From Jim Gilliam's blog archives
Another transplant scandal rocks southern California
November 10, 2005 11:15 AM
This one is far more insidious than the corruption at St. Vincent's where doctor's were selling organs for the right price. No, this is much worse. It's all about administrative problems, communication problems, understaffing, and not telling patients what is going on. The article is about UCI, but these are the exact same issues I'm dealing with at UCLA right now, and it is infuriating. (Background: I need a double lung transplant, I am not yet on a list. I was all ready to go at Cedars Sinai, but my insurance is forcing me to UCLA, who had initially denied me, but then changed their mind a month later) Two days ago, Maggie, my step-mom, just lost it on the UCLA people, until she was able to find someone (not part of the lung transplant program at all) who took pity on us and started digging to the bottom of why my whole situation there was so screwed up, and nobody was doing anything. They had none of my paperwork. I had an appointment today with a doctor who is on vacation. They had no idea what tests I already had, and nothing had been cleared with insurance. Weeks of calling the lung transplant coordinator, and the only thing we would hear is "You're on the top of the pile." Turns out the coordinator is now AWOL. Is she sick? Is she coming back? Nobody knows. The saviour in the UCI situation? Cedars-Sinai... who I have had nothing but wonderful experiences with. I am hoping there is some way I can get my transplant there, because while UCLA's program might do the most, and might even have the best doctors, the administrative staff is completely incompetent and could care less. AND THAT IS HOW PEOPLE DIE.
Another transplant scandal rocks southern California (11.10.2005)
Next Entry: Wal-Mart Premiere Week Starts Today! (11.13.2005)
Read the 6 comments.
J:
Thu Nov 10 2005 11:33 AM Tricia:
Thu Nov 10 2005 12:29 PM
Thu Nov 10 2005 1:51 PM
Thu Nov 10 2005 5:05 PM Sponge Bob:
Fri Nov 11 2005 12:42 PM
Sat Nov 12 2005 4:19 PM |
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