|
§
MITSS staff and volunteers answer hotline calls,
offering encouragement and support and providing resources and
information on various related topics.
§
MITSS offers 10-week therapeutic educational
support groups for patients and their families led by a
clinical psychologist. The group is intended to allow affected
individuals to process the events in a positive manner and the
freedom to move forward.
This group has ongoing
registration, for more information please call 1-888-36MITSS
or send email to Linda Kenney @ lkenney@mitss.org
§
MITSS
provides training for those interested in helping
others who still suffer
§
Quarterly newsletter
§
Fundraising events
§
Website
www.mitss.org
Toll free number
(1-888-36-MITSS)
Please call us today and begin
your journey of healing.
|
|
We define medically induced trauma as
unexpected complications due to medical and/or surgical
procedures, medical errors or systems errors, and other
medical circumstances that result in a negative impact to the
overall well being of an individual and/or family member.
Our Purpose
To promote open
and honest communication and to provide support services to
all individuals who have been affected by a Medically Induced
Trauma.
Support
MITSS is a
resource for any person who is affected by an unexpected
outcome of a medical situation.
Commitment
We are committed
to promoting awareness of this important issue while creating
a space for healing.
Responsibility
We
encourage affected individuals to process the events in a
positive manner in an effort to move forward.
Our Vision
Our vision is for all those involved in a
medical trauma to have access to support services. We
envision a more compassionate, patient-centered health care
system. |
Are
you or a loved one experiencing the emotional toll following a
medical error or unanticipated medical outcome?
Medical errors and
unexpected outcomes are an all too frequent occurrence in
today’s health care settings. The medical community is
making great strides at reducing the number of these
unfortunate events, but many patients and their families are
still suffering as a result.
If you or a loved one has
been involved in a medical trauma, you may be experiencing
some of the emotional after effects that are associated with a
trauma. You may feel “stuck,” unable to fulfill or enjoy
your daily activities. You may also be experiencing
symptoms such as depressed mood, irritability, loss of
interest or pleasure, difficulty falling or staying asleep,
fatigue or loss of energy, inability to think or concentrate,
recurrent images or thoughts of the event, recurring
distressing dreams of the event, feeling detached from others,
and avoidance of activities, people, and places that remind
you of the event. Certain situations may “trigger”
feelings that remind you of medical trauma.
You are not alone.
We can help.
Toll free number
(1-888-36-MITSS)
|
|
My name is Linda
Kenney and I am a survivor of a medically induced trauma. In
November of 1999, at the age of thirty-seven, I underwent
surgery for a total ankle replacement at a major medical
facility in Boston, Massachusetts. Instead of waking up with a
new ankle, I awoke several days later to find out the nerve
block had been accidentally delivered to my heart and I had
gone into full cardiac arrest. Emergency open heart surgery
was performed to restart my heart and at that point there was
a 50/50 chance I would make it through the night. This
incident has had a profound effect on myself, my family and
all those involved.
The anesthesiologist reached out to me
right away and in time we came to an understanding, a peace
and a friendship. The hospital itself was another matter. I
made several attempts to contact the hospital seeking support
or other patients with similar circumstances and my calls were
never returned.
As a result, today I am committed to
alerting hospital administrators and staff of the need to
follow up and support patients, families and hospital staff
after a trauma occurs. Support is crucial to facilitate
recovery. MITSS has been founded specifically to provide a
network that links those involved with resources that provide
and promote healing through a variety of media.
If you are the survivor of a medically
induced trauma or know of someone who is, I ask you to give us
a call and begin the journey of healing.
Sincerely,
Linda K.
Kenney
President
|
