Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Check Out This Week's "Grand Rounds"
Paul Levy, one of our favorite bloggers, is this week's host of Grand Rounds, the weekly rotating carnival of the best of the medical blogosphere. His topic is "when things go awry," and there are some incredibly powerful patient, family, and clinician stories about medical errors highlighted. MITSS's own Linda Kenney's story is also featured. Click here to read the full post.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Have You Heard the One About a Surgical Checklist?
You may have heard through the media about the use of surgical checklists as one way of making operating rooms safer. IHI (the Institute for Healthcare Improvement) and the WHO (World Health Organization) are working hard on getting US hospitals to test these checklists. Click here for more information.
If you, a family member, or someone you know has brought this to the attention of your doctor, nurse, or hospital administration and received a positive response, we'd like to know about it! Send us a message on Facebook or call us at (617) 232-0090. Get involved in your healthcare -- we'd love to hear from you.
If you, a family member, or someone you know has brought this to the attention of your doctor, nurse, or hospital administration and received a positive response, we'd like to know about it! Send us a message on Facebook or call us at (617) 232-0090. Get involved in your healthcare -- we'd love to hear from you.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Support Services Are So Important
Below is a link to another horrific story surrounding medical error. It is also another example of why support services for patients, families and clinicians are so crucial following these events.
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4318168
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4318168
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
MITSS Announces Second Annual HOPE Award
In honor of National Patient Safety Awareness Week (March 8th through the 14th, 2009), MITSS is pleased to announce that we are now accepting nominations for the Second 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.
Nominations are due by September 14, 2009. The Award will be presented at the MITSS 8th Annual Dinner and Fundraiser to be held at the Boston Marriott Copley Place Hotel on Thursday, November 12th, 2009, from 5:30 to 10 pm.
Take this opportunity to nominate someone who is doing great work! Also note that self-nominations will be accepted. For eligiblity criteria and submission requirements, click here. If you would like more information, check our website; call Winnie Tobin at (617) 232-0090 or e-mail wtobin@mitss.org; or, mail us at MITSS, 830 Boylston Street, Suite 206, Boston, MA, 02467.
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.
Nominations are due by September 14, 2009. The Award will be presented at the MITSS 8th Annual Dinner and Fundraiser to be held at the Boston Marriott Copley Place Hotel on Thursday, November 12th, 2009, from 5:30 to 10 pm.
Take this opportunity to nominate someone who is doing great work! Also note that self-nominations will be accepted. For eligiblity criteria and submission requirements, click here. If you would like more information, check our website; call Winnie Tobin at (617) 232-0090 or e-mail wtobin@mitss.org; or, mail us at MITSS, 830 Boylston Street, Suite 206, Boston, MA, 02467.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Tips from ABC News on Surviving a Hospital Stay
Linda Kenney's battle with a hospital acquired infection following ankle surgery is chronicled in an online ABC news story. The article also includes some helpful tips for being an "informed patient." Check it out at http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WellnessNews/story?id=6999952&page=1.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
NPSF Announces Scholarship Opportunities for Annual Congress
This is a wonderful opportunity for a patient or family member who would like to attend the NPSF Annual Congress this May in Washington, DC:
The National Patient Safety Foundation recognizes the importance of involving patients and their families as partners in our work to create safer healthcare environments. NPSF has developed a scholarship fund that will support the participation of patients and families at the 2009 Annual NPSF Patient Safety Congress to be held May 20 – 22 in the Washington DC area. The scholarship award recipient will receive:
* Roundtrip airfare to Washington DC from anywhere in the United States, arranged by NPSF* Transportation to and from the airport, arranged by NPSF* Complimentary Congress registration* Complimentary registration for the pre-Congress program: Community Engagement from the Patient and Family Perspective* Complimentary hotel accommodations for the nights of May 19 through May 21 (up to 3 nights)* Meals provided as part of the Congress
Scholarship Guidelines and Application Process:
In order to support patients and families who are actively engaged in the patient safety movement, we request a 250-word essay that describes how you and your community will benefit by your attendance at the NPSF Congress.
We are seeking responses to the following questions:* How did you become involved in patient safety?* How long have you been involved with patient safety?* What do you hope to learn at the NPSF Congress and with whom will you share this knowledge?* How do you to plan to disseminate this information throughout your community?
We also request a brief letter of reference that addresses the following questions:* In what capacity do you know the applicant?* How has the applicant demonstrated a value in patient safety work?
Please include your name, address, telephone and email information in the application. Please email your application to:
Christy Norcross, CMP
cnorcross@npsf.org
The deadline for entries is March 23, 2009. For additional Congress information, please visit http://www.npsf.org/npsfac/ or call 617-391-9900.
The National Patient Safety Foundation recognizes the importance of involving patients and their families as partners in our work to create safer healthcare environments. NPSF has developed a scholarship fund that will support the participation of patients and families at the 2009 Annual NPSF Patient Safety Congress to be held May 20 – 22 in the Washington DC area. The scholarship award recipient will receive:
* Roundtrip airfare to Washington DC from anywhere in the United States, arranged by NPSF* Transportation to and from the airport, arranged by NPSF* Complimentary Congress registration* Complimentary registration for the pre-Congress program: Community Engagement from the Patient and Family Perspective* Complimentary hotel accommodations for the nights of May 19 through May 21 (up to 3 nights)* Meals provided as part of the Congress
Scholarship Guidelines and Application Process:
In order to support patients and families who are actively engaged in the patient safety movement, we request a 250-word essay that describes how you and your community will benefit by your attendance at the NPSF Congress.
We are seeking responses to the following questions:* How did you become involved in patient safety?* How long have you been involved with patient safety?* What do you hope to learn at the NPSF Congress and with whom will you share this knowledge?* How do you to plan to disseminate this information throughout your community?
We also request a brief letter of reference that addresses the following questions:* In what capacity do you know the applicant?* How has the applicant demonstrated a value in patient safety work?
Please include your name, address, telephone and email information in the application. Please email your application to:
Christy Norcross, CMP
cnorcross@npsf.org
The deadline for entries is March 23, 2009. For additional Congress information, please visit http://www.npsf.org/npsfac/ or call 617-391-9900.
Friday, February 6, 2009
The Times They are a-Changin'
If you instantly recognize the title of this blogspot, then you’re probably of my generation. Or, you’ve become familiar with the song title reference (a Bob Dylan song made popular in the 60’s) because of its resurgence during the Obama election.
Last year, Facebook was that “thing” that my son’s guidance counselor warned me to have him clean up so that he could get into a good college. Didn’t understand it, didn’t necessarily want to, and hoped that he would clean it up because I certainly didn’t have access to it! In the past six months, though, it became clear that this Facebook thing was something MITSS might want to take another look at. So, we had to call in an expert. Linda’s 21 year old daughter, Jessica, was kind enough to come into the office and set us up with a Facebook page – a Group and a Cause! We were thrilled – although not sure why. We were now cutting edge, new wave, in with the in crowd (ok, so now I’m dating myself again – remember that Ramsey Lewis song?). Fast forward a couple of months, and we’re bona fide Facebook addicts. Linda and I both have our personal pages, and our MITSS Group has grown to nearly 300 members!
All kidding aside, we have truly begun to see the benefits of community outreach through Facebook. It is an amazing medium – one that helps us to connect with others who share our common interest in patient safety and commitment to supporting anyone affected by an adverse medical event. We know that younger people are getting much of their information through social networking sites. We have also read that in the past six months, there has been a huge influx of “older” people coming onto Facebook – a shift that we have been proud to be a part of.
Since the MITSS mission is so closely tied to creating a greater awareness and educating about medically induced trauma, it would seem almost irresponsible not to explore new and innovative ways of reaching out to our community – a community that now includes our Facebook “Friends.” So, if you haven’t already, join the MITSS Group on Facebook (just search Groups and type in MITSS). If you’re not on Facebook, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it! Set up a page, and don’t forget to join the MITSS Group.
And, if Facebook weren’t enough, we’ve begun to post many of our video spots on YouTube. MITSS has a YouTube Channel (again, we called in an expert – Linda’s 12 year old daughter, Lindsay – to set it up). Visit www.youtube.com/user/MITSSUtube , and, as always, let us know what you think. We will be updating video posts as we go along.
The times they are a-changin’ and MITSS is a-changin’ with the times!
Winnie Tobin
Last year, Facebook was that “thing” that my son’s guidance counselor warned me to have him clean up so that he could get into a good college. Didn’t understand it, didn’t necessarily want to, and hoped that he would clean it up because I certainly didn’t have access to it! In the past six months, though, it became clear that this Facebook thing was something MITSS might want to take another look at. So, we had to call in an expert. Linda’s 21 year old daughter, Jessica, was kind enough to come into the office and set us up with a Facebook page – a Group and a Cause! We were thrilled – although not sure why. We were now cutting edge, new wave, in with the in crowd (ok, so now I’m dating myself again – remember that Ramsey Lewis song?). Fast forward a couple of months, and we’re bona fide Facebook addicts. Linda and I both have our personal pages, and our MITSS Group has grown to nearly 300 members!
All kidding aside, we have truly begun to see the benefits of community outreach through Facebook. It is an amazing medium – one that helps us to connect with others who share our common interest in patient safety and commitment to supporting anyone affected by an adverse medical event. We know that younger people are getting much of their information through social networking sites. We have also read that in the past six months, there has been a huge influx of “older” people coming onto Facebook – a shift that we have been proud to be a part of.
Since the MITSS mission is so closely tied to creating a greater awareness and educating about medically induced trauma, it would seem almost irresponsible not to explore new and innovative ways of reaching out to our community – a community that now includes our Facebook “Friends.” So, if you haven’t already, join the MITSS Group on Facebook (just search Groups and type in MITSS). If you’re not on Facebook, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it! Set up a page, and don’t forget to join the MITSS Group.
And, if Facebook weren’t enough, we’ve begun to post many of our video spots on YouTube. MITSS has a YouTube Channel (again, we called in an expert – Linda’s 12 year old daughter, Lindsay – to set it up). Visit www.youtube.com/user/MITSSUtube , and, as always, let us know what you think. We will be updating video posts as we go along.
The times they are a-changin’ and MITSS is a-changin’ with the times!
Winnie Tobin
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