Saturday, February 23, 2008

Mercy Medical Center Holds Press Conference

If you live on Long Island, unless you live under a rock, you have heard the charges by Dr. Anthony Colantonio, a Garden City surgeon, against Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre. LI Newsday covered this story as did the local News 12 channel for days until Mercy Medical Center held a 30 minute press conference to respond to the charges.

The response was by a group of doctors in crisp clean lab coats and staff in suits telling the listeners and viewers how wonderful Mercy Medical Center is. I am sure there are thousands of people, patients and families who also think Mercy Medical Center is a wonderful facility. I have heard great stories come out of there. What I didn't hear them say, is that when patients or health care providers are dissatisfied with their care, there is a way it is handled, there is a place for them to take their concerns and how they are handled.

The press conference participants had some strong words about the doctor who reported complaints. Dr. Anthony Colantonio does not have the cleanest record as reported at this press conference. We have to wonder why, Dr. Colantonio was continually working at the facility and only recently given a "leave of absence" pending an investigation and hearing. Unfortunately, it seems that Mercy as well as other hospitals have doctors who they feel may be unfit to work at their facility still seeing patients.

Unfortunetely, the public only knows what we are told by the media and with continued lack of any transparency the health care system and the doctors reputation are handled secretly while we, the public are left to get treatment at our most vulnerable time not knowing what kind of squabbling is going on possibly jeopardizing all of us.

It is only a matter of time until another story breaks at another hospital and we have to wonder if this one is preparing to work with the public before it happens or are they cleaning their lab coats for the next press conference?

6 comments:

Kimberly Lyons said...

Hello, I would like to ask you some questions. I am a reporter interested in learning more about this case and safety at NY hospitals in general. How can I get in touch with you?

Anonymous said...

Doctors, Surgeons, healthcare providers are people too. Im all FOR patient safety, so is Mercy. But unfortunately, we're all human. We all make mistakes, and maybe the first step towards patient safety was getting rid of Colantonio. Who knows. We can take more precaution, but things happen. No one wants it to, but it does. Just accept it. Sometimes we cant fight our destiny.

Dr. Butler said...

How is attacking Dr. Colantonio going to promote patient-safety, Anonymous? He wanted to discuss a death at the surgery department's M&M conference. He was suspended. This sequence threatens patients.

Dr. Butler
HButler@pol.net
www.SemmelweisSociety.net

Anonymous said...

CAN YOU PLEASE HELP...I WATCHED A TRAINING VIDEO IN A HOSPITAL THAT FEATURED A MOTHER WHO LOST HER SON IN THE HOSPITAL AFTER HE ACQURED A NOSOCOMIAL INFECTION. HER WORDS HAVE STUCK IN MY MIND FOR YEARS...."WHEN YOU CHANGE ONE THING, YOU CHANGE EVERYTHING"...SHE SAID THAT SEVERAL TIMES IN THE VIDEO. ANY IDEA???? THANKS SO MUCH!

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