Trail of Disquieting Reports From Hospitals of Select Medical
The New York TimesWed Feb 10 2010
Page: 14
Section: National
Byline: ALEX BERENSON
Some of the most worrisome reports about Select Medical's hospitals are largely hidden from the public.
Inspectors from state health departments regularly visit hospitals on behalf of Medicare to make sure that the hospitals are meeting the requirements to participate in the program. In their visits, often after complaints from patients, family members, nurses and physicians, the inspectors talk to patients and staff members and review medical reports and other evidence.
The reports do not identify patients or staff members, but they offer detailed descriptions of what inspectors have found to be a problem, ranging from minor violations, like poor record-keeping, to much more serious issues.
A handful of states, including Florida and Pennsylvania, make the reports public on state health department Web sites. Most do not. The New York Times received the reports directly from Medicare under a Freedom of Information Act request that asked for reports of Select Medical Corporation hospitals ...read more
The World of Long-Term Care Hospitals
The New York TimesWed Feb 10 2010
Page: 1
Section: Business/Financial
Byline: ALEX BERENSON
No one at the hospital noticed that Tina Bell-Jackman was dying.
On the night of June 26, 2007, Ms. Bell-Jackman turned restlessly in her bed in Room 7 at Select Specialty Hospital of Kansas City, a small medical center that specializes in treating chronically ill patients. Ms. Bell- Jackman, a 46-year-old with diabetes, had been hospitalized at Select for five weeks, was increasingly agitated and could not speak because of a surgical hole in her throat. Her physicians had ordered the hospital to keep a sitter with her.
But at 8 p.m., the sitter left, according to a state court lawsuit and a Medicare inspection report. Left alone, Ms. Bell-Jackman tried to get up. Around 9:30 p.m., staff members tied her down with wrist restraints. Around 12:15 a.m., after the restraints had been removed, a nurse injected her with a sedative to calm her.
In other hospitals, an attending physician might have seen Ms. Bell- Jackman. But the Select hospital of Kansas City has no doctors on its staff or its wards overnight. In emergencies, it must call in physicians from outside. ...read more
IMPORTANT STRATEGY-SETTING MEETINGS RE. LONG TERM CARE, HOSPITAL CUTS, HOMECARE, PRIMARY HEALTH CARE REFORM, PRIVATIZATION
Please distribute widely
Friday, September 25, 2009
LONG TERM CARE HOMES
HIGH-LEVEL BRIEFING AND STRATEGY SESSION
update on the regulatory process, approach to resident care, ombusdman's report, what is next, planning ahead.
10 am - 3:30 pm
at the Older Women's Network, 115 The Esplanade, Toronto, Ontario
This meeting is open to family councils, residents councils, seniors' organizations, concerned citizens, unions, local health coalitions, non-profit and public home administrators and representative from across Ontario. No fee.
Registration is required. There is only space for 100 - 150 people.
Friday and Saturday, October 16 & 17
SUMMIT ON HOSPITAL CUTS AND RESTRUCTURING (Oct. 16)
update on the Health Minister's Task Force on Rural and Northern Health Care, where we have succeeded and failed in stopping the hospital closures, what is coming next for those on hold, hospital budgets for the next fiscal year, planning ahead, release of new report on hospital spending
HEALTH ACTION ASSEMBLY - ANNUAL STRATEGY PLANNING MEETING (Oct. 17)
strategies for the next year on homecare, hospitals, privatization, P3s, long term care, primary health care and health reform in the public interest
10 am - 4:30 pm
at the Bond Place Hotel, 65 Dundas St. E., Toronto, Ontario (1 block east of Dundas and Yonge Sts.)
Cite the Ontario Health Coalition and you will get a special room rate of $89.00 for a standard room or $119.00 for a deluxe room.
0 - $35 sliding scale. All those who support the mandate and mission of the OHC are welcome.
Registration is required. There is only space for 200-250 people.
Please distribute widely
Friday, September 25, 2009
LONG TERM CARE HOMES
HIGH-LEVEL BRIEFING AND STRATEGY SESSION
update on the regulatory process, approach to resident care, ombusdman's report, what is next, planning ahead.
10 am - 3:30 pm
at the Older Women's Network, 115 The Esplanade, Toronto, Ontario
This meeting is open to family councils, residents councils, seniors' organizations, concerned citizens, unions, local health coalitions, non-profit and public home administrators and representative from across Ontario. No fee.
Registration is required. There is only space for 100 - 150 people.
Friday and Saturday, October 16 & 17
SUMMIT ON HOSPITAL CUTS AND RESTRUCTURING (Oct. 16)
update on the Health Minister's Task Force on Rural and Northern Health Care, where we have succeeded and failed in stopping the hospital closures, what is coming next for those on hold, hospital budgets for the next fiscal year, planning ahead, release of new report on hospital spending
HEALTH ACTION ASSEMBLY - ANNUAL STRATEGY PLANNING MEETING (Oct. 17)
strategies for the next year on homecare, hospitals, privatization, P3s, long term care, primary health care and health reform in the public interest
10 am - 4:30 pm
at the Bond Place Hotel, 65 Dundas St. E., Toronto, Ontario (1 block east of Dundas and Yonge Sts.)
Cite the Ontario Health Coalition and you will get a special room rate of $89.00 for a standard room or $119.00 for a deluxe room.
0 - $35 sliding scale. All those who support the mandate and mission of the OHC are welcome.
Registration is required. There is only space for 200-250 people.
REGISTRATION FORM
Please fill in and email back to ohc@sympatico.ca or 15 Gervais Drive, Suite 305, Toronto, Ontario M3C 1Y8 tel: 416-441-2502 fax: 416-441-4073
Please put an "x" to mark the event(s) you plan to attend:
___ Long Term Care Homes Briefing and Strategy Session Friday, September 25
___ Hospital Summit Friday, October 16
___ Health Action Assembly Saturday, October 17
Your name:
Your email address:
Your mailing address: City: Postal Code:
Your phone number: (day) (evening)
Number of people attending?
If more than one, please type in the names of the additional attendees, and their contact emails or phone #s if different than yours:
Fees: sliding scale 0 - $35 for each of the Health Action Assembly and the Hospital Summit.
Please fill this section in:
I have included a payment of $________ which will be sent by mail to Ontario Health Coalition, 15 Gervais Drive, Suite 305, Toronto, Ontario M3C 1Y8 to secure my registration. The OHC collects these funds to create a pool of money so that we can subsidize local health coalition representatives from outside of Toronto to enable their attendance.
Please fill in and email back to ohc@sympatico.ca or 15 Gervais Drive, Suite 305, Toronto, Ontario M3C 1Y8 tel: 416-441-2502 fax: 416-441-4073
Please put an "x" to mark the event(s) you plan to attend:
___ Long Term Care Homes Briefing and Strategy Session Friday, September 25
___ Hospital Summit Friday, October 16
___ Health Action Assembly Saturday, October 17
Your name:
Your email address:
Your mailing address: City: Postal Code:
Your phone number: (day) (evening)
Number of people attending?
If more than one, please type in the names of the additional attendees, and their contact emails or phone #s if different than yours:
Fees: sliding scale 0 - $35 for each of the Health Action Assembly and the Hospital Summit.
Please fill this section in:
I have included a payment of $________ which will be sent by mail to Ontario Health Coalition, 15 Gervais Drive, Suite 305, Toronto, Ontario M3C 1Y8 to secure my registration. The OHC collects these funds to create a pool of money so that we can subsidize local health coalition representatives from outside of Toronto to enable their attendance.
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What is Central Bargaining?
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