kaiserfraud ([info]corphq) wrote,
@ 2007-04-30 13:27:00
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Entry tags:edelman, justen deal, kaiser manipulates media, kaiser permanente

Healthcare Blogging Summit 2007
I made it to the Heathcare Blogging Summit, and my panel went well. Kaiser had been approached about sending a representative to participate on the panel, but apparently I scared them away. :D

There is a lot of talk about transparency and relating to bloggers, but I still get the sense that the health care industry is mostly interested in how to control or discredit bloggers. Matthew Holt thought that some areas of Kaiser had started to tiptoe in the direction of transparency, but I haven't seen one iota of evidence of this. Kaiser continues to use the same tactics against Justen Deal that they did with me: attempting to depict him as a hacker, fabricating reasons to justify firing him, etc.

I was intrigued to find out that Kaiser is still retaining Edelman as one of their PR firms - confirmed by Rick Murray, President of Edelman's new social media practice Me2Revolution. I wonder if Kaiser's contract with Edelman is specifically to manage the response to Justen Deal, or whether its about asserting more control over the social media environment in general. Expect to see Kaiser's virtual headquarters hosting events in Second Life soon.

There has been a lot of Kaiser news over the last month that I haven't been able to keep up with. I'd like to nudge people who are interested in keeping up with patient advocacy issues to check out www.kaiserthrive.org. I will be writing a big catch-up post, too.

One thing I have to mention, though, is that Justen Deal's story made the front page of the Wall Street Journal.

More to come later...


(39 comments) - (Post a new comment)

Scared?
(Anonymous)
2007-04-30 09:09 pm UTC (link)
You probably terrified the poor people. You're like a hellbent prosecutor when it comes to KP. Forget Justen, I bet they hired that PR firm to figure out how to get you to pipe down a little!

About Las Vegas... YouTube?

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: Scared?
[info]corphq
2007-04-30 09:13 pm UTC (link)
ROTFL!

I don't know about YouTube - I hope not. :p

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Re: Scared?
(Anonymous)
2008-03-29 06:59 pm UTC (link)
Keep checking. Keep hoping you'll return. Keep wondering if you were threatened or sued. If so, call ACLU. It really bothers me when a large corporation is able to shut down a lawsuit. Or were you offered money to shut up?

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: Scared?
[info]corphq
2008-03-31 04:16 pm UTC (link)
It's so nice of you to check up on me. Don't worry about Kaiser suing me - they know what I'd have to say back to them if I did. But you should also know that the ACLU in California only takes Appeals cases, and they have been no help at all to me in the past.

What happened is I became extremely sick around the time I last posted. Since I'm not insured and it's a chronic (genetic) condition, I didn't have any access to medical care. At the same time I had to keep temping to at least keep my rent paid. Trying to work takes all my energy, and I was sleeping most of the time at home, so I've been unable to keep up this blog. I still care about what Kaiser does to people, and I hope at some point I recover enough to blog here again. Today I'm trying to at least get the backlog of comments posted. It's nice to know what I've done in the past continues to be of some comfort to Kaiser's victims.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Worst year ever
(Anonymous)
2007-04-30 09:29 pm UTC (link)
This whole string of bad news - or at least even worse news than usual - started creeping out of Kaiser. The kidney patients, then the homeless woman, then the computer system, then the money problems, then the infant dying and so forth. Did you talk about or would you talk about whether 2006 was just an anomaly - or are things just getting worse at Kaiser?

Will they get better?

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: Worst year ever
[info]corphq
2007-04-30 09:37 pm UTC (link)
I don't think things are getting worse so much as Kaiser is having a harder time hiding stuff now. There seems to be a great deal of confidence at the Blogging Summit that the ball has just started rolling on corporate transparency. There are probably many more Kaiser revelations to come as Kaiser's current employees start to get involved.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
The Grand Illusion
(Anonymous)
2007-04-30 11:12 pm UTC (link)
Kaiser isn't capable of true transparency because they have too much to hide, so instead they'll try to create the illusion of transparency, much like the illusion of personalized care and patient satisfaction and the new Just Culture meme. Not five minutes after you pointed out that Kaiser was seeking a culture change leader, Louise Liang put out a memo stating the following:

"We have a Just Culture: Each of us plays an important role in patient safety. We value the reporting of near misses and errors and those who report them. We know that only through this kind of transparency can we learn and truly improve."

They clearly believe that just by saying something often enough it makes it true, regardless of a bothersome little thing called REALITY. When will they learn that actions speak louder than words?

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: The Grand Illusion
[info]corphq
2007-04-30 11:18 pm UTC (link)
This is what really annoys me about the way Kaiser uses digital monitoring firms like Edelman. They could be using that rapid access to listen to people, but instead they only use only feed that information into battle tactics - such as trying to hijack Justen Deal's name as a keyword. Kaiser is an 800-lb. gorilla that can't figure out how to do anything other than stomp on anything that moves.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Kaiser Is A ...
[info]intrepidliberal
2007-05-01 12:04 am UTC (link)
corporate gulag. No amount of fancy PR spin can change that. When even corporate apologists such as the Wall Street Journal take notice, that's foreshadowing of what's to come. Thankfully, people like you and Kaiser Thrive have worked to focus a flood flash light on this feculent enterprise as their management team flees to the dark corners like roaches.

Perhaps in a few months you can have a betting pool on your blog on which Kaiser executives will go to jail, for how long and who will plea bargain. Everyone can contribute to the pot of money and the winner will have the honor of writing a check to Kaiser's victims.

Kaiser embodies the dark side of capitalism and the criminals that run their organization are a waste of skin.

Intrepid Liberal Journal

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: Kaiser Is A ...
[info]corphq
2007-05-03 12:55 am UTC (link)
I hope whatever happens will happen soon, because Kaiser's document tampering issues won't sink into the public mind until top executives get fired or go to jail. :-/

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: Kaiser Is A ...
[info]intrepidliberal
2007-05-03 01:34 am UTC (link)
Indeed, it will serve the public well once a few of these characters are frogmarched in front of as many television cameras as possible while onlookers gawk and enjoy their humiliation. When whistleblowers are wrongfully terminated for wanting to help save lives it's time for Kaiser's suits to learn a different trade: such as busting rocks and painting license plates.

Intrepid Liberal Journal

(Reply to this) (Parent)
New Blather!
(Anonymous)
2007-05-01 03:38 am UTC (link)
"The organization’s electronic health record project reached an important milestone in April, when non-clinical inpatient applications [...] was deployed in all Kaiser Permanente hospitals."

http://xnet.kp.org/newscenter/kphealthconnect/healthitconference.html

They was deployed was they?

(It just isn't true. The PR person writing the blather was laughing so hard at the BS that he forgot how to write in English.)

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: New Blather!
[info]corphq
2007-05-03 12:51 am UTC (link)
LOL - that's a good one! :D

(False advertising, anyone...?)

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Another black eye
[info]virtualrn
2007-05-01 11:52 pm UTC (link)
Good for Justen-I hope he gives Kaiser a run for their money! I currently have a wrongful termination/internal whistle-blower/retaliation suit going into appeals. I made the grave error of reporting a patient safety issue to an incompetent, pompous manager for over a year. I ultimately refused an unsafe patient assignment. It was all downhill from there. Insubordination, unsubstantiated allegations of drug abuse, making racial slurs against a coworker, spilling chemo on a patient, and impersonating a supervisor followed. These are all terminal offenses mind you. Ten months later, I was fired. False paper trails are a Kaiser trademark. I filed a lawsuit at the midnight hour after making a decision that this capricious manager would not write my history. This suit is in appeals because a federal judge determined that this was not a public safety issue because I was a union employee. I am resolute in seeing this through. However, it is a shame that Kaiser participants and Kaiser are the big losers in this case no matter what the outcome is. This disruptive manager is still terrorizing employees and according to her nurses, morale has never been lower.

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: Another black eye
[info]corphq
2007-05-03 12:58 am UTC (link)
Feel free to tell your story in detail here (if your lawyer will let you). You can also email it to me to post in the main area of my blog. Send it to kaiser_scapegoat (at) hotmail (dot) com.

I laud your courage, and I hope you will keep us all posted on your case. This blog is all about exposing Kaiser's penchant for false paper trails.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Please curb the PRBS!!!
(Anonymous)
2007-05-04 02:48 am UTC (link)
Two things.

HealthConnect was down everywhere in California on Tuesday. Lines out the door at every facility cause frontliners couldn't check in members for appointments. This happens every other week. Sometimes for a day. Sometimes for more than a day.

The other thing was that comment about HealthConnect being used for all non-clinical inpatient settings at every hospital in California is just PRBS™. (Two hospitals have all inpatient. About a half dozen have all non-clinical inpatient. A bunch more have some but not others. Several are still spinning wheels due to unresolved workflow issues.)

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: Please curb the PRBS!!!
[info]corphq
2007-05-05 01:10 am UTC (link)
WOW! I hope someone sends me the inside scoop on this - even better with IT bridge notes or other documentation.

PRBS - ROTMFLMAO! I'm stealing that term even though you trademarked it. ;D

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Grassroot campaign to report Kaiser to regulators
(Anonymous)
2007-05-21 06:01 pm UTC (link)
I too am a whistle blower and have been forced out by Kaiser. I have reported their unlawful conducts to the state Insurance Commissioner, Attorney General, and Governor. The regulators are starting to scrutinize Kaiser and the fines are starting to rack up. They are scheduled to audit Kaiser in the near future and will substantiate all of Kaiser's unlawful conducts.

Please help me get the word out to all those who have been wronged by Kaiser as an employee or as a member to start reporting Kaiser to the insurance regulators, and attorney generals in their state. Also, people should be reporting them to the FBI. The FBI has an insurance fraud investigation unit and has noted an increase in insurance-related corporate fraud in 2006. http://www.fbi.gov/publications/financial/fcs_report2006/financial_crime_2006.htm#Insurance.

While the web has been a great tool for those of us wronged by Kaiser to air our frustration and concerns, it is best to hit Kaiser in the pocket book where it hurts them most. Thus, Kaiser's unlawful acts should be reported to the regulators who will fine Kaiser for insurance or labor law violations. For example, a Google search of "hate Kaiser" turned up almost 1,200 hits compared to 2 hits for Regence, 5 hits for Pacificare, and 187 hits for Aetna. Yet, a search of the insurance regulator's found that only a handful of people complained to the regulator in 2006.

A ground swell of formal complaints begets scrutiny from state and federal regulators. Kaiser cannot continue to function as it does under the light of day.

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: Grassroot campaign to report Kaiser to regulators
[info]corphq
2007-06-20 05:32 am UTC (link)
I'm all for it! What can I do to help?

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Nurse at the LA Hospital
[info]seansrs968
2007-06-06 07:04 pm UTC (link)
I found out that one of the nurses at the Sunset facility runs this website: zoeyandrews.net I wonder if she gives the same level of care to her patients.

(Reply to this)


(Anonymous)
2007-06-09 09:04 pm UTC (link)
i keep checking still no catch up post did you lose interest?

(Reply to this)

Where did you go?
(Anonymous)
2007-06-13 04:24 pm UTC (link)
Where did you go? No updates to the blog. Are you alright?

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: Where did you go?
[info]corphq
2007-06-20 05:06 am UTC (link)
Trying to at least moderate the comments now. If I can get through that tonight, will post an update. I'm still here. :-)

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: Where did you go?
(Anonymous)
2007-07-20 03:07 pm UTC (link)
I'm relieved you are still here. Kaiser is known for retaliation, and I was getting very worried about you. I hope your diversion from keeping this updated daily or weekly means you have finally secured another position and are again gainfully employed. You've been doing a valuable service and I respect your spunk.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Re: Where did you go?
(Anonymous)
2007-07-25 08:11 pm UTC (link)
Have learned alot from your site--especially regarding politics at KP Wish you would start writing again.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)
Re: Where did you go?
(Anonymous)
2007-09-21 08:31 am UTC (link)
I wish the same thing and am really worried. This is totally incompatible with her history on the site. She always maintained it promptly.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
Re: Where did you go?
(Anonymous)
2007-10-04 09:07 pm UTC (link)
How about a final post about what's happened to you in the last 6 months and why you rather suddenly stopped communicating. Legal threats? Black balled? Torrid love affair?

(Reply to this) (Parent)
i hate kaiser!
(Anonymous)
2007-06-22 10:01 pm UTC (link)
Kaiser Permanente is among the worst of all HMOs in the country in handling complaints against their services. After I filed a complaint with the California State Department of Managed Health Care, and after Kaiser corporate claims representatives assured me that I would be reimbursed for my claim (for emergency hospital treatment of my minor child while we were on holiday internationally), they have now sent me a letter denying my claim. Retaliation? YES. Harrassment? YES. They treat their members like pig slop.

(Reply to this)

$4-billion and no spell checker-Thrive On
(Anonymous)
2007-07-14 06:31 am UTC (link)
So I emailed my PCP asking for the results of my CT scan. This is the response I received exactly as copied.

"Congradualation your CT scan remains unchanged from the last one."

I guess Kaiser's $4-billion Health Connect system doesn't include a spell checker.

(Reply to this)

spell checkers
(Anonymous)
2007-08-18 12:09 am UTC (link)
Well, Congradualations to Kaiser for not knowing how to spell!

(Reply to this)

Off Topic - Norman Quon - Hawaii
(Anonymous)
2007-09-15 01:02 am UTC (link)
Hi. I'm not sure if this is the correct place to ask a question like this...Could someone please fill me in on any specific background (true info) that may be important for a prospective employer to consider. Your honesty would be very appreciated. Thank you.

(Reply to this)

Summit: Any discussion about free speech issues
(Anonymous)
2007-11-27 07:30 pm UTC (link)
I was inspired to start my blog because of you.

Was there any discussion about free speech at the Summit? (The 'subject of my blob', ie a previous employer who I have sued, is in court right now trying to get my blog shut down.)

I would love to hear about it.

Thanks,
Another disgruntled former employee

(Reply to this)


[info]moggymania
2007-12-05 07:40 am UTC (link)
I just found a site that I don't remember you mentioning before, but that fits right in with the Kaiser Ruins Lives theme: How Kaiser Treats Arnold Chiari patients

That soon will include a personal story from me, because after reading a series of excellent patient bios elsewhere and seeing my nightmarish "mystery disorder" perfectly match their AC1 symptoms, I realize that Kaiser's neurosurgeon was lying when she claimed that AC1 never does anything. Yeah, sure, if doing "nothing" includes making someone suffer enough that they become suicidal and bringing their life to a complete halt for years... >:-(

(Reply to this)

Kaiser management
(Anonymous)
2007-12-30 04:17 am UTC (link)
I used to work for Kaiser, they got rid of me, I actually located mistakes in reporting and measurements, but that made others look bad. So I got the bum's rush.

I actually had a management meeting FOUR TIMES to explain to THREE MANAGERS why two different reports were not the same metrics being shown.

Ready for the punchline? Both report columns in question had percent signs, so of course it must be the same measurement!

No foolin.

I found at least 4 major different ways in which reporting was being done, and nobody wanted to take the lead on fixing the whole thing.

When it finally caught up a bit on a couple managers, they tossed me to the wolves.

I had been going to the doctor (Kaiser of course -well covered as an employee) to get regular checkups. He asked me one day why I looked so tired, so I explained all the snafu reporting and you know what the ThriveMeister did?

Prescribed Fluxotene and Xanax because he felt I was "pissed".

Yeah, I tend to get upset when BASIC MATH AND STATISTICAL CALCULATIONS ARE THROWN TO THE WIND FOR POLITICAL REASONS. Ya think as a certified analyst, the ONLY one present in my office who took statistics in college might be a bit upset when I'm getting fired because they don't understand that just because there are two numbers that are represted with percent signs, that does not make them the same thing?

FOAT F*ck off and Thrive you lousy bastards!

I now have a better job in a nicer town and have nothing to do with those idiots.

But to be fair, the medical side is different from the other divisions, like say the call centers. Call Centers are a whole nuther mess of stinky fish.

A lot of do-gooder / feel-gooder types in the Call Center -making decisions for "whats best for you" kind of mentality.

Dang.

And they think I'm sick? ;)

-BOFH

(Reply to this)


(Anonymous)
2008-01-10 07:48 pm UTC (link)
Ever coming back? Ever going to explain why you left and the catch up never appeared? Intimidated or lost interest?

(Reply to this)

how do we fix these problems?!
(Anonymous)
2008-01-25 10:59 pm UTC (link)
it isn't enough to just expose issues like this. they need to be resolved so they don't happen again. so, how do we resolve these problems? and more importantly, how do we ensure "other problems" like these don't happen in the first place?

(Reply to this)

grrrrr
(Anonymous)
2008-03-29 08:20 pm UTC (link)
I have been repeatedly disappointed in the care i've received from Kaiser. Part of me feels like their doctors are simply overloaded with patients, and part of me thinks that it's the staffs general apathy and disregard for their patients that makes them the worst medical center i've ever dealt with. my bestfriend is battling stage three cancer and has been for months. (thankfully not with kaiser). her parents called me and asked me to rally my friends for blood donations as her type is extremely rare (o-). i was on the phone with them for nearly a WEEK and could not get anyone to return my calls or get me the information. i left messages with my primary, contacted records, contacted patient advocacy, called the lab (because i'd just had bloodwork done there) and no one would help me. not one person took it upon themselves to make an effort or a difference. when the situation became dire, i called san diego bloodbank, went in that afternoon, donated and discovered that i was indeed a match. i'm sorry...but how difficult can it be to check my medical records and get back to me? its just another example of how kaiser does not care for it's patients, only their pocketbooks.

(Reply to this)


[info]lenno_cornish
2008-04-01 11:54 am UTC (link)
What does Kaiser Permanante mean?

(Reply to this)

KP'S MANAGERS
(Anonymous)
2008-04-23 08:59 pm UTC (link)
I AM AMAZED AT THE REPORTS OF THE EMOTIONAL ABUSE OF EMPLOYEES IN KP BY MANAGERS. I TOO EXPERIENCED THIS. I HAD HEALTH ISSUES AND FAMILY ISSUES THAT WERE INTERFERRING WITH MY CONCENTRATION AT WORK. THEY TOLD ME I WAS A RISK TO THE PUBLIC AND WANTED ME TO QUIT. MIND YOU I HAVE BENN EMPLOYED FOR 20 YEARS. I ASKED THE UNION TO HELP WHO HELPED ME TO GET A LOA AND EARLY RETIREMENT. I FEEL AS IF I WAS RAILROADED. FOR A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER THEY DON'T HAVE ANY SYMPATHY FOR THER WORKERS WHO HAVE PROBLEMS IN THEIR PERSONAL LIVES.THIS IS JUST A COMMENT AND I DON'T WANTED POSTED FOR OTHERS TO SEE. I JUST NEEDED TO BLOW OFF SOME STEAM. THANK'S FOR LISTENING.

(Reply to this)

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