Archive for the 'Patient Advocacy' Category
September 15th, 2011 by Trisha Torrey
Please note that this column appeared in the Syracuse Post Standard on September 13, 2011. It addresses the recently issued New York State Hospital Report Card. You don’t need to be a resident of Central New York, or even New York State to gain benefit from this column. Resources for you are found below.
………………………….
Dear Central New York Hospitals:
It’s report card time. That time when we patients get the opportunity to learn whether or not you’ve improved your patient care and outcomes since last year.
I was hoping to find glowing reports. After all, you know exactly what will be measured and what needs to be done to earn the highest grades. No one’s expecting miracles; just safe and timely care, a clean environment, pain management and effective communications.
But did I find stellar reports? No.
Granted, the report card says I have less of a chance of catching pneumonia at St. Joes. And, Community General, congratulations on your infection rate which is lower than the average hospital in New York State. Both St. Elizabeth’s and Faxton in Utica are doing quite well avoiding Pulmonary Embolisms and Deep Vein Thromboses.
But those are only three high grades among almost four dozen measurements. My real concerns are for those that registered lower than statewide averages – so low that some patients are dying, acquiring infections, suffering pain, and leaving your facility in worse condition than when they were admitted. Each one of you earned the lowest possible score in at least three categories.
According to news reports, one official blamed bad scores on outdated statistics. Sorry – that’s no excuse! Your patients are human beings, not statistics. Perhaps their pain, debilitation or death took place a few years ago, but many of those patients are still in pain, still debilitated and yes, still dead today.
As you know, beginning next year, Medicare will take patient satisfaction survey scores into account when it comes to determining reimbursements. We patients don’t require much to score you highly on those surveys. We expect only the basics: communicate with us respectfully, prevent infections, avoid mistakes, keep us as pain-free as possible, and send us home with instructions we understand and can carry out.
Put another way: treat us the way you would treat your own loved ones. Provide for us what you would provide for them.
Such an approach is bound to land you in the top tier on next year’s report card.
Best regards,
Trisha Torrey
Every Patient’s Advocate
PS: Patients can find New York State hospital report cards by linking to http://www.myhealthfinder.com/newyork11/. Pay particular attention to patient safety and satisfaction measures. Then use those scores to choose where you want to be hospitalized. Your life may depend on it.
……………… ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON THIS TOPIC ………………
More Hospital Report Cards (more states)
How to Choose the Best Hospital for You
A Patient’s Guide to Hospital Infections
How to Prevent Hospital Infections
……………………………………………………………………………………
Want More Patient Empowerment?
Find Hundreds of Articles at:
Every Patient’s Advocate
About.com Patient Empowerment
…and…
sign up for 2x per month newsletters of
Patient Empowerment Tips
August 18th, 2011 by Trisha Torrey
(as published in the Syracuse Post Standard August 16, 2011)
Recently I was chosen to participate in a new writing project. There were some basic details and responsibilities I was expected to agree to, including a specific number of articles, average number of words, and some other typical expectations.
I was given a contract to sign. After a careful reading, there were some strange differences from others I had signed in the past. I found some hedge words in the contract which could mean I would do all the work, but they could decide not to pay me, yet still have the rights to use my work. Red flags!
I didn’t jump to conclusions. Instead I asked questions. “Will you explain what this means?” “Will you give me an example of how this might work?” Eventually we clarified the fuzzy wording, worked out the terms, and I signed the contract.
But – and this is important – I didn’t sign it without making a few alterations to the descriptions. Each party initialed those changes, then signed the contracts.
So why should you, my reader, care about my writing contract?
Because every time you need certain medical tests, any medical procedure and many treatments, you are asked to sign a contract, too. It’s called “Informed Consent.” By law, those services cannot be performed unless your signature is obtained ahead of time on an Informed Consent document. That consent provides legal protection to both you and the person who performs the service.
The real question before you sign is, have you been thoroughly informed? Do you understand the risks, benefits and alternatives to whatever service is about to be performed? Do you know exactly who will perform it? Have they managed your expectations?
Sometimes Informed Consent documents will have hedge words or statements in them, like my contract did. For example, “to be performed by Dr. Serg Ury or his representatives” may mean your surgery will be performed by someone you don’t expect. Just who are his representatives? They might be his partners, or they might be students. If it is important to you, then clarify, and change the wording if necessary.
Wise patients never sign an Informed Consent document until they are very clear on what is about to happen, who will be making it happen, and what the risks, benefits and alternatives are.
Clarity will provide confidence that you understand what is about to happen, and that you’ve made the right choices for you.
……………… ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ON THIS TOPIC ………………
Understand Informed Consent
Trauma from Violations of Informed Consent
Patients’ Rights in the United States
How to Prevent Surgery Mistakes on the Day of Surgery
……………………………………………………………………………………
Want More Patient Empowerment?
Find Hundreds of Articles at:
Every Patient’s Advocate
About.com Patient Empowerment
…and…
sign up for 2x per month newsletters of
Patient Empowerment Tips
January 24th, 2011 by Trisha Torrey
When last I wrote, I’d been catching up after a whirlwind Fall travel season. And here I find myself catching up after another crazy six weeks…
I don’t just bow out completely, even if it seems so. I’m blogging in other places, like About.com and the AdvoConnection blog, plus I have been promoting my new marketing book, and building three new websites that haven’t even made a debut yet!
So it occurred to me that that’s what I should be doing here at the Every Patient’s Advocate blog is keeping track of all the activities that help me help you. And so it shall be.
I think you’ll find I’ve all but stood on my head!
In these past few weeks, among other things:
…….
My new book has come out: The Health Advocate’s Marketing Handbook. It’s written specifically for anyone who works in healthcare in a non-traditional career (anywhere from patients’ advocates to acupuncturists, from massage therapists, to counselors, case managers, navigators and more). I’ve learned that most of these folks are marvelous practitioners, but aren’t confident about marketing themselves.
If you work in healthcare, helping others improve their health in whatever way – this book can help you – I promise! Learn more about The Health Advocate’s Marketing Handbook.
I’ve written several new columns for the Syracuse Post Standard and Syracuse.com:
- An Advocate by Your Side takes a look at private patient advocacy and how hiring a patient advocate can be the smartest move an empowered patient will make.
- Be a Tattletale! tells you how to report problems with your healthcare that don’t add up to a lawsuit.
- Trust Your Gut to Make Medical Decisions talks about the role of intuition in your decision-making.
- And An Open Letter to Ann Marie Buerkle, My Newly Elected (Republican/Teaparty) Congressional Representative explains why “defund and repeal” Obamacare is the wrong way to go.
Plus I’ve written untold blog posts that have sparked everything from outrage – to big yawns. Among the most inciteful (notice how that word is spelled! – it was intentional):
So you see? I haven’t left you, my blog reader, out in the cold completely! I just worked out of (blog)town for awhile. I’ll be back again next week….
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
DISCUSS
| TIPS | NEWSLETTER | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
December 8th, 2010 by Trisha Torrey
Wish I had a nickel for each of the emails I’ve received from people who have followed this blog of mine…. Where have I been? It’s a fair question. It’s been months since I’ve blogged here… because, well, I’ve been doing my Willie Nelson thang… on the road again….
See all those stars on the map? That’s where I’ve been.
(OK – I didn’t abandon my blogging completely. I still blog at About.com several times each week, and I blog for patient advocates at the AdvoConnection blog, too…. )
But now I’m finally home to stay for a few weeks and can share with you some of the marvelous places I have visited, and more importantly, the wonderful, dedicated people I have met and learned from!
So many different audiences, so many interests in how patients access, perceive, are helped, and hurt. From seniors, to medical students, to patient advocates, to providers, to employers, to pharma marketers, to patient activists – 14 different presentations, each one different, and each an opportunity to learn – from those who hoped to learn from me.
Here are a few audience highlights:
Patients: I love patient audiences. They have already figured out that they need tools to get better healthcare, so they don’t come to hear me speak unless they are already invested in the information. They infuse themselves into the conversation – often agreeing with what I have to say, and sometimes disagreeing, too (which is how I learn from them what their hurdles are). I had several opportunities to speak to groups of patients, on a variety of topics ranging from defensive medicine, to how to stay safe in the hospital, to how healthcare reform will affect us all. I had the privilege of speaking to, and meeting new patient audiences in Syracuse and Liverpool, New York, Sarasota, Florida and San Diego (through a program with Consumer’s Union).
Medical students: I had two opportunities to spend time with health professions students – one of my most important audiences. If we can get our messages out to these young people while they are in the midst of learning their new skills, we have a better chance of improving our patient experiences. From the 1 Health Program at the University of Minnesota, which includes not just future doctors, but future nurses, allied health professionals and veterinarians, to the Personalized Medicine 101 course at Upstate Medical – it was a real treat to swap thoughts and ideas with these eager-to-learn young adults. My thanks to Sue Kostka, RN and Dr. Judith Buchanan at the University of Minnesota, and Dr. Robert West at Upstate for believing in my ability to add to their students’ educations.
Employers: My first opportunity to share patient empowerment with employers took place in New York City in October. My point to them was that empowering their employees can improve employee health, confidence, and everyone’s bottom line. I will be frank that I was disappointed in how the message was received – or wasn’t. To me it is so obvious. But I don’t believe I did a good enough job making the case. Back to that employee drawing board which I realize requires more data – data that isn’t yet easily available, as near as I can tell.
Patient Activists: Do you like that term? My most recent adventure — some time in Orlando at the Institute of Healthcare Improvement’s Annual Forum. The IHI provided scholarships – all expenses paid — to 50 of us who are involved in patient safety initiatives. An incredible opportunity to meet some of the folks I have been in touch with for years, but have never met. One of my patient advocate colleagues, Ken Farbstein, suggested it was like going to your class reunion, only this time we were the cool kids. I’ve written more about this almost overwhelming experience. We patient activists cannot thank the IHI, in particular CEO Maureen Bisognano and Paul Levy, enough for their recognition of the importance of our work, or their generosity in providing the means to bring us together.
Patients’ Advocates: OK – I’ll admit it. Patient advocates are my favorite audience. I had two opportunities to meet new advocates and talk about this quickly emerging field. As the proprietor of AdvoConnection for patients and AdvoConnection for advocates, I have a lot to say! In an ongoing relationship with Michelle Gilmore of Heartwood Health, who holds numerous workshops during the year in Oakland, California plus the NAHAC Conference in Washington, DC where more than 100 advocates convened, it was an incredibly exhilarating experience to be in the presence of these patient advocates and navigators who are dedicated to improving healthcare for individuals, one-on-one.
As you can see, I’ve enjoyed an incredible few months. As you will experience in the future – I have learned so much more than I imparted during those talks and presentations!
I can’t wait to share what I’ve learned with you over the next weeks and months, in hopes of improving your healthcare experiences, too.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
DISCUSS | TIPS | NEWSLETTER | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PS – If you are looking for a health topic speaker for your event, please take a look at my credentials, then give me a call.
