Safe Patient Project

CU Comments to California Board of Pharmacy in Support of Labels Large Enough to Read (pdf)

2010-03-10T00:24:08Z

March 9, 2010 (Consumers Union)

Electronic Prescriptions Reduce Errors by Seven-Fold

2010-03-10T00:09:45Z

"Should doctors around the country use e-prescribing to decrease prescription errors? A study led by physician-scientists from Weill Cornell Medical College found that health care providers using an electronic system to write prescriptions were seven times less likely to make errors than those writing their prescriptions by hand."

]]> Newswise (February 26, 2010)

Patty Skolnik: Founder and Executive Director, Citizens for Patient Safety

2010-03-09T22:43:01Z

In 2001, Patty and David Skolnik spent nearly three years watching their only child, Michael, play victim to a broken system as a result of unnecessary brain surgery. Due to medical error caused by negligence and incompetence, routine expectations of our healthcare system proved ineffective in providing quality medical care and patient safety for 22 year old Michael Skolnik.

]]> In 2001, Patty and David Skolnik spent nearly three years watching their only child, Michael, play victim to a broken system as a result of unnecessary brain surgery. Due to medical error caused by negligence and incompetence, routine expectations of our healthcare system proved ineffective in providing quality medical care and patient safety for 22 year old Michael Skolnik.

The family�s 32-month nightmare included turning their home into an ICU unit for the last six months of Michael�s life. Michael experienced numerous surgeries, infections, respiratory arrest, PE�s, paralysis, blindness, psychosis and more. Finally, in 2004, Michael looked into his father�s eyes, mouthed the words �I love you�, gave up his struggles and died.

In an age where disruption of our common expectations can lead to great distress, Patty Skolnik did not let anger command her tone of response to the horrific events that preceded. Instead, Ms. Skolnik took a daring step towards fixing a broken system. Ms. Skolnik has championed a nationwide effort to enforce new standards for equality and respect for consumers of healthcare and for families.

In 2005 Patty founded Citizens for Patient Safety (CPS), a grassroots, patient safety organization that has since provided support and resources to thousands of families and individuals nationwide. CPS has taken off like a shot out of a cannon, largely due to Patty�s determination. Never before has Colorado seen a patient group that has generated the amount of momentum and performed as successfully as CPS, now listing 3000 supporters and growing.

Through her passion, tears, and belief that everyone should have access to safe high quality healthcare, Patty has turned her family�s tragedy into strength and hope for others. CPS has promoted a collaborative approach. Everyone, from insurance companies to healthcare providers to attorneys to patients has joined Patty at the table. Since it was founded, CPS has made an impact on legislative initiatives and continues to do so. The Michael Skolnik Medical Transparency Act became law in 2007 and this year we hope it will be expanded to all licensed medical professionals in Colorado.

Patty is a national speaker and has been featured on programs such as the Today Show. She was invited to a meeting at the White House with 5 other families March 1, 2010 and was named one of CNN�s Intriguing People for March 1, 2010 as well.

Patty has received the Colorado Coalition for Patient Safety Award in Leadership and this year received the National HOPE AWARD from MITTS Medically Induced Trauma Support Services for Patients and Physicians.

Ms. Skolnik also sits on a number of Boards, advisory boards and the Governor�s Commission: Nurse Physician Advisory Taskforce for Colorado Healthcare.

Patty can be reached at 303-226-5526, patty@citizensforpatientsafety.org and their website is
www.citizensforpatientsafety.org.

Doctor Leads Quest for Safer Ways to Care for Patients

2010-03-09T20:35:14Z

Interview with Dr. Peter Pronovost, medical director of the Quality and Safety Research Group at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and promoter of a patient safety checklist for doctors.

]]> New York Times (March 8, 2010)

Are Veterans Being Given Deadly Cocktails to Treat PTSD?

2010-03-08T20:21:53Z

A combination of drugs is being prescribed to treat post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in returning soldiers including Seroquel, an anti-psychotic, despite a disturbing number of veteran deaths associated with the treatment. Seroquel has not been approved for PTSD by the FDA.

]]> Alternet; March 6, 2010

Taking care with treatment

2010-03-08T20:18:54Z

Author Rosemary Gibson says when medical care is overused, it can cost patients their health and their savings. To attend Rosemary's March 9th talk at Health Care for All, 30 Winter St., e-mail Deb Wachenheim: dwachenheim@hcfama.org.

]]> Boston Globe (March 8, 2010)

Are Veterans Being Given Deadly Cocktails to Treat PTSD?

2010-03-08T20:14:35Z

AstraZeneca has been linked to the deaths of soldiers returning from war.

]]> AlterNet (March 6, 2010)

State Nursing Board Tracker

2010-03-08T20:05:16Z

How You Can Investigate Your State�s Oversight of Its Nurses and Other Licensed Professionals- Provided by ProPublica reporters Charles Ornstein and Tracey Weber.

]]> ProPublica; 2010

Tracking Nurses � What You Need to Know

2010-03-08T19:58:08Z

ProPublica reporters Charles Ornstein and Tracey Weber have put together a very useful tool for tracking nurses performance. The chart shows, "which states allow you to verify a nurse�s license for free online, which provide Web access to disciplinary documents, and which participate in a publicly available national database. "

]]> ProPublica; 2010

Intriguing people for March 1, 2010: Patty Skolnik

2010-03-05T22:33:13Z

Patty Skolnik, Founder of Citizens for Patient Safety, makes CNN's "Intriguing people" feature. Patty was a speaker on CU's consumer panel on medical harm at our "To Err Is Human, To Delay Is Deadly" forum in DC. She is a lead advocate in Colorado and nationally on patient safety and doctor accountability issues.

]]> CNN (March 1, 2010)

Concerns Over 'Metal on Metal' Hip Implants

2010-03-05T22:21:20Z

"Some of the nation�s leading orthopedic surgeons have reduced or stopped use of a popular category of artificial hips amid concerns that the devices are causing severe tissue and bone damage in some patients, often requiring replacement surgery within a year or two."

]]> New York Times (March 3, 2010)

Adverse Events in Hospitals: Methods for Identifying Events (pdf)

2010-03-05T20:48:40Z

OIG report on the sad state of medical error reporting.

]]> Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (March 2010)

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal promotes bill to require hospital-specific medical error reporting

2010-03-04T18:46:58Z

"Since 2004, 116 people in Connecticut have died as a result of medical errors in hospitals -- most of which were kept secret because of a "gaping legal loophole," according to the Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.

]]> Newstime.com; March 1, 2010

Drug Company Gifts To Doctors Should Be Disclosed And Limited, Ct AG Urges

2010-03-04T18:30:25Z

Legislation in CT this year would require limits on drug company compensation to doctors instead of an outright gift ban. A 2009 gift ban bill was strongly opposed and failed to pass.

]]> CTWatchdog.com; March 1, 2010

The Silence

2010-03-03T23:42:33Z

When our health care system remains silent about preventable medical harm it only creates more problems.

]]> Health Affairs (22, no. 2 (2003): 103-112 )