Does it ever end?

Yesterday, I stopped by the grocery store I usually shop at; most of the people there know me, if not by name, at least by sight, and well enough to stop and talk for a few minutes. Most of them know P__ died, many of them know where he died, and quite a few of them know about the article in Sunday, March 18th's St. Pete Times.

Anyway, as I was paying for my items, the cashier casually informs me, "My mom went to Northside Hospital."

"Really? How is she now?" I asked him.

"She died." (Not sure if it was in the hospital or her death occurred later.) "But Dad got an itemized bill for her stay there. It came after she was cremated. By that time, it was really too late to check anything."

Check anything? "Like what?" I asked.

"Well, the insurance was billed for a pacemaker. Dad and I never heard anything about a pacemaker. The doctor never said anything about it, Mom never mentioned one, nothing. Seems to me that if you have a pacemaker put in, you'd know it. That's the kind of thing you'd mention to your family or your patient's family."

Exactly. "Did your dad ask about it?"

"He was still pretty torn up about Mom. Besides, he wasn't sure he'd get a straight answer from the hospital. And since she was already cremated, we weren't sure that we'd be able to find out anything there."

Which made me wonder. So I googled HCA -fraudulent billing. Here are a couple of links:
http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2000/December/696civcrm.htm . This appears to be from the Department of Justice. The December 14, 2000 paper states: HCA - THE HEALTH CARE COMPANY & SUBSIDIARIES TO PAY $840 MILLION IN CRIMINAL FINES AND CIVIL DAMAGES AND PENALTIES; Largest Government Fraud Settlement in U.S. History. It goes on to talk about fraudulent billing practices.

And from our local St. Pete (FL) Times (you beautiful people!): http://www.sptimes.com/2004/01/05/Business/The_inside_story_of_H.shtml . In a quote from the January 5, 2004 article (titled "The Inside story of HCA's 'giantkillers'" by Kris Hundley), "It's been a year since HCA, the nation's largest hospital chain, agreed to pay a landmark $1.7-billion fine to settle government claims of Medicare fraud."

Another site about the 2000 case: http://www.againstcorruption.org/briberycase.asp?id=841 .

And another: http://www.billingprecision.com/Medical-Billing-Compliance-Qui-Tam-Whistleblower-Fraud-December42006pharma.htm . This article also mentions Tenent Healthcare's $900,000,000 fine (July 2006) under the False Claims Act, as well as fines against HCA, the Swiss biotech company Serono, Abbott Labs, SmithKline, et al.

Anyone having family members who have been hospitalized, etc., it would behoove you to make sure you get an itemized bill and read through it. If you have questions, you have the right to call and ask about something that looks wrong.

You wouldn't go to the store, come out with a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread, and expect to pay for someone else's 10-pounds worth of $6.49-a-pound meat, would you? Oh, heck, no. No matter how it happens--whether at the grocery store or in the hospital--it's wrong.

And that's my point.

We've got a name...

Anyone who has commented on this blog and who has a complaint against Northside hospital, if you are planning to send along said complaint to AHCA and to Northside, their CEO is Ward Boston, III. But please, if you send a written complaint to Northside (which is preferrable to a phone call), remember three things, please: 1) send a copy to AHCA (after calling AHCA), 2) BE POLITE!, and 3) keep it honest. I can't emphasize these three things. Sending a copy to AHCA assures that it won't "get lost". Being polite and truthful are absolutely imperative to getting heard and helping us change the system. I don't like being screamed at or having people calling me names or threatening me; I imagine neither does Mr. Boston. If we keep what we say truthful, we stand a better chance of being listened to than if we're rude or not fully truthful.

Let's face it, anyone following this most likely wants positive change here--for all of us and our loved ones. Let's all go about it the right way.

I honestly meant to touch base with everyone by now...I have tomorrow off, so will attempt to so at that time.

Loretta (who posted just a little while ago; this is something that anyone who had problems at Northside can do, so everyone listen up): Write down everything that happened to you or your loved one. Even if it seems trivial (ie, "It took 10 minutes for anyone to answer a call light," or "So-and-so on the night shift refused to help with the bedpan"), write it down. Conversely, if something positive happened ("One nurse in the ER, Sue Anne Lastname, was extremely helpful and made sure we were taken care of"), write that down, too. It will help in several ways: You're acknowledging those who are doing their job well; you're appreciative; etc. Then, once you've written down everything that happened while you or your loved one was hospitalized (or as much as you can remember; obviously, it's important to do this as soon as possible), make two copies, one to keep, the other to send to the Agency for Health Care Administration. You could possibly make a third & fourth copy; one to send to Northside Hospital (address: 6000 49th Street North, St. Pete, FL 33709; I would address this to the President/CEO, though a cursory Google search didn't pull up any names; anyone?), one to HCA's corporate headquarters (HCA, Inc., One Park Plaza, Nashville, TN 37203; anyone, does Bill Frist still run HCA?).

To start an investigation with the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), the phone number is 888-419-3456. There is a local branch of AHCA, but to start an investigation, you have to go through the toll-free number. I found that it was good to have the notes I had written in front of me when I called so that when I got a live person, I didn't sit there, saying, "Uh, so then we, um, I think it happened Thursday, or was it Friday..." You'll have everything there in front of you so you can be as concise as possible.

I hope this helps, Loretta, as well as anyone else who was wondering. Granted, it won't make what happened to you disappear--it won't bring my husband back, though I wish it would--but if enough of us stand up and say, "This is what happened to me, to my loved one, and I'm mad, because it shouldn't have happened," maybe, just maybe, we can keep it from happening to more people.

Let's face it, if someone--or enough someones--had done what all of us are trying to do now years ago, our loved ones may not have had to endure the horrors that they endured at Northside Hospital.

And if anyone reading this has never been in Northside (or any other HCA or for-profit hospital) and gotten the horrible lack of care you've been reading about, consider yourself fortunate. But in the meantime, voice your concern. Write letters. Make phone calls. You never know when it will be you being transported to the nearest understaffed for-profit hospital.

Please, please, please help me make a difference. For all of us.

Addressing the comments...

Here it is, Monday, March 19. I had almost figured on hearing from Northside today. But then, I may be contacted later in the week. I'm not planning on going anywhere.

Now, first things first. Thank you, Paul Swider and anyone else at the St. Petersburg Times who helped with the article. I personally feel that health care is an important issue. We are all our brothers' (and sisters') keepers; we're all in this life together.

Now, to address some of the posts:
Southlady (who posted back in December): Yes, I agree; nurses (the majority, anyway) are dedicated, decent, hardworking people who got into the field for the right reasons. Unfortunately, as with any profession, be it anyone in the medical field, lawyers, cab drivers, what-have-you, it's the bad ones who give the whole profession a bad name. The fact that you brought your ex- home rather than subject him to the floor at N.side speaks volumes.

Beth: expect an email within the next 24 hours.

Deb Fab: I'll try contacting you, too.

PeoplesSmartAss: Thank you for your kind words and the blog-roll.

Vox: Thanks.

NHpoorcare: I thoroughly sympathize. (No offense, but I hope never to see you ditched!)

Janet, ol14, Edward Ringwald, Alane, another widow, Joanner: I am so sorry for your losses. Part of me wanted to say, "No way." But I believe what you've told me; I've seen it, too. N.side stinks, yes? (And Joanner, mail that letter! It is important!)

Allison: Glad you're now doing well. I should not have read that "deathside" comment with a mouthful of coffee! (But I can forgive you for that!)

Rachet: Thank you; right on.

For all of you who've commented, thank you. For all of you who've read this blog, thank you. For all of you (and I include myself here) who've wondered, "What can I do? I'm only one person," I offer this advice: Keep it legal, keep it honest. Otherwise, we lose our credibility and our power. You're only one person? So was Rosa Parks. So was Martin Luther King, Jr. Jesus started with a band of 12 scared disciples.

In the words of Margaret Mead: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: indeed it's the only thing that ever has."

I will keep everyone updated on how this goes. And, kind readers, keep me posted, too. I have a sneaking suspicion that we all want to see better healthcare. We know we'll all die someday, but it shouldn't be at the hands of those who should be helping us get better.

St.Pete (FL) Times article

I got up this morning and started a pot of coffee before going out to grab the St. Petersburg Times from the driveway. Wandered back in, placed it on the table, grabbed a cup of coffee.

Back at the dining room table, I opened up the paper. Hmmm...didn't make the national news. Didn't think I would. Checked out the Metro/City and State section. Okay.

Then I checked the Neighborhood Times. Lo and behold: Widow warns others in blog. It can be found at http://www.sptimes.com/2007/03/18/Neighborhoodtimes/Widow_warns_others_in.shtml .

At this point, as I write this, I've had 7 or 8 people add their comments to this blog. Rest assured, if you've already commented here to this blog, I will respond. It may take me a day or two to get back to you, but I will do so. Anyone else considering posting a comment, I will consider responding where needed. So far, I appreciate the responses I've read. I know from talking to others that there are problems at this particular hospital which needs to be addressed. I also know that the way to address these problems are through the legal system. It is my belief that the only way to get one's concerns and grievances heard is to keep one's head while those around us are losing their's.

Again, thank you, all who have posted. Thanks (in advance) to those who post from here on out (or are reading this blog). I will post updates to keep everyone addressed on what is happening. All I ask from anyone who posts with a "Let me tell you my horror story" comment: please keep it honest. If three people in at this facility screwed up while you (or your loved one) were there, don't make it 100 people who screwed up. If you can't remember the exact number, that's cool, too; just tell your story as you best remember it. That's all I ask.

After all, honesty is what we have going here, folks. That, and the belief that the profit-line should not take precidence over great patient care.

Laywers, the Times, and writing...

First off, it appears that the attorney I've been in contact with in Jax may very well be taking the case. I spoke with him the end of last week, and things look good. (Thank you, sir.)

Secondly, I've been contacted by several reporters from the St. Petersburg (FL) Times. Very interested in a story. (Thank you, too!)

Third: I started back to school last fall (local University). Writing major (professional/technical writing; planning to switch back to Journalism). This semester, I'm taking an Expository Writing class. The students were instructed to pick three subjects we were passionate about; mine were the environment, homelessness, and healthcare. We were then told to break each down into three subtopics; from there, we were to pick one of the nine subtopics to write our paper about. It is to be well-thought-out, well-researched, well-documented, and should be written with an eye to being published on the national level (read: Time Magazine, NYTimes, St. Pete Times, et al).

My Expository Paper is going to be on For-Profit Hospitals Vs. Patient Care: How the Bottom Line Affects Patient Care. Yes, I already have a stack of books for my paper (14, and that's just a start). I've googled articles on the matter, and found plenty. The articles that I'll be using come from a variety of reputable sources, including medical journals, business magazines, etc. I already have quite a lot of sources showing facts and figures on how the profit line has the ability to hurt patients. (The floors at Northside were horribly understaffed. Heck, if you can get by paying for only 2 RNs on a floor per shift as opposed to 4, what a savings! But at what cost? I wonder where the CEOs from some of the HCA hospitals send their loved ones when they're sick?)

My point is that when a person goes to a hospital when they're sick, they should be assured that they will be given a fighting chance for survival. Nobody should be exposed to substandard medical care that could cost them their life.

Nobody.