[This update to the Hamid Safari case came out a few days ago. We’re happy to see a resignation come from this situation, and we’re hearing rumors that there might be another one that hasn’t been announced yet. This is a change for Kaiser. Usually what we hear are a lot of denials, and some of the worst offenders in these scandals can end up being promoted, not fired — especially the ones who have learned to keep their mouths shut, or are willing to perjure themselves to keep Kaiser out of trouble. We don’t know if Kaiser is finally getting a clue, or if this is some kind of fluke that will never be repeated, but either way it’s a good move where patients are concerned. The fact that the spokesliars didn’t give the usual statement claiming the resignation was for unrelated family reasons, or that this person is “retiring” is also a good sign.]
From the LA Times:
Administrator at Kaiser’s Fresno hospital steps down
Susan Ryan’s resignation comes after a federal report faults the hospital for its slow response to complaints about a physician
By Charles Ornstein, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
January 29, 2008
The administrator of Kaiser Permanente’s Fresno hospital stepped down Monday, days after the release of a federal report that criticized the way the medical center responded to complaints about a doctor who handled high-risk pregnancies.
In a written statement released late Monday, Kaiser said Fresno hospital administrator Susan Ryan had resigned, effective immediately.
Last week, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released a report suggesting that if Kaiser Fresno had kept a closer watch over its medical staff, two babies might still be alive.
The review was the latest in a series of critical assessments of the giant health maintenance organization, the nation’s largest with 6.5 million members in California.
The Medicare agency investigated the Fresno hospital after the Los Angeles Times reported in October that doctors and nurses had complained repeatedly to higher-ups about perinatologist Hamid Safari’s medical and interpersonal skills.
Rather than address their concerns, staffers told the newspaper, hospital leaders allowed Safari to continue handling high-risk pregnancies without restriction.
Safari allegedly botched at least two deliveries after staff members raised their concerns. One baby died in the delivery room in April 2005; another died months after her January 2004 birth. Safari has been accused of gross negligence by the state medical board; his attorney said he did nothing wrong.
Gregory A. Adams, associate regional president and chief operating officer of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals in Northern California, acknowledged in a written statement that the federal report was “highly critical of the Fresno hospital administration’s oversight.”
“We have reviewed the facts and taken action to address the leadership issues raised in this report,” he wrote.
Last week, in response to the federal report, Ryan defended the hospital’s quality oversight program and said officials had taken appropriate action after Safari’s alleged mishaps.
“When these events occurred, they were thoroughly investigated and corrective actions were taken,” she said in a written statement Friday. “This has led to significant improvements in our perinatal safety program.”
In July 2005, three months after the second baby’s death, Kaiser imposed restrictions on Safari, barring him from performing vaginal deliveries and requiring him to be monitored by another physician or advanced-practice nurse. The restrictions became permanent in April 2007, hospital officials said.
Since September, Safari has not performed any surgeries or C-sections and has served as a consultant at the hospital, Ryan said last week.
Ryan, who took over in August 2005, was not in charge at the time of the allegedly problematic deliveries by Safari. But a Kaiser spokesman said that “the hospital administrator has responsibility and accountability for the systems and processes in the hospital.”
Spokesman Mike Lassiter declined to say whether the hospital planned to take action against Dr. Varoujan Altebarmakian, the hospital’s physician in chief since 1999, who records show received numerous complaints about Safari.
Linda Monte, current chief operating officer of Kaiser’s South San Francisco hospital, has taken over as interim hospital administrator.
Hmm… could it be, Mr. Halvorson himself?
Nah, that’s too good to be true.
Too bad Safari is still there in any capacity. As far as I’m concerned till that monster is gone Kaiser has not done enough.
Well we found out why the resignation…Kaiser’s plan of correction was rejected by CMS. The PR response is an abomination of all truth and decency as usual. Every time I try to give those bastards a little credit for doing the right thing they prove themselves worthy only of criticism.
I’ll post the articles later tonight.
I didn’t get a chance to post the article, so here’s a link:
Federal health officials said Friday that they rejected Kaiser Permanente’s initial response to an inspection report
There is more to be said so hopefully I’ll get a chance to do it tonight.
California Kaiser members, LA City Attorney is requesting information on fraudulent healthcare practices. Here’s a chance to send Rocky Delgadillo your kaiser horror story.
The link:
http://www.protectingtheinsured.org/default.html
Dear Friends:
The Office of the Los Angeles City Attorney has launched a law enforcement investigation into potentially unfair business practices by health plans and health insurers, particularly with respect to their improper denial of claims for coverage made by consumers, or their cancellation of consumers? coverage altogether.
Recent news reports indicate that certain companies in the health insurance industry may be engaging in business practices that violate numerous civil consumer protection, and possibly even criminal, laws. Such practices are devastating to consumers who are led to believe that they have health coverage, only to have that coverage suddenly denied after they are diagnosed with serious medical conditions. Additionally, these business practices may victimize health care providers, such as doctors and hospitals, who reportedly have been denied payment for medical services provided to patients under the reasonable belief that the patients were fully insured.
If you have information regarding what you believe are unlawful, fraudulent or unfair business practices of a health plan or health insurer, we request your assistance in this investigation.
If you believe your health insurer has wrongfully denied or delayed your claim and/or canceled your coverage, we urge you to provide us with a description of your complaint.
If you are a health care provider who has had payment withheld, payment delayed or has been retroactively denied payment for services rendered under a health plan or insurance policy, we welcome your assistance in this investigation, to the extent consistent with your legal and ethical obligations to maintain patient confidentiality.
If you have other information relevant to this investigation, we welcome your assistance, as well.
Please click on the appropriate complaint form to tell us what you know about these practices.
Thank you for your interest in our investigation.
Sincerely,
Rocky Delgadillo
City Attorney
Kaiser again! This time they have recorded a service on my records that I did not receive and they refuse to remove it from my records even after I filed a formal grievance. They also refuse to tell me WHY they will not remove the bogus service.