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SAVE THE PATIENTSM NEWSLETTER | Spring 2006 |
The number of hospital admissions to treat complications from surgery or medical treatment rose from 305,000 in 1993 to 452,000 in 2003 according to a report released by the Health and Human Service Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Surgical complications can include postoperative infections while complications from medical care can include lung embolism, dangerously low blood pressure, or collapsed lung. The average cost to hospitals for treating these complications jumped 40% from $6,840 in 1993 to $9,600 in 2003.
Save the Patient joins in celebrating Cover the Uninsured Week May 1–7, 2006. During the week, individuals and organizations across the country will join together to tell Congress and other leaders that health coverage must be their top priority.
Nearly 46 million Americans are living without health coverage, including more than 8 million children. During the week, thousands of activities will take place in all 50 states. STP will participate in a Health Fair to be held at Truman Community College on May 3rd in Chicago , Illinois . Other activities include press conferences, health and enrollment fairs, business leader summits, interfaith activities, small business seminars, campus outreach, and more.
Organizations sponsoring Cover the Uninsured Week include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, AFL-CIO, Healthcare Leadership Council, AARP, United Way of America, American Medical Association, National Medical Association, American Nurses Association, Families USA, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, America's Health Insurance Plans, American Hospital Association, Federation of American Hospitals, Catholic Health Association of the United States, Service Employees International Union, The California Endowment, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
What You Can Do To Help
• Tell Congress that health coverage must be its top priority.
• Spread the word by sending a Cover the Uninsured Week e-mail to your friends and ask them to help get America covered.
• Get involved in Cover the Uninsured Week activities and show your support.
• Get information on many more ways to get involved with Cover the Uninsured Week 2006.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a new report stating that immigrants become less healthy the longer they reside in the United States .
The report entitled "Physical and Mental Health Characteristics of U.S. and Foreign-Born Adults, 1998– 2003." is based on six years of data from the National Health Interview Survey. The main finding is that immigrants reported significantly better physical and mental health, such as lower rates of obesity and high blood pressure, than their U.S.-born counterparts despite having limited access to health care and little or no health insurance.
However the study found that:
The one positive note: Smoking declines from 15.3% to 13.8% among Latinos in the United States for more than five years. Some 20.1% of U.S.-born Latinos smoke, as does 24% of the overall population.
Save the Patient is pleased to announce the addition of four new members to the Board of Directors. President Lenore Janecek said the new members will provide new depth of experience and perspectives to the Board. She added, “Our new members will help lead our efforts to further improve our services to the STP community by strengthening our Web, fund development, and outreach services.” The members are listed below.
David B. Mayer, M.D. is assistant professor of anesthesiology and director of cardiothoracic anesthesiology at the University of Illinois Hospital and Medical Center . He also serves as assistant dean of curriculum at the University of Illinois Medical School in Chicago , and director of essentials of clinical medicine at the University of Illinois Medical School in Chicago .
Mayer co-founded Esurg Corporation, a technology-based medical and surgical supply company focused exclusively on the rapidly growing alternate site healthcare market. Mayer served as president and member of the Board of Directors from 1999 thru 2002. He previously worked at Abbott Laboratories as director of medical affairs in the Hospital Products Division. He also worked for 10 years at Michael Reese Hospital as Chief Resident, Department of Anesthesiology, assistant professor of anesthesiology and director of cardiothoracic and transplant anesthesiology.
Mayer is a graduate of the University of Illinois and received his medical degree from the University of Illinois , Abraham Lincoln School of Medicine. He completed his residency in the Department of Anesthesiology at Michael Reese Hospital .
He is the recipient of many honors and awards. Most notably among them are the Gold Humanism Honor Society in Medicine (GHHS) elected inductee September 2004; Robert D. Dripps, M.D. Memorial Award Outstanding Anesthesia Resident, July 1985; Lifetime Achievement Award, Department of Anesthesiology, 1995; Outstanding Clinical Instructor, Department of Anesthesiology, 2003.
He is currently a director of the Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation and also serves on their Medical Advisory Board.
Laura P. Sullivan recently retired as vice president, corporate secretary, and counsel of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and affiliated State Farm companies in Bloomington , Illinois . Before joining State Farm's law department, Sullivan was director of the Property and Casualty Division of the Iowa Insurance Department. She joined State Farm as a senior attorney in 1975, was elected secretary of the company in 1981, and was elected vice president in 1988.
Sullivan is a member of the boards of directors of State Farm Florida Insurance Company, State Farm General Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Company, and State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company. She is also a director, vice president, and secretary of the State Farm Companies Foundation.
An Iowa native, Sullivan graduated from Cornell College in Mt. Vernon , Iowa , received her law degree from Drake University , Des Moines , Iowa , and has earned the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, Chartered Life Underwriter, and Chartered Financial Consultant designations.
Sullivan has served as chair of the boards of directors of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the National Conference of Insurance Guaranty Funds. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees for Cornell College . She has been recognized as a leader in her community by being named a Woman of
Distinction by the YWCA of McLean County . She is a charter member of Leadership America, a national women's leadership organization, and is an Advisory Board member of Leadership Illinois.
Margaret Mary Eichman is a consultant specializing in investor relations and executive communications. Eichman serves as a key advisor to top global business leaders in the development and execution of corporate communication strategies to drive revenue, profit, shareholder, and market value.
Eichman had a distinguished 21-year career at Quaker Oats serving as a key member of Quaker's executive leadership team. She began her career at Quaker as an accountant and rose to vice president of investor relations and corporate affairs. In her role Eichman was charged with investor relations and shareholder communications, board and executive communications, crisis management, employee communications, government relations , public relations, and community affairs.
Eichman received a B.A. in Business Administration and an MBA in Finance from Loyola University . She is a member of the National Investor Relations Institute, International Association of Business Communicators, and Illinois CPA Society
The Save the Patient website had over 81,714 hits by 7,749 visitors in the last year. The web page lists information on the Save the Patient organization, newsletter and links to other health care organizations. The STP website can be accessed at www.savethepatient.org.
The mission of Save the Patient is to educate and empower patients and the public to make effective and informed health care decisions through objective resources. We are accomplishing our goal by providing information through Patient Advocacy, Community Outreach, Educational Seminars, the Internet, and our Health Carrying Cards. We have distributed over 10,000 of the Health Carrying Cards, which are available in Spanish, Polish, English, and Chinese. Over 7,600 people visit our website each month.
Save the Patient is a nonprofit, exempt 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the support and education of individuals on health care matters. We need your support to underwrite our programs and educational efforts. Make a donation by visiting our website at savethepatient.org or writing us at Save the Patient, 260 E. Chestnut St. #1712 , Chicago , IL 60611 or call 312-440-0630. Contributions to Save the Patient are eligible for federal income tax deduction.
The following is an excerpt from “Health Insurance a Guide for Artists, Consultants, Entrepreneurs & Other Self- Employed” by Lenore Janecek.
Many of us have trouble finding the right doctor for our needs. The first and most obvious is to get recommendations from family and friends who have been satisfied enough to refer you to their own doctor. If a specialist is needed, you naturally ask your current physician for a recommendation.
There are many other ways to find a competent doctor as well. For example you could find an association that represents the specialty you need; the group could give you a list of doctors and hospitals that are well known in the specific medical area in which you need help (however, hospitals with their own physician referral services provide you only with the names of doctors affiliated with their hospital). No matter whom else you contact, it is important to check with your state health department to confirm the doctor's credentials.
One of the most important steps in selecting your physician is conducting an interview or initial consultation with the doctor. At that time, ask about the doctor's experience and approach, as well as about the office hours and the way in which care would be received in the event of an emergency. Here are other questions that need to be considered: