As more and more questions are being asked about how we Americans can possibly continue to pay for our healthcare, a documentary has surfaced that will help us citizens better understand why the American Healthcare System is on the ropes, and ready to implode.

A new website called Snagfilms is now offering documentaries, independent films, and other less available motion pictures for any and all to learn from or be entertained by. Among them is this report which Peter Jennings was just finishing when he was diagnosed with lung cancer, just months before he died.  In fact, while he handled the interviews for the program, someone else had to do the narration because Jennings, ironically, was too sick to do so.

This report addresses healthcare costs, responsibilities, and who is really paying for all those 47 million people who don’t have private insurance.  It will open your eyes, frustrate you, and give you good reasons to begin getting involved in the conversation.

This American dysfunction WILL implode.  Make no mistake about that.  Watch this report to learn some of the reasons why.

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Sometimes the best way to accomplish the most is to get good heads together for conversation, brainstorming and more.  Some of those names we hear over and over again in the patient safety world were able to join forces at a picnic in Aiken, South Carolina, on July 4th.

Organized by Dianne Parker, the group was able to discuss safety initiatives and ideas, and remember those who have been lost due to medical errors.

The goal?  To make this world “independent” of patient safety violations — to save lives and stop the loss of them to medical errors.

Here are some of the dedicated folks who were able to make the picnic, all standing in front of the Consumer’s Union Cover America Tour Big Blue Bus:

Left to right: Curtis & Lisa Lindell, author of 108 Days, Houston, TX.
Helen Haskell, President, Mothers Against Medical Error, South Carolina
Kim Sandstrom, Mothers Against Medical Error, Ocala Florida
Dianne Parker, President, Patient Safety Advocates, Aiken, South Carolina
Lorin & Christine Jones, www.pamsjourney.org, Farmington, New Mexico
Dr. Ira Williams, author of First Do No Harm, Greenville, South Carolina

Missing from the photo is Sanjaya Kumar, MD, author of Fatal Care who was also in attendance.

………………………………..

Thanks to Lisa Lindell for sending the photo, and to all who attended for taking one more step toward awareness and solutions.  You are all fixers — and I appreciate that!

(Wish I could have joined you!)

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[To catch up on previous chapters of Heather's story, link here (post #1) and here (post#2.)]

Heather had her first oncology appointment today.  She was lucky to get in so quickly after her primary care physician ditched her (that still makes me shudder) and she was prepared.  Last week, after my post about her diagnosis of CGD-TCL, cutaneous gamma-delta t-cell lymphoma, she had been contacted by Judy Jones at the Cutaneous Lymphoma Foundation, and she was feeling as prepared as she could.

What she was NOT prepared for was what happened!

Her oncologist was happy to tell her that the results of her clonality test had come in and it turns out that no, she does not have cancer.  No treatment needed.  They will continue to follow her for awhile, but don’t expect the diagnosis will change.

WHAT??

If you’ve read my story of SPTCL, then you know the clonality test was pivotal in my story, too.  In fact, my entire diagnosis was predicated on this clonality test, and like Heather’s — the clonality test proved I did not have cancer.

While Heather was there, the oncologist got back in touch with the lab in California that reviewed the clonality of her lymphatic cells.  They reviewed the slides, reviewed the findings, reviewed studies and all agreed that no — Heather has no cancer.  She does have some problem some lymphatic cells, but she will not be treated.  Instead, she is working on diet and nutrition.  She’ll be checked again in four months.

To say Heather and her family — and her co-diagnosed friend Trisha — are euphoric, doesn’t begin to touch it.  We’ve not even met in person, but Heather and I will share a bond forever.  She lives in Nevada, and I’m supposed to be out that way in October — so we hope to meet.

Mostly I’m thrilled, just thrilled that the system worked the way it should.  Heather’s friend Leslie found me and my experience, Heather and I consulted, and two patients worked together to arrive at the right answers for this young mom who only deserves the best.

Now read what Heather has to say about it all — and post a cheer or two to her blog.  Woo HOO!

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There aren’t many times that I am left speechless, but this is one of them.

If you are a regular reader of CNN’s Empowered Patient, offered each week by Elizabeth Cohen, then you know there have been any number of outstanding advocates featured. People who work tirelessly to improve our safety, access and navigation through the dysfunctional American healthcare system. Some are healthcare professionals, others are patients just like you and me. Many have lost someone to the system or have suffered a medical error.

This week Elizabeth highlighted six advocates and called them “Empowered Heroes,” citing the fact that each has taken a negative experience with healthcare to transform it into a way to help others. I am privileged to be among them.

Take a moment to read about the other heroes:  Victoria and Armando Nahum who lost their very healthy son to a MRSA infection and now work tirelessly to prevent hospital and community acquired infections, Dr. Tom Ferguson who built one of the first health websites ever created, and coined the term “e-patients,” Ysabel Duron who recognized the need for cancer support among the Latino community, Gilles Frydman who founded ACOR, the Association of Online Cancer Resources, and Michael Cohen who, early on, recognized the problem of prescription drug errors and founded the Institute for Safe Medication Practices.

It’s an honor, a privilege, and in many ways I believe “I’m not worthy!” Well. OK. I’m just not so worthy as so many others. Because this list is only six people.  There are dozens of advocates who work on behalf of all of us to improve the system.

I can only say thank you for the recognition, and — now you know why I am left speechless.

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