Lawyer has signed on...

As of Tuesday afternoon, I have an attorney who has signed on. I'm not naming names at this point. I figure that if anyone from Northside is reading this, I don't need them contacting the attorney just yet. After gathering more information and deciding how best to proceed, I know s/he'll contact Northside. I will say this, though: The Jacksonville lawyer is still on the case, but at this time, he is taking a backseat and letting the Tampa lawyer run with the case.

At one point, after I had signed papers so that the Jacksonville lawyer could get P__'s complete medical records, Northside refused to send the records, stating that Jax was the lawyer for P__'s estate. Apparently, this is highly unusual; the usual scenario is that the patient (or next of kin--me--if the patient is deceased) signs a release form (actually several), sends them to the lawyer, who then requests the records, which are then collected and sent. That is the way it is supposed to be done. Except, of course, Northside didn't want to turn loose of the records. (What were they trying to hide?)

Well, the records finally arrived. Jax also contacted me to let me know that the Tampa attorney wanted to sign on; did I find this acceptable? In many ways, it would be advantageous to the case: when things start picking up steam (if N.side not won't turn loose of any more records; depositions being made; etc), it would be much easier to commute from Tampa than Jacksonville. Add to the fact that the Tampa lawyer is a medical malpractice attorney, highly recommended, etc., I told Jax that I accepted. Jax assured me that he's still in the picture, so that made me feel more comfortable.

During the meeting with the Tampa attorney, I signed the paperwork to get the whole ball rolling. S/he was impressed with the letter that the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) sent. It stated that it was able to confirm most of my accusations. The two accusations that it could not confirm (or deny) were the two most inconsequential ones, at least to this particular case. However, I do have several witnesses who can back up my claim on one of those claims, bringing us down to one unconfirmed accusation.

I feel very good about the direction this has taken. I had hoped for an attorney who was totally excited about taking the case; to have two (one doing the steering, the other as back-up) is indeed wonderful.

One more thing: anyone who missed the article in the St. Petersburg (FL) Times last month, here's a link to it: http://www.sptimes.com/2007/03/18/Neighborhoodtimes/Widow_warns_others_in.shtmlhttp://www.sptimes.com/2007/03/18/Neighborhoodtimes/Widow_warns_others_in.shtml"> . Feel free to read.

One last thing for this evening: If you have a loved one going into the hospital, keep watch. Ask questions. Expect answers. (However, use common sense. If your loved one is in the ER and 10 people are frantically working on your loved one, it might be difficult for someone to break away and give you a play-by-play report. But someone from the hospital should be able to talk with you and let you know what's what.) Be vigilant. Write things down, even if it seems insignificant. Keep in mind that most medical personnel are decent, caring people who will try to help you and/or your loved one. As with many professions, it is the bad ones who give the good/great majority a bad name.

I hope this helps someone out there...

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.

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.