MITSS Newsletter - Summer 2006

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Massachusetts Coalition for the Prevention of Medical Errors,
Massachusetts Medical Society Announce
Patient Safety Initiative To Prevent Medication Errors

The Massachusetts Coalition for the Prevention of Medical Errors, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Medical Society, have jointly announced a health safety initiative for both patients and health care providers to reduce the growing incidence of medication errors. The new statewide initiative includes the promotion of a medication list (Med List) and tips for using medications wisely to patients and their families as well as promotion of a process known as reconciling medications by providers during medical visits. <more>

MITSS Announces Two Graduate Practicum Students
Added To Staff

MITSS is pleased to announce the addition of two graduate practicum students to its experienced staff. Beginning this fall, Erin-Jeanne O’Donnell and Jamie Stevenson will work with MITSS to educate the public on the issues surrounding medically induced trauma and to better serve those who have endured such events. <more>

MITSS Offering Extended Groups To Patients
And Families Impacted By Medically Induced Trauma

MITSS is offering short term (10 week sessions) therapeutic educational groups for patients and families impacted by unanticipated medical outcomes. <more>

MITSS President/Executive Director Graduate Of
HRET/NPSF Patient Safety Leadership Fellowship

MITSS is pleased and proud to announce that its President and Executive Director, Linda K. Kenney, has recently graduated from the prestigious Patient Safety Leadership Fellowship. <more>

Linda K. Kenney, MITSS Executive Director,
Receives NPSF Socius Award

Linda K. Kenney, Executive Director of MITSS, was presented with the Inaugural Socius Award at the National Patient Safety Congress held in San Francisco.   <more>

MITSS Announces Three New Board Members

MITSS is pleased to announce that Dr. Lucian Leape, Dr. Eric Knox, and Marten van Pelt have joined its Board of Directors. <more>

2005 Local Heroes Award

Linda K. Kenney has been chosen as a recipient of the 2005 Bank of America Local Heroes Awards. <more>

Trauma Team Patient, Anesthesiologist Allied

When Linda Kenney entered the hospital for a total ankle replacement, she was prepared for the discomfort and extended recuperation that a major orthopedic procedure would bring.  What she didn’t count on was a medical accident that nearly took her life even before she got to the operating room. <more>

MITSS ANNOUNCES TWO GRADUATE PRACTICUM STUDENTS
ADDED TO STAFF

MITSS (Medically Induced Trauma Support Services, Inc.) is pleased to announce the addition of two graduate practicum students to its experienced staff. Beginning this fall, Erin-Jeanne O’Donnell and Jamie Stevenson will work with MITSS to educate the public on the issues surrounding medically induced trauma and to better serve those who have endured such events.

Erin is a clinical psychology doctoral student at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology. She graduated from Indiana University in 2001 with a Bachelors of Science in Human Development and Family Studies. Erin has worked as a front line counselor in a variety of settings including a community mental health center and a residential treatment center for adolescent women. While she has had extensive experience working with children and teens, she is looking forward to expanding her experience to include more adults. The discourse around medically induced trauma is an emerging area for both patients and providers. Erin is eager to work with the therapeutic educational groups offered by MITSS and to help in making the MITSS services more accessible to all who desire them. Her role will include research that will further educate on the services needed for those who have experienced a medically induced trauma. Susan LaFarge, PsyD, facilitator of the MITSS groups, will serve as Erin’s supervisor.

Jamie is working on her Master’s of Public Health with a concentration in Health Law, Bio-Ethics, and Human Rights from Boston University School of Public Health. She completed her undergraduate work with an A.B. in History of Medicine from Wellesley College. Jamie is a Gates Millennium Scholar. Having personally experienced a medically induced trauma, Jamie developed a passion for patients’ rights and advocacy and continues to work with various agencies to promote awareness. She will work on developing a plan for continued growth of the MITSS organization, linking it with other community resources, and increasing understanding around medically induced trauma.

MITSS is excited to provide educational opportunities to both Erin and Jamie and hopes to continue to offer such services to the academic community as it continues its mission.

MITSS is a non-profit corporation headquartered in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, whose mission is “To Support Healing and Restore Hope” to patients, families, and clinicians who have been affected by adverse medical events.

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MITSS OFFERING EXTENDED GROUPS TO PATIENTS
AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY MEDICALLY INDUCED TRAUMA

MITSS (Medically Induced Trauma Support Services) is offering short term (10 week sessions) therapeutic educational groups for patients and families impacted by unanticipated medical outcomes. Beginning this fall, patients and families will have further flexibility, as groups are now being held at the MITSS offices in Chestnut Hill as well as at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth. These groups are intended to assist patients and family members process these events in a supportive environment and will be held under the direction of Susan LaFarge, Psy.D. If you would like to make a referral to the MITSS program or for further information, please call us at (617) 232-0090.

MITSS is a non-profit corporation headquartered in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, whose mission is “To Support Healing and Restore Hope” to patients, families, and clinicians who have been affected by adverse medical events.
 

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MITSS President/Executive Director Graduate Of
HRET/NPSF Patient Safety Leadership Fellowship

MITSS is pleased and proud to announce that its President and Executive Director, Linda K. Kenney, has recently graduated from the prestigious Patient Safety Leadership Fellowship. This year long Fellowship is sponsored by the Health Research & Educational Trust (HRET) and the National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF), in partnership with the Health Forum, the American Hospital Association (AHA), the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE), the American Society of Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM), and the Society for Hospital Medicine (SHM).

Linda Kenney has the further distinction of being the first consumer representative to complete the Fellowship. "HRET and partners have shown a true commitment to patient and family-centered care by having me, a patient advocate, participate in this program. The experience has expanded my knowledge and understanding of the issues surrounding patient safety that will enable me to continue to be an effective partner with health care," Kenney said.

The Patient Safety Leadership Fellowship program is an intensive educational experience that develops leadership skills and advances patient safety issues in health care. Through the program, Leadership Fellows are exposed to a wide variety of tools, strategies, and methodologies in the field of patient safety.

MITSS is a non-profit corporation headquartered in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, whose mission is "To Support Healing and Restore Hope" to patients, families, and clinicians who have been affected by adverse medical events. Don't forget to "SAVE THE DATE" for our Fifth Annual Dinner and Fundraiser to be held on November 9, 2006, from 6 to 10 pm at the Seaport Hotel in Boston.
 

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Linda K. Kenney, MITSS Executive Director,
Receives NPSF Socius Award

Linda K. Kenney, Executive Director of MITSS (Medically Induced Trauma Support Services), was presented with the Inaugural Socius Award at the National Patient Safety Congress held in San Francisco. Socius is the Latin word for "partner", and the NPSF Socius Award is given in recognition of work that promotes positive and effective partnering between patients, families, and providers in pursuit of improved patient safety. Ms. Kenney accepted the award accompanied to the podium by Dr. Rick van Pelt, MITSS Board Chairman.

When queried about her reaction to receiving this prestigious award, Ms. Kenney replied, "I am grateful to the NPSF for honoring our organization. It is my hope that this wonderful recognition will go a long way towards advancing the MITSS mission of providing support to all those impacted by adverse medical events. We are truly committed to patient safety and to that end pledge to strengthen existing as well as forge new partnerships within the healthcare community." Ms. Kenney praised the MITSS Board of Directors as well as MITSS staff for their hard work and dedication to the organization.

MITSS is a non-profit corporation headquartered in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, whose mission is "To Support Healing and Restore Hope" to patients, families, and clinicians who have been affected by adverse medical events.
 

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MITSS Announces Three New Board Members

Medically Induced Trauma Support Services (MITSS) is pleased to announce that Dr. Lucian Leape, Dr. Eric Knox, and Marten van Pelt have joined its Board of Directors.

Lucian Leape MD, is an Adjunct Professor of Health Policy in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Leape has enjoyed a long and distinguished career and is an internationally recognized expert on patient safety issues. MITSS is extremely fortunate that a member of the medical community of Dr. Leape’s stature has joined its board.

Eric Knox MD, is the former Director of Patient Safety and Risk Management at Children’s Hospital Minneapolis. He is a well known researcher and consultant and has published over 100 articles concerning clinical practice and management of clinical risk. When asked about joining the MITSS Board and working with MITSS President Linda Kenney, Dr. Knox replied, “I very much admire the work you are doing and am honored to have a chance to assist in it.”

Marten van Pelt is currently Marketing Director for Communications & High Tech practice of Accenture, a global business and technology consulting firm. Marten brings a wealth of marketing and business experience to the MITSS Board. His skills and expertise will most certainly complement those of existing MITSS Board Members.

MITSS is very excited about the addition of these three new board members. We look forward with great enthusiasm to their participation in our organization.

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2005 Local Heroes Award

Linda K. Kenney, Founder and President of Medically Induced Trauma Support Services (MITSS), has been chosen a recipient of the 2005 Bank of America Local Heroes Awards! The Neighborhood Excellence Initiative (NEI) Awards Ceremony was held on Monday, November 21st, 2005, at Bank of America’s Federal Street location in Boston. Ms. Kenney was recognized for her dedication and support in making Greater Boston a great place to live and work.

When asked by a Bank of America representative, “What does it mean to be acknowledged as a local hero, and what will the $5,000.00 mean to your non-profit?” Ms. Kenney replied, “None of what I have been doing would be possible without the support I’ve received from family, friends, and colleagues. The $5,000.00 will help us to continue the work that we’ve already begun. More importantly, it will be validation for the hard work of all those involved with MITSS.”

MITSS is pleased and proud that Linda Kenney has received this prestigious award, and we applaud her dedication, hard work, and commitment to furthering our mission of “Supporting Healing and Restoring Hope” to all those impacted by medical errors and adverse medical events.

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Trauma Team
Patient, Anesthesiologist Allied

When Linda Kenney entered the hospital for a total ankle replacement four years ago, she was prepared for the discomfort and extended recuperation that a major orthopedic procedure would bring.

What she didn’t count on was a medical accident that nearly took her life even before she got to the operating room.

During a “block” or local anesthetic prior to surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, the sedative somehow entered her bloodstream even though a doctor had taken all the proper precautions.

Kenney’s heart stopped, but she survived after heroic intervention by doctors and nurses.

The aftermath, however, left her emotionally battered and her family bitter.

Now the mother of three is hoping to aid victims of similar problems through a pioneering organization she founded that offers counseling and support groups.

And she’s doing so with the support of her anesthesiologist, whom she describes as the unseen victim of what she has come to call “medically induced trauma”.

“What this is about is helping people get better,” said Kenney, who has many traumas are not the fault of the physician or hospital.  “It’s not about lawsuits.”

Kenney last year founded Medically Induced Trauma Support Services, a nonprofit agency that helps patients and their families following unexpected complications due to medical treatment, whether caused by error or other circumstances.  The group has a board of directors and is about to start its first counseling sessions.

Kenney, a former hospital administrative secretary, felt confident when she entered the hospital in the fall of 1999.  She decided with the help of her doctor, Holliston anesthesiologist Rick Van Pelt, to have a local rather than general anesthetic.  But things went terribly wrong after Van Pelt noticed Kenney becoming very disorientated.

In minutes, she went into cardiac arrest.  Kenney was placed on a heart-lung machine for more than two hours and remained in the hospital for eight days.

But that didn’t mean Kenney wasn’t affected.

Kenney’s family was badly frightened by the close call, and she found herself becoming emotionally needy.

“Months after I’d be driving down the street and burst into tears,” she said.  “Everybody else has moved on.  I wondered if I was going crazy.”

Van Pelt, though he had done nothing wrong, also suffered. The doctor felt hostility from Kenney’s family and the near tragedy left him seeing his medical career in a new light.

“I felt as if a wall had gone up,” said Van Pelt, even though colleagues and hospital associates did their best to show support. “No physician likes to accept failure. There’s always a perception that if something goes wrong, you’ve failed.”

Making matters worse was what Kenney characterizes as the hospital’s reluctance to answer her questions - a reluctance she believes stemmed from a lawsuit.

“I had called up and naively asked for the names of the people who gave me CPR,” Kenney said. “I didn’t want to sue them, I wanted to thank them.” She never received the information.

The walls Kenney and Van Pelt felt began to tumble months after the incident when, with some trepidation, they talked for the first time on the phone.  Their conversation eventually led to a meeting during which Kenney spoke of her desire to help others.

Statistics regarding medical trauma are hard to quantify, but Kenney says such incidents are probably more common than most people think.

“Everybody knows someone, or has a friend who knows someone, who’s been affected,” she said. In fact, a Harvard study suggests that cases involving medical error alone may be responsible for as many as a million patient injuries each year.

Medically Induced Trauma Support Services is currently the only organization Kenney and Van Pelt know of that exists primarily to serve trauma victims. At Van Pelt’s suggestion, Brigham and Women’s agreed to provide referrals and host the group’s programs which include the services of a professional psychologist.

Both Kenney and Van Pelt say they believe the lack of counseling and recovery systems for victims of medical trauma is one of the unseen cracks in the American Healthcare system. Currently, Kenney says, mutual suspicion and the high stakes of potential malpractice claims make it difficult for health care providers and victims to get together. But that could change if MITSS’s program begins to show results.

If it does, there could be implications for both doctors and consumers.  Intervention on the MITSS model could reduce patient stress and help victims speed the healing process, Kenney says.  In turn, greater willingness health care providers to refer patients to such programs could provide a safety valve in cases that might otherwise wind up in court.

For more information, please contact us at the information below.

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