Thirty-Five Years Ago

 

When Things Go Wrong, Is it About Blame?

Thirty-five years ago, like many other children and even adults, my only child at the time had chronic ear infections.  It was suggested by three different doctors (I got three opinions) that he needed his tonsils removed.  I chose the “nicest” doctor who himself had a daughter my son Michaels age. After the surgery, for a full week, he was bleeding.  Sometimes a lot, sometimes a little but each time I saw blood, I went to a hospital or urgent care. Even at the one week follow up, the surgeon said he was fine. The following day, Michael died from blood loss and a body full of infection.  All signs were missed by 5 doctors and his surgeon. Oh well, it’s too late to turn back the clock.

No one ever asked what I saw went wrong.  What could I have done differently?  All the “blame” was on the doctors and yes even the nurses who saw him.  If I knew then what I know now, could Michael be alive?  I will never know. We can’t measure the positive outcomes.  When things go right, well everyone is expecting that but when it goes wrong, all doors get closed. 

So, as we come to another Patient Safety Awareness Week, remember that we, all of us who use the healthcare system have some responsibility to practice safe care through education and awareness.  Please learn what you can and don’t be a passive partner in patient safety.  Be aware and involved and let’s fix the system through our behavior and let those who work in healthcare fix it from within.

Understanding Family Centered Patient Advocacy

 

What is Family-Centered Patient Advocacy?

People who enter the healthcare system are too often expected to think straight and do more than is mentally, emotionally and physically possible.  So, they may call on family or friends to assist them.  The family support person now needs help navigating the system to secure safe medical care and treatment for their loved one.  That is the Pulse Family-Centered Patient Advocacy (FCPA).

The program was developed in 2005 by asking medical professionals with roots in patient safety, what they would want their patients and family members to know that would help them do their best in helping the patient.  Their responses became a book called Family Centered Patient Advocacy, A Training Manual.  FCPA then expanded by combining other information related to communication, bias, and actual advocacy experiences, with additional input from volunteers sharing their stories. It became a local course given on Long Island three to four times a year in sessions of two to four hours.  Growing more popular each year — because we all learn from the experiences of others — over the years FCPA has invited guest speakers to share their expertise.

Who should attend? Anyone who uses the health care system, no matter your level of knowledge. There will be many opportunities to recognize where you can improve in communication as well as in understanding how the system works.  Spouses, partners and friends have attended together to learn how they can best help each other in their times of need.

Why attend this year? 2025’s Family-Centered Patient Advocacy for Safer Health Care is two full days of interactive learning and discussions. And at times we may even laugh at what we are learning. Participants will have many moments of realization that they may need help in communication and need a better understanding of how the healthcare system works.  Being a better prepared patient or support person can easily lead to better outcomes in care for the patient, as well as addressing the needs of already overwhelmed healthcare professionals. You will not find a better price at any training program.

Each participant completing the program can choose to be listed as a resource on the Pulse website.

Date: March 27 and 28, 2025

Time: 9 AM-5PM (breakfast served at 8AM)
Where: Holiday Inn 215 Sunnyside Blvd, Plainview, New York, 11803

Ample parking / Shuttle available from hotel to LIRR (call hotel to make arrangements).

The Pulse program, “Family-Centered Patient Advocacy Training for Safer Health Care’ is approved for 8 general, 3 ethics and 3 J.E.D.I. CEs by the Patient Advocate Certification Board to satisfy the requirements for Board Certified Patient Advocates (BCPA).

Tickets for Sale through March 15, 2025 for both days is:

$145 w/o CEs

$175.00 with CEs

Price includes breakfast and lunch both days, snacks and an evening reception.

 

For a full list of speakers and to register go to

https://www.pulsecenterforpatientsafety.org/fcpa