In honor of National Patient Safety Awareness Week (March 7th through the 13th, 2010), MITSS is pleased to announce that we are now accepting nominations for the Third Annual MITSS HOPE Award. The HOPE Award was established in 2008 to recognize people -- patients, families, healthcare providers, hospitals (or teams or departments therein), academic institutions, community health centers, grass roots organizations, EAP programs, etc. -- who exemplify the mission of MITSS: Supporting Healing and Restoring Hope to patients, families, and clinicians impacted by adverse medical events. The winner of the Award will receive a $5,000 cash prize to continue their work.
The 2010 Sponsor of the HOPE Award is rL Solutions.
Nominations are due by September 15th, 2010, and the Award will be presented at the MITSS 9th Annual Dinner and Fundraiser to be held on Thursday, November 4, 2010, at The Westin Copley Place, Boston, MA.
For eligibility criteria and submission requirements, click here. Take this opportunity to nominate someone who is doing great work. Note that self-nominations will be acceptable. Visit www.mitsshopeaward.org for all things MITSS HOPE Award -- download a nomination form, check out past winners, and much, much more!!! Also, feel free to give us a call at (617) 232-0090 or toll free at 1-888-366-4877 if you have any questions.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
Patient Safety Awareness Week -- March 7 through the 13th
Patient Safety Awareness Week (PSAW) is a national education and awareness-building campaign for improving patient safety at the local level. Hospitals and healthcare organizations across the country are encouraged to plan events to promote patient safety within their own organizations. Educational activities are centered on educating patients on how to become involved in their own health care, as well as working with hospitals to build partnerships with their patient community.
This year's theme is "Let's Talk -- Healthy Conversations for Safer Healthcare."
At MITSS, we have offered a "To Do List" for healthcare organizations to support their patients, families, and clinicians during this important week. Check out our clinicians' blog for our day to day guide.
This week, and every week, we would like to remember those who have been harmed by adverse events and honor those who are working to make healthcare safer.
This year's theme is "Let's Talk -- Healthy Conversations for Safer Healthcare."
At MITSS, we have offered a "To Do List" for healthcare organizations to support their patients, families, and clinicians during this important week. Check out our clinicians' blog for our day to day guide.
This week, and every week, we would like to remember those who have been harmed by adverse events and honor those who are working to make healthcare safer.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
The Power of Sharing One's Story
MITSS has a "Share Your Story" feature on our website -- for both patients and families as well as clinicians. Recently, a mother who lost her newborn baby due to a series medical errors was kind and courageous enough to share her story with us. Check out Wendy's Story just posted to our site (www.mitss.org).
We would like to encourage anyone who has a story to share it with us and the entire MITSS community. While the facts may not the same, the feelings are all too common, and by sharing your experience with an adverse medical event, you may help other patients and family members on their journey toward healing.
After all, we are all in this together, and this is just another way that we can support and learn from each other.
We would like to encourage anyone who has a story to share it with us and the entire MITSS community. While the facts may not the same, the feelings are all too common, and by sharing your experience with an adverse medical event, you may help other patients and family members on their journey toward healing.
After all, we are all in this together, and this is just another way that we can support and learn from each other.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Weekend Update
As the week draws to a close, we'd like to call your attention to some upcoming deadlines for some wonderful opportunities:
The National Patient Safety Foundation has issued a call for nominations for awards to be presented at its Annual Patient Safety Congress, May 17 to 19, 2010, in Orlando, Florida. MITSS's own Linda Kenney was the recipient of the 2006 Socius Award. The deadline for nominations is February 12.
The American Hospital Association (AHA) and National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) co-sponsor a year-long Patient Safety Leadership Fellowship. This a unique and exciting opportunity. Linda was actually the first consumer participant and graduate of the Fellowship in 2005. The deadline for applications is February 15.
The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) will accept applications for its Safe Medication Management Fellowship until March 1.
The National Patient Safety Foundation has issued a call for nominations for awards to be presented at its Annual Patient Safety Congress, May 17 to 19, 2010, in Orlando, Florida. MITSS's own Linda Kenney was the recipient of the 2006 Socius Award. The deadline for nominations is February 12.
The American Hospital Association (AHA) and National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) co-sponsor a year-long Patient Safety Leadership Fellowship. This a unique and exciting opportunity. Linda was actually the first consumer participant and graduate of the Fellowship in 2005. The deadline for applications is February 15.
The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) will accept applications for its Safe Medication Management Fellowship until March 1.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Upcoming WIHI Program on Clinician Support
MITSS Executive Director, Linda Kenney; Dr. Albert Wu; and, Sue Scott of the UMissouri forYOU Team (the 2009 MITSS HOPE Award winner) will be featured on an upcoming WIHI program on Clinician Support. The program will be moderated by IHI's Madge Kaplan and air live on Thursday, February 4th, at 2 pm. It is free to listen in and participate, but registration is required. Click here for exciting details.
This promises to be an informative and lively program, so mark your calendars and join us!
This promises to be an informative and lively program, so mark your calendars and join us!
Friday, January 15, 2010
A Less than Healthy Experience...
We recently had a patient write us with a troubling account of a doctor's visit. Her story is disturbing on a number of different levels. Read on...
Back in November, I visited my PCP for a yearly visit and confessed to her that I have been experiencing severe night sweats for the last six months. She had no idea why this would be, especially considering I am in superior overall health. To help find a solution, she ordered some blood work. Results showed that I had extremely low blood sugar, and she scheduled me for an appointment with an endocrinologist.
After waiting two months to finally see this endocrinologist, I went to the appointment with hopes of getting a solution to my troubling problem. When the doctor appeared in the waiting area and began a conversation with me, the phone rang. As the phone continued to ring, the doctor proceeded to put his head in his hands and say out loud, “I want to quit.” Of course, this was a sign of things to come.
The doctor told me that I was basically a one in a million case and didn’t know what my problem was. He didn’t want to send me for a cat scan to see if I had a tumor on my pancreas because the radiologist might want to do more tests. However, he did want me to do fasting blood work. I then asked, “So if my blood sugar comes back low again, or normal, how do the results help us solve my problem?” “They won’t” he said to me. I inquired further, “Ok, so what am I supposed to do to help stop the sweating?” “Learn to live with it” was his reply.
Learn to live with it?! I then started to cry and became angry. I exclaimed that I had to change clothes nightly and wash sheets constantly – that isn’t something anyone wants to live with! I told him how embarrassed I was to even have company over because of a sweat smell in my room – never mind engaging in any sort of romantic relationship and having someone stay the night. The doctor said to me, “I’ve never heard of a guy leaving a girl because of some sweating.” I got increasingly angry, and he slowly backed out the room leaving me alone in tears with no hope of solving my problem.
I know not every doctor has every answer, but I’d hope they would help find someone who might (and if they didn’t, not bluntly state “live with it”). How would you like to wake up in the middle of the night soaked head-to-toe, Doctor? I’m sure you wouldn’t be too happy to live that. I know I deserve better healthcare than this, and with the aid of friends I am on the search to find a new endocrinologist and, hopefully, a solution to my problem. I feel sorry for those people who might accept answers like this and continue to live with serious health issues. We all need to continue to advocate for the patient-centered healthcare that we deserve.
What do you think? If you have had a similar experience, we'd like to hear about it.
Back in November, I visited my PCP for a yearly visit and confessed to her that I have been experiencing severe night sweats for the last six months. She had no idea why this would be, especially considering I am in superior overall health. To help find a solution, she ordered some blood work. Results showed that I had extremely low blood sugar, and she scheduled me for an appointment with an endocrinologist.
After waiting two months to finally see this endocrinologist, I went to the appointment with hopes of getting a solution to my troubling problem. When the doctor appeared in the waiting area and began a conversation with me, the phone rang. As the phone continued to ring, the doctor proceeded to put his head in his hands and say out loud, “I want to quit.” Of course, this was a sign of things to come.
The doctor told me that I was basically a one in a million case and didn’t know what my problem was. He didn’t want to send me for a cat scan to see if I had a tumor on my pancreas because the radiologist might want to do more tests. However, he did want me to do fasting blood work. I then asked, “So if my blood sugar comes back low again, or normal, how do the results help us solve my problem?” “They won’t” he said to me. I inquired further, “Ok, so what am I supposed to do to help stop the sweating?” “Learn to live with it” was his reply.
Learn to live with it?! I then started to cry and became angry. I exclaimed that I had to change clothes nightly and wash sheets constantly – that isn’t something anyone wants to live with! I told him how embarrassed I was to even have company over because of a sweat smell in my room – never mind engaging in any sort of romantic relationship and having someone stay the night. The doctor said to me, “I’ve never heard of a guy leaving a girl because of some sweating.” I got increasingly angry, and he slowly backed out the room leaving me alone in tears with no hope of solving my problem.
I know not every doctor has every answer, but I’d hope they would help find someone who might (and if they didn’t, not bluntly state “live with it”). How would you like to wake up in the middle of the night soaked head-to-toe, Doctor? I’m sure you wouldn’t be too happy to live that. I know I deserve better healthcare than this, and with the aid of friends I am on the search to find a new endocrinologist and, hopefully, a solution to my problem. I feel sorry for those people who might accept answers like this and continue to live with serious health issues. We all need to continue to advocate for the patient-centered healthcare that we deserve.
What do you think? If you have had a similar experience, we'd like to hear about it.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Eighth Annual Dinner Videos Ready to View!
The MITSS 8th Annual Dinner and Fundraiser held this past November 12th was a smashing success due to the support and hard work of our sponsors, leadership committee, planning committee, board of directors, and volunteers. We have posted some exciting highlights to our You Tube Channel. Check out the links below:
Click here for general highlights;
Click here for the HOPE Award Presentation (part 1);
Click here for the HOPE Award Presentation (part 2);
Click here for Linda Kenney's Call to Action;
Click here for Sue Sheridan's wonderful Keynote Address (part 1);
Click here for Sue Sheridan's wonderful Keynote Address (part 2); and,
Click here for Sue Sheridan's wonderful Keynote Address (part 3).
We hope that you enjoy these clips. We'd also love to hear what you think -- your feedback is always appreciated.
Wishing everyone in the MITSS community a healthy, happy holiday season!!!
Click here for general highlights;
Click here for the HOPE Award Presentation (part 1);
Click here for the HOPE Award Presentation (part 2);
Click here for Linda Kenney's Call to Action;
Click here for Sue Sheridan's wonderful Keynote Address (part 1);
Click here for Sue Sheridan's wonderful Keynote Address (part 2); and,
Click here for Sue Sheridan's wonderful Keynote Address (part 3).
We hope that you enjoy these clips. We'd also love to hear what you think -- your feedback is always appreciated.
Wishing everyone in the MITSS community a healthy, happy holiday season!!!
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