend and colleague Kim Witczak, Woody’s widow, and one of the
Psych Drugs, Shady Practices and One Fixer Read More »
Two reminders during the past week about MRSA and the real problems facing those who are infected by it — and those who aren’t. The first was an email from Genevieve who told me about her husband’s experience after knee replacement surgery. Two days after being removed to a rehab center, he began running a
MRSA: Those With Power Aren’t Paying Attention Read More »
My friend and colleague Ilene Corina is the director of PULSE of NY (Persons United Limiting Substandards and Errors) and issues a newsletter each month. I’ve asked her permission to share the following from her most current edition. You’ll see it’s another way of explaining blamers and fixers. Well put, and very clear: I hear
Victim or Survivor? Read More »
Some miscellany from the week, not requiring entire blog posts of their own…. The fires in Southern California have kept many of us riveted to TV and internet news. As reported earlier this week, my daughter, Becca, lives in Carlsbad, just north and east of several of the fires we’ve followed. I’m relieved and happy
From the Desk of (10/27/07)… Read More »
From Hannah Montana to drive-by shootings, there is plenty of interesting news in Cincinnati, Ohio today. But to me, your friendly patient advocate, an even more fascinating topic was reported in Cincinnati’s news this week: the possibility of a lemon law for medical consumers. To me, it’s one of those “now why didn’t I think
A Lemon Law for Medical Consumers? Read More »
As promised in yesterday’s post, I’m reporting today on a frustration among those of us who work in patient safety. That frustration is once again sparked in this report from the Hartford Courant. Fifteen year old Mark Tsvok, injured in an auto accident in 2004, died from his injuries as a result of the misdeeds
When Dirty Doctors Can’t Be Identified Read More »
My friend Helen Haskell forwarded two articles of big interest to those of us who wish hospitals were safer places to be sick or hurt. Putting Staff in Charge of Safety The first is the cover story from Hospitals and Health Network Magazine called “Can Your Nurses Stop a Surgeon?” It tells the tale of
Hospital Safety, Dirty Doctors, and Accountability Read More »
