...that this space has a bit more quiet than usual. That's because things have been quite busy of late. It's that time of year again -- fundraising season!
We hope that you will be able to join us next Thursday, November 12th, 2009, at the Boston Marriottt Copley Place for our Eighth Annual Dinner and Fundraiser. Cocktails and raffles begin at 5:30 pm, and the program starts promptly at 7 pm. It promises to be an extraordinary evening, and we hope that you will be there to celebrate and support MITSS!
If you cannot attend, but you would still like to help out, visit our online auction. Click here to view and bid on some terrific items. Start your holiday shopping now, but don't delay -- the online auction closes on Monday, November 9th!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
MITSS Online Auction is now open
LET THE BIDDING BEGIN! The MITSS 2009 Online Auction is now open. Don't be outbid -- win some terrific prizes, all for a great cause!!!
Click here to start your bidding.
All the funds raised will assist MITSS to continue doing our work of "Supporting Healing. Restoring Hope." to patients, families and clinicians following adverse medical events.
Click here to start your bidding.
All the funds raised will assist MITSS to continue doing our work of "Supporting Healing. Restoring Hope." to patients, families and clinicians following adverse medical events.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Patient Safety Advocate Featured on Tonight's 20/20
Patient Safety Advocate, Alicia Cole, is featured on ABC's 20/20 tonight. Don't miss it -- she has an important story to tell:
Dear Fellow Advocates,
My story will be highlighted in the upcoming 20/20 show featuring the much anticipated new book 'SuperFreakonomics': Challenging Conventional Wisdom' There is a chapter in the book addressing hospital infections. Please be sure to watch if you can!
ABC 20/20
Friday, Oct 23, 2009 10:00 PM
Hand Washing Rate Low Among Doctors
Actress Nearly Died From 'Flesh-Eating Disease;' 'SuperFreakonomics' Authors Say Hospital Infections Are Preventable
When you are very sick, you go to the hospital to get better. But what if the hospital you choose actually makes you sicker, or even kills you?
Go to http://abcnews.go.com/2020 for a preview!
** I would love it if some of you would share your experiences in the comment section on the ABC website. People who come to the site and read the article need to know this is happening ALL OVER and everyone who gets an infection is not 'sick' - Many people are being infected following routine procedures due to carelessness.
Thank you very much....Alicia
Dear Fellow Advocates,
My story will be highlighted in the upcoming 20/20 show featuring the much anticipated new book 'SuperFreakonomics': Challenging Conventional Wisdom' There is a chapter in the book addressing hospital infections. Please be sure to watch if you can!
ABC 20/20
Friday, Oct 23, 2009 10:00 PM
Hand Washing Rate Low Among Doctors
Actress Nearly Died From 'Flesh-Eating Disease;' 'SuperFreakonomics' Authors Say Hospital Infections Are Preventable
When you are very sick, you go to the hospital to get better. But what if the hospital you choose actually makes you sicker, or even kills you?
Go to http://abcnews.go.com/2020 for a preview!
** I would love it if some of you would share your experiences in the comment section on the ABC website. People who come to the site and read the article need to know this is happening ALL OVER and everyone who gets an infection is not 'sick' - Many people are being infected following routine procedures due to carelessness.
Thank you very much....Alicia
Sunday, October 18, 2009
LOOKING FOR YOUR INPUT
Our friends at IHI (Institute for Healthcare Improvement) are looking for your input....
Don Berwick and Tom Nolan are asking for your input on how to design a low-cost, high-quality health care system for the future. To learn more, submit your ideas and stories, and engage in a conversation about health system transformation, click here.
Don Berwick and Tom Nolan are asking for your input on how to design a low-cost, high-quality health care system for the future. To learn more, submit your ideas and stories, and engage in a conversation about health system transformation, click here.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The Healing Garden
Becky Martins from Voice4Patients sent along this note about an important project. The Healing Garden is a living memorial dedicated to those patients and their loved ones who have suffered a medical error.
I became a patient safety advocate following my father's preventable death in 2000 and founded Voice4Patients.com; a comprehensive web resource that provides patient safety information for consumers. Prior to that, I had been a long time advocate for end stage renal disease patients.
A number of years ago, there was a workgroup of consumers who had hoped to obtain the funding to buy land and have a memorial wall with the names of victims of medical error. As you can imagine, land in DC is expensive. Still, survivors wanted a way to honor their loved ones.
The living memorial garden has been created as a healing space to reflect upon and honor those whose journeys ended before we were ready to say our good-byes, as well for those who have experienced a medical trauma and live with the lingering emotional and physical effects. The garden includes a 40' diameter medicine wheel. There are four sections of flowers planted around the wheel in honor of the children, spouses, siblings and friends, and our elders. We had requests from those who work steadfastly everyday in the healthcare system, who also asked to be included to honor their commitment and dedication (and their hope and intention for a safer healthcare system). These champions are reflected in the walking path that leads into the garden area.
The healing space is located in midcoast Maine. There is no fee to have a flower planted, people only need to submit the information of who to plant the flower for and which section of the garden. Our family will be opening the garden to visitors in the Summer of 2010.
Thanks for posting the information,
Becky Martins
They will be planting bulbs this weekend. To make a donation or arrange for a flower to be planted, visit http://www.voice4patients.com/other_content/Living_Memorial%20Garden_Medical_Harm.pdf.
I became a patient safety advocate following my father's preventable death in 2000 and founded Voice4Patients.com; a comprehensive web resource that provides patient safety information for consumers. Prior to that, I had been a long time advocate for end stage renal disease patients.
A number of years ago, there was a workgroup of consumers who had hoped to obtain the funding to buy land and have a memorial wall with the names of victims of medical error. As you can imagine, land in DC is expensive. Still, survivors wanted a way to honor their loved ones.
The living memorial garden has been created as a healing space to reflect upon and honor those whose journeys ended before we were ready to say our good-byes, as well for those who have experienced a medical trauma and live with the lingering emotional and physical effects. The garden includes a 40' diameter medicine wheel. There are four sections of flowers planted around the wheel in honor of the children, spouses, siblings and friends, and our elders. We had requests from those who work steadfastly everyday in the healthcare system, who also asked to be included to honor their commitment and dedication (and their hope and intention for a safer healthcare system). These champions are reflected in the walking path that leads into the garden area.
The healing space is located in midcoast Maine. There is no fee to have a flower planted, people only need to submit the information of who to plant the flower for and which section of the garden. Our family will be opening the garden to visitors in the Summer of 2010.
Thanks for posting the information,
Becky Martins
They will be planting bulbs this weekend. To make a donation or arrange for a flower to be planted, visit http://www.voice4patients.com/other_content/Living_Memorial%20Garden_Medical_Harm.pdf.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Transparency Forum -- Sept. 24th at Mt. Auburn
September Healthcare Transparency Forum – Honest Talk about Medical Mistakes
Lack of information about infections and errors in the nation’s healthcare industry are life threatening and costly secrets. There is a growing demand for honest and open public dialogue about keeping consumers safe. On Thursday, September 24th, 2009, at 7pm at Mt. Auburn Hospital, patients, consumers and health care providers will discuss the challenges of healthcare transparency in patient care.
Moderated by award winning television journalist and community leader, Liz Walker, the forum will feature health care professionals including Linda Kenney, MITSS Executive Director; Jim Conway, MITSS Board Member and SVP at IHI; Jeanette Clough, CEO from Mt. Auburn Hospital; Paul Levy, CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; and, Dr. Richard Miller, thoracic surgeon at Southcoast Hospitals Group.
The goal of the forum, which is part of a 4-part series called Better Living with Liz Walker airing on WCVB-TV, is “…to help create patient provider dialogues that inform and empower,” according to Walker.
We urge you and your colleagues to attend this important forum. If you would like more information, contact Winnie Tobin at (617) 232-0090 or e-mail to wtobin@mitss.org. We hope to see you there.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Consumer Health Quality Council at HCFA
Our friends at Health Care for All have asked us to pass on this message about an opportunity to become involved with their Consumer Health Quality Council.
Has someone in your family received poor health care in Massachusetts?
Have you been an advocate for someone or helped them navigate the complex health care system?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, please consider joining the Consumer Health Quality Council, a coalition of consumers who advocate for improving the delivery of health care in Massachusetts. The Consumer Council was founded by Health Care For All close to three years ago to respond to growing concerns about the quality of health care nationally and in Massachusetts.
The Consumer Council’s mission is to empower those impacted by health care quality issues to have a voice in our health care system, to engage fellow consumers to be active partners in their health care, and to advocate for high quality, safe, and accessible health care for all Massachusetts residents.
Here are two examples of how Consumer Council members share their stories to advocate for change in how health care is delivered:
Robena Reid’s mother, Marie, entered a Boston area hospital in December of 2006. Her mother was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer affecting the pleural membrane surrounding her lungs.While in the hospital, her mother contracted an intestinal infection caused by clostridium difficile. Because of this hospital-acquired infection, her mother was unable to receive treatment for the cancer and passed away. Robena has become an advocate for improving care and testified at the Massachusetts State House, with the help of Health Care For All, to encourage public reporting of hospital-acquired infections.
Lucilia and Joe Prates’ father, Antonio, went into a hospital to have kidney stones removed in January of 2005. As a result of the procedure, Antonio became a victim of a hospital-acquired infection and an adverse medical event, which ultimately led to his death in August of 2005. Lucilia and Joe share their father’s story in hopes of improving the quality of care that others receive.
You can view additional videos of Consumer Council members’ stories at www.hcfama.org/quality/stories . Since its inception, the Consumer Council has been successful in advocating for state laws that aim to improve the delivery of health care and make it safer for patients and families. Massachusetts leads the nation in many measure of health care quality, but there is a lot of room for improvement. We can, and should, always strive to do better.
The Consumer Council and Health Care For All urge those of you who have received poor quality care to start speaking up and sharing your stories and to work with us toward the common goal of providing high quality care to all residents of Massachusetts. For more information about the Consumer Health Quality Council and how to become a member, please contact Kuong Ly at Health Care For All: kly [at] hcfama [dot] org or 617-275-2940.
Has someone in your family received poor health care in Massachusetts?
Have you been an advocate for someone or helped them navigate the complex health care system?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, please consider joining the Consumer Health Quality Council, a coalition of consumers who advocate for improving the delivery of health care in Massachusetts. The Consumer Council was founded by Health Care For All close to three years ago to respond to growing concerns about the quality of health care nationally and in Massachusetts.
The Consumer Council’s mission is to empower those impacted by health care quality issues to have a voice in our health care system, to engage fellow consumers to be active partners in their health care, and to advocate for high quality, safe, and accessible health care for all Massachusetts residents.
Here are two examples of how Consumer Council members share their stories to advocate for change in how health care is delivered:
Robena Reid’s mother, Marie, entered a Boston area hospital in December of 2006. Her mother was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer affecting the pleural membrane surrounding her lungs.While in the hospital, her mother contracted an intestinal infection caused by clostridium difficile. Because of this hospital-acquired infection, her mother was unable to receive treatment for the cancer and passed away. Robena has become an advocate for improving care and testified at the Massachusetts State House, with the help of Health Care For All, to encourage public reporting of hospital-acquired infections.
Lucilia and Joe Prates’ father, Antonio, went into a hospital to have kidney stones removed in January of 2005. As a result of the procedure, Antonio became a victim of a hospital-acquired infection and an adverse medical event, which ultimately led to his death in August of 2005. Lucilia and Joe share their father’s story in hopes of improving the quality of care that others receive.
You can view additional videos of Consumer Council members’ stories at www.hcfama.org/quality/stories . Since its inception, the Consumer Council has been successful in advocating for state laws that aim to improve the delivery of health care and make it safer for patients and families. Massachusetts leads the nation in many measure of health care quality, but there is a lot of room for improvement. We can, and should, always strive to do better.
The Consumer Council and Health Care For All urge those of you who have received poor quality care to start speaking up and sharing your stories and to work with us toward the common goal of providing high quality care to all residents of Massachusetts. For more information about the Consumer Health Quality Council and how to become a member, please contact Kuong Ly at Health Care For All: kly [at] hcfama [dot] org or 617-275-2940.
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