[NP-Clinical] CBS series on medical errors...

[np at c-zone.net]

CBS Series on Medical Errors

Sunday, May 20 at 11:00 p.m.
Los Angeles Channel 2

The second installment of a multi-series report on medical errors airs on
CBS in Los Angeles - Sunday, May 20 at 11:00 p.m.

Please watch!  (For those who live outside of the Los Angeles area, check
http://cbs2.com/ for a posting of the story after air time)

The program will highlight the story of Alan Cronin, who underwent an
outpatient hernia operation, but returned to the hospital a week later
with flu-like symptoms and a very hard hernia site. He woke up from a
weeks-long coma with no limbs. Alan had contracted a staph infection and
by the time they looked at the hernia site several days after he entered
the hospital, gangrene had set in and it was too late to save his limbs.
Alan barely survived.

According to the Institute of Medicine, 98,000 people die each year due to
preventable medical errors.  While states such as Wisconsin, Iowa,
Michigan and Kansas lead the pack in patient safety, California ranks in
the bottom 10, below states such as Arkansas, Kentucky and Louisiana. 
Errors increase health care costs as much as $29 billion each year in
additional treatment and longer hospital stays.

If you would like to view the first installment of this series:
http://cbs2.com/video/?id=39304@kcbs.dayport.com

For more on ways you can help, or if you have additional story ideas,
please call:

Shawnda Westly
1127 - 11th Street, Suite 331
Sacramento, CA  95814
(916) 248-8079 office
(916) 201-8582 cell
(916) 563-8500 fax
www.westlyconsulting.com