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Reader’s Digest Features CO Healthcare Advocacy Group CCA

Released Feb. 15th, 2008

(Denver, Colorado) The March edition of the Reader’s Digest again launched a local healthcare advocacy group into the national spotlight. RD’s monthly column, Outrageous!, written by Michael Crowley, regularly targets flaws in the systems that serve Americans. Featuring Aurora-based Colorado Citizens for Accountability (CCA) and the passion of Director Patty Skolnik, Crowley seems to have hit a nerve with readers. His article, like much of CCA’s work, focuses on the gaps that allow healthcare practitioners to make mistakes – from frivolous to fatal – and keep practicing without repercussion.

The article hails Skolnik’s work on Colorado House Bill 1331, recently passed into law. Known as The Michael Skolnik Medical Transparency Act, the bill makes information about doctors' license status and malpractice settlements available via the Internet.

Skolnik and her husband David lost their son, Michael, to medical errors when a neurosurgeon severely botched his brain surgery. They later found out the physician had already been facing malpractice suits when he treated Michael.

The tragedy became a watershed for the couple and the foundation of their advocacy. CCA quickly found kindred members among families with similar experiences, practitioners who applaud efforts for accountability and members of the insurance industry.

Along with sharing Skolnik’s personal story in the context of the article, RD printed CCA’s web address and the phone number of its sponsoring agency, Cerebral Palsy of Colorado (CPCO.org). The phones started ringing before anyone knew the article had gone to print.

“It’s a unifying theme, unfortunately; much more common than any of us like to think,” Skolnik said last week, “and we’re getting calls from all over the U.S.” CCA could use help fielding them, too. “We want to hear every story, every word, and respond,” she said. “If you’re waiting for a call back, sit tight. We’re on our way. Or call again and pitch in – phone and email support are always in need.” Contact CCA at 303-691-9339 x 1126 or at www.colordocitizensforaccountability.org to share your story.

Local Mother's Crusade Prompts State Legislature to Improve Patient Safety

Released March 6th, 2007

(Denver, Colorado) In an effort to improve patient safety, Colorado Citizens for Accountability (CCA), a patients’ rights non-profit organization, submitted House Bill 07-1331 to the State Legislature calling for the Colorado Board of Medical Examiners to make publicly available any malpractice claims against doctors practicing in Colorado. The bill would make available to the public all data relating to a doctor’s previous and current disciplinary actions in Colorado, as well as disciplinary actins taken in other states. The bill would finally allow patients to actively research their doctor’s disciplinary record, and make timely and informed decisions based on the information they find.  By weeding out controversial medical practitioners, CCA hopes to dramatically improve patient safety for all Coloradans. 

“This measure protects Coloradans in two ways: it provides for an easy way to check on a doctor’s record of malpractice before trusting them with the health and well-being of a family member, and it would also keep doctors with highly suspect records from raising everyone’s malpractice premiums – and hence the cost of healthcare,” said Patty Skolnik, Executive Director of Colorado Citizens for Accountability. “We always hear about the need to limit patient’s access to the courthouse when tragedies occur, but we never hear about the real problem causing healthcare costs to skyrocket – insurance industry price-gouging and irresponsible healthcare professionals allowed to continue practicing. By allowing patients to actively participate in choosing a competent doctor, we are giving them the same consumer rights as anyone buying a car would have. This is our health – and the health of our children – which is much more important than any product we’ll ever purchase.”

Called the ‘Michael Skolnik Medical Transparency Act’, the bill honors the memory of Patty’s son who died in 2004 after suffering three years from unnecessary brain surgery conducted by a neurosurgeon that has had multiple malpractice lawsuits against him in multiple sates.

Colorado Citizens for Accountability’s website says the group is “dedicated to patient safety and education.” The non-profit was formed Patty Skolnik and individuals, families, professionals and business owners who believe they must educate themselves and future generations to take action to protect consumer health and safety and to provide equal access to the justice system.

Senate Committee Hands Patients Nasty Valentine

Released Feb. 20th, 2007

(Denver, Colo.) – Health care consumers were handed a nasty valentine last Wednesday when the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services voted to “postpone indefinitely” Senate Bill 07-010.

Senate Bill 07-010 would have allowed patients and health care consumers to request accurate and timely information about nurse staffing levels from hospitals.  The bill required hospitals to post information regarding their nurse to patient ratios.  The bill did not require hospitals meet a mandated nurse to patient ratio standard.  The bill also proposed that these staffing ratios be made available on the “Colorado Hospital Report Card” for easy health care consumer access.

According to a recent survey taken by the Colorado Board of Nursing, half of the nurses surveyed said they feel that their facilities are understaffed.  Nurses remain the strongest advocates of patient safety.  When they become overworked because their facilities are understaffed, the risk to patient safety and adequate care increases.  Senate Bill 07-010 would have allowed convenient and easy access to information that would allow health care consumers to make educated decisions about which providers they use.

“In our private healthcare system, patients should not just be looking for a doctor,” said Isaac Camargo, Public Policy Director for Colorado Citizens for Accountability “They should be looking for the highest quality healthcare available.  Health care consumers deserve to know the safety records of hospitals and certainly the nurse staffing levels.”

Watchdog Group to Monitor Lawmakers, Courts, and the Media

Released Jan. 13th, 2006

(Denver, Colo) A new public watchdog group, Colorado Citizens for Accountability, will unveil an aggressive public awareness campaign Friday, Jan. 13 during a press conference at the Starz FilmCenter.

The Colorado Citizens for Accountability grassroots organization will serve as a watchdog group for those who have suffered catastrophic losses from medical errors, been injured at the hands of careless drivers, or treated unfairly by insurance companies.

CCA founder, Patty Skonik, said volunteer advocates will become a public force for the voiceless.

“We’re going to keep a close watch on the civil justice system, the Legislature, the media and the insurance industry,” Skolnik said. “We will make sure that people who end up  brain damaged, mangled or dead by medical errors are not forgotten.”

Nationally, more than 100,000 people perish each year from hospital mistakes.

“For the victims of medical malpractice, that’s like a jumbo jet crashing every day for a year, killing everyone on board,” Skolnik said. “Our friends and family members are buried one at a time, without a word from the press or an apology from those responsible. Instead, all we hear are the sounds of weeping from the families left behind.”

Each year, thousands of Colorado citizens are hurt or killed by unsafe pharmaceuticals and other products. Meanwhile, insurance companies unfairly raise rates, refuse to pay for care and charge more for less.

CCA volunteers will be at the state Legislature during the upcoming session to ensure lawmakers protect the rights of individuals and families within the civil justice system.

Volunteers will also attend civil trials to help protect the rights of families.  In addition, CCA will monitor media reports about civil justice, and also keep tabs on the insurance industry.

“We’re going to be very vocal in the coming years,” Skolnik said. “I won’t sit by in silence and watch a well-organized and well-funded assault on the civil justice system by companies with money and power.”

Skolnik conceived of CCA last year after her son, Michael, died from a series of medical mistakes.CCA’s press event coincides with the Jan. 13th release of two new documentary films that expose the stunning truth behind the Tort Reform movement. The films, “Benched,” and “The Last Campaign,” produced and directed by acclaimed Aspen filmmaker, Wayne Ewing, explain how multi-national corporations spend millions to control the civil court system in America.

More Information Coming Soon