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clouds z
10-17-2006, 01:47 PM
http://www.pbs.org/previews/american_medicine/

anyone see this on tv?

online too maybe

- Four-Part Series Explores Quality of Health Care in the United States; Startling Statistics Underscore Chaotic Conditions Within the American Health Care System -

As many as 98,000 Americans die in hospitals each year of preventable medical errors. One million more are injured. In fact, medical errors kill as many people per year as breast cancer, HIV-AIDS and car accidents. These and other equally startling statistics underscore the chaotic conditions within the American health care system. REMAKING AMERICAN MEDICINE explores the quality crisis and the innovative solutions being undertaken by providers, patients and their families to transform the care provided by the institutions on which we all depend. The four programs air on PBS Thursdays, October 5-26, 2006, 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET (check local listings). Peabody Award and Emmy Award-winner John Hockenberry, formerly of NBC and NPR, hosts.

Each program examines critical health care issues facing Americans today including patient safety, medical and medication errors, hospital-acquired infections, family-centered care and effective management of chronic disease. Rather than assign blame for the failings in health care, REMAKING AMERICAN MEDICINE offers solutions by showcasing the stories of individuals and institutions who are working to ensure better health care for everyone.

"We wanted to present detailed and emotionally engaging profiles of people like Dr. Donald Berwick, founder of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, who are struggling to fix our broken health care system," said Frank Christopher, series executive producer. "REMAKING AMERICAN MEDICINE is their story, told through the eyes of doctors, nurses, administrators and patients, showing their struggles, their setbacks and their victories. We call these people and their institutions Champions of Change."

The first program, "Silent Killer" (10/5) sets the stage for the issues that are explored throughout the series. The program highlights the efforts of Sorrel King, whose 18-month-old daughter died at one of the most respected hospitals in the world, Johns Hopkins. King has gone from grieving victim to engaged activist, partnering with Johns Hopkins to make safety a top priority at the institution.

Sorrel has joined forces with Dr. Berwick to save 100,000 lives in American hospitals, the nearly equivalent number of people who die each year from medical errors, according to the Institute of Medicine. Notes Dr. Berwick, "What we need is outrage. We need the public to say, 'No, I don't want a health care system at any price, let alone close to two trillion dollars, which is going to hurt me when it tries to help me.'"

"First Do No Harm" (10/12) takes a critical look at the impact of medical errors and patient safety in two hospitals, and follows the efforts of physicians who are challenging their colleagues to live up to their oath to "first do no harm." In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Chi

WhataBreeze
10-17-2006, 07:06 PM
Appreciate your above posting. Since beginning my own research, post my acquision of my neurodegenerative neuromuscular fatal or chronic disease/disorder CPM, (Central Pontine Myelinolysis) said to be of iatrogenic causes, I'm constantly seeing samples of all the above information but trust me it was a few years of serious research before the pattern of sites were available in regard to the message being sent. It really pleases me personally to finally see the media starting to stick their necks out a bit. This I'm hoping is a sign of whats to come in the world of info that will be made available to all. I can only speak for myself and a few of my CPM associates I have been blessed to locate around the world. Learning of my diagnosis with all the circumstances involved including the determination of powers above, it has been my salvation not to accept what the American Health Care System has done to me just as its being done in many parts of the world. However, there has been somewhat of a change. Those of us who by all previous medical research are said to be fatal in a very short time period or live but in a state called the "Locked-In Syndrome" are getting close to exposing the mystery of the system.

Thanks to those who finally understand the "Reasons" there is no research for certain diseases that have "No Cure." They happen to be the people who can help make the difference. G-d Bless...

Franky and Breeze

Buttons2
10-18-2006, 05:51 PM
Thanks Cloud,we need to know that somewhere,someone is paying attention to what is happening in this country!

As for myself, I recently quit my health ins. program. Wish I could say it was a big load off....not the case! I made the decision to just give up on "the system" after 8 years & still a "mystery". Several years ago the first neuro I saw wrote down possible Creutzfeldt-Jakobs disease. I (of course) was not TOLD of this,he just let me go with a diagnosis of essential myoclonus. When I read this after requesting my files I was pretty shocked! Figured he must have been way off base since I'm still alive!

Now, after more research I'm not so sure,seems it can remain dormant for 20-30 years. The consensus is NOT to inform the patient,not sure if this is the case in US but suspect it is,UK is fighting this lack of informing the patient.

Also discovered there have been 12 cases in Idaho recently. I live in WA,the only state to have a definite case & they were quick to send out info to all neuro's in the state (this was in 2001 I believe). That explains why this neuro would have even considered such a rare diagnosis....

Hope we all survive long enough to see a change in the system!

Take care,Buttons

dahlek
10-19-2006, 02:54 PM
and one that has been very tactful about how 'evolved management systems' can be changed. It is addressing the treatment system of hospitals and should receive awards in the future. It appears to be a 4 part series, but only two of them have been shown in my region.

A couple of docs I see regularly now [I see MANY], have expressed their own frustrations of having to deal not only within the 'hospital system', but the 'insurance system' and pharmacy and other supplier systems. One talented surgeon I've met is opting out of being on preferred provider rosters as it's felt that the doc would have to either do it the insurance providers' ways or not provide at all. Comments as in 'corrupt and malfunctioning' from the 'inside out' came up.

The problem I see is that everybody wants their chunk of the pie...Docs [rightfully so], hospitals [to a degree so], pharm and other med supplies [a degree so], insurance providers [a good deal so, & I include Medicare/aid here]. They all are due a reasonable chunk, but how much? How do we FIX it so all those w/disparate self-interests can each get their rightful 'cut'? Do we need to establish ANOTHER level of government beauracracy to be the price arbiter? Government involvement can either hurt or help all of those above and ultimately us, as patients. I believe some recent and past attempts at reform simply aren't able to think it all out. What I find lacking, is the intelligent input of US the beneficiaries or victims of/in the system.

What to do? VOTE! Absentee ballots can aid those unable to stand in lines and DO IT on voting day. Write your congress and senate people on the State and local level...they all have staffers who 'specialize' in these areas. Be accessable by phone or inperson at hearings that AFFECT US. Some won't care...but rite now, I don't see a whole lot of us doing the 'educating' job we must [while we can]! Many reps at the state level go on to the national level -Put and keep in their minds that -Joe, with all those scary issues is up front in their decisions.

I will continue to watch the series, consider that it's bringing to light a bunch of issues that have been 'flagged' before...but the only thing I believe that can change things is a collaborative attempt to plain old THINK Differently!

As Breeze said 'People CAN make a difference' THAT IS US! All here at BT and other places! IF you've a particular condition organization who advocates on your behalf - check it out and see how well they do...Are THEY some of those 'evil Washington Lobbyists'? Or do they just say they attend or hold conferences....for their members.

As Buttons said 'Hope we all survive long enough!'!

We each may have our particular 'issues', but to those in gummint...we are simply another 'special interest group' or groups...A united or at least, active intelligent round of advocacy by us to the electeds is and should be a serious, and continuous process. OK GUYS! Let's get out the old'puter and start WRITING! Or, VOTING?! - j

Buttons2
10-19-2006, 06:57 PM
I actually don't blame ALL the doctor's I've seen over the past 8 years. They are ignorant about nutrition for instance, but I blame the teaching institutions for this.

I'm afraid we will be getting less doctors from the US & alot more imported here. I see it every week in the "new associate" ads in my local paper. And our health records are sent to India,etc. My records are not READ by the new doctor's I've seen the past 2 years!

I blame the big pharm companies,they rule-and we REALLY need to get rid of the lobbyists in this country or we will never have a chance for "the regular Joe". Vote-yes! We're not hearing much this year about health care/insurance,but just wait....this will be the number one issue by 2008. Baby boomers such as myself are going to be dying off in high numbers unless something changes, I suspect this is the actual game plan for the politicians though! 300 MILLION people here now!! All these new diseases & we still don't even have a cure for cancer!

It's all about money.Today's doctor's give you 5 minutes of their time & prescribe pills for everything possible! There's a huge communication gap. And we, the consumers, are getting smarter everyday about healthcare. We question everything rather than seeing doctor's as God. We refuse pills after doing our own research & ignoring the pharm hype. We are blessed to have the internet & sites such as BT!!

Enough of my rants....Buttons