I sent this email to San Diego Kaiser Permanente's Chief Financial Officer and Chief of Records Lynette Seid today:
Dear Ms. [Lynette] Seid:
Your subordinates have come up completely empty in response to my April 7, 2014 request for radiological images.
I did receive 24 pages of paper records from my medical record today by certified mail.
So it seems that the Radiology Records department is the problem.
Sincerely,
Maura Larkins
Showing posts with label x-rays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label x-rays. Show all posts
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Thursday, May 1, 2014
CFO Lynette Seid and Dr. Eugene Rhee, chief of urology, at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego, are up to their old tricks
See also:
Finally, a Kaiser doctor, oncologist Jennifer Lycette, speaks out about doctors forced to allow harm to patients to increase profits--CLICK HERE
If Kaiser were telling the truth about the images of my VUCG, it wouldn't have gone to all the trouble of creating a hoax set of 7 images, with four images appearing twice and one image appearing three times, trying to pretend it's a set of 13 images! See the images here.
Lynette Seid, who is both CFO and chief of medical records at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego, and Dr. Eugene Rhee, chief of urology, told me a bizarre story to explain the absence of my digital X-rays on Kaiser San Diego's main computer, but the story has fallen apart.
Dr. Paul Bernstein and Dr. Andrew Golden started a review of this episode, but canceled the review within a week.
Lynette Seid is legally required to give me copies of my X-ray images. To avoid doing that, she created a CD which she claimed was scanned thermal paper images!
Much to the consternation of Seid and Rhee, the innocent underlings at Kaiser keep telling the truth. The technician who did my VUCG said my digital video would be uploaded to the main Kaiser computer. It never was. A clerk in Radiology records said that I could have a CD of the digital video for $10. I sent the money, but I didn't get the CD.
For some reason, doctors wanted to conceal the VUCG results. I assume that the reason is the typical one at Kaiser: saving money by denying care.
When I complained, Kaiser wrote to me that the digital video I had witnessed on the computer monitor WAS NOT SAVED--except that a few THERMAL PAPER IMAGES HAD BEEN PRINTED OUT DURING THE PROCEDURE.
In fact, the test had been done on a brand new digital fluoroscopy machine at the brand new Garfield Specialty Center in San Diego. The Center had had a grand opening one week earlier, and Kaiser Permanente's newsletter boasted that all X-rays were digital. In fact, the "thermal paper" images were simply digital images printed out on high quality paper.
This month, Ms. Seid's subordinate "SR" got caught flat-footed because she had no idea she was supposed to claim that X-rays were saved only on thermal paper in 2011. SR accidentally revealed information that Ms. Seid had gone to a great deal of trouble to conceal.
On April 7, 2014 I submitted a request to Radiology Records for the VUCG digital video.
Strangely, I was told by multiple individuals on April 7, 2014 that they had "still" images for a procedure done on me on June 16 2011. I did not have any procedure on June 16, 2011. My VUCG procedure was on June 15, 2011.
April 7, 2014
When I turned in my request at the radiology window, the young man who was sitting there immediately started preparing a CD. I asked if it was a digital video that he was preparing. He said it was a set of 13 still images from a procedure that was dated June 16, 2011. He was going to charge me $15 for the CD—from the wrong date! I said I wanted the digital video from June 15, 2011, not still images dated June 16, 2011.
The young man went to get someone else to talk to me. He went and sat at another desk and waited while a young woman named “V” sat down in his chair.
V asked me, “What are you going to play the CD on?
I was dumbfounded for a moment since this question seemed so bizarre. I was planning to play it on, and upload it to, my computer, but I didn’t understand why she was concerned about this. I figured I was free to do whatever I wanted with it, including using it as a bookmark or a Frisbee.
V asked me again, “What are you going to play the CD on?
I finally shrugged and said, “Whatever I feel like playing it on.”
Van said there was no video.
But then she started talking about VHS tapes. “If it’s on VHS…” she said, but then she didn’t finish her sentence. Perhaps eyebrows knitted and my mouth dropped open when she started talking about VHS tapes.
Van went to get J.
J, who said her title was “a senior”, said, “We don’t have moving videos.”
J said her supervisor is SR, and SR’s supervisor is Mary Hanshaw, who is the ADA for radiology files, but she refused to tell me who Mary Hanshaw’s supervisor is.
She said I should call the two names she gave me, but she didn’t give me phone numbers. Perhaps I was supposed to call out their names loudly?
I waited while J made a call. She wouldn’t give me SR’s phone number. Finally she said SR will call me.
TRANSCRIPT OF PHONE CALL FROM KAISER RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT
SR phone call April 7, 2014
SR called me on my cell phone. She identified herself as “Manager here at Radiology Records.” I was not able to write fast enough to record every single word, but I recorded most of the conversation.
SR: Was your procedure done in urology department?
ML: Yes.
SR: What date?
ML: June 15, 2011.
SR: I have June 16, 2011. I am not aware of any moving video. I know they watch it on fluoroscopy which is like a video camera which is not actually taped.
SR: [With] fluoroscopy you can watch moving images. Those images are not saved by videotape which I think is what you are referring to. Usually they take pictures in between live video fluoroscopy. Fluoroscopy is live X-rays like a video camera. You never record moving images. For that type of procedure it’s not fully reported from beginning to end. Just spot pictures.
ML: “Spot pictures” are X-ray on a film?
SR: Correct.
ML: Do you have some films from my procedure?
SR: I’m not sure. But we don’t have moving videos. If there is anything it would be a film.
ML: Sometimes you do have plain film for people who have VUCGs?
SR: Yes, because we do it a lot on babies. I can find out if there are plain films.
ML: I’d like you to do that.
ML: So there are never any digital videos for VUCGs?
SR: For this particular exam, no. And that’s common practice, not just Kaiser. Angiograms, they tape that.
ML: You know what a VUCG is?
SR: Yes, it’s a voiding urethrocystogram.
ML: And you know for a fact that they don’t make digital videos of them?
SR: I’m 99% positive. We do babies…
ML: How about adults?
SR: I don’t even think they have the capability to do it.
ML: This is the latest technology?
SR: Correct. That’s common practice.
ML: Can you find out if anybody gets digital videos for VUCGs?
SR: I’ve been here for 20 years and it’s something I’ve never known has been done her as well as in the outside community. It’s not a standard of care.
ML: Can you find out?
SR: If it’s done at urology? I would have to call urology.
ML: You have an obligation to produce records if they exist. So you will call me when you find out?
SR: Yes, I will.
ML: Thank you. Bye-bye.
April 8, 2014
Stephanie Ritter called back.
SR: I reached out to the chief of urology and confirmed that we do not tape. You used the word video. We do not tape the full fluoroscopy for VUCGs. Your X-ray jacket is in our main warehouse up in L.A. and we’ve ordered that to be delivered and hope to have it by the end of this week so we can review if there are any images in the jacket. [Maura Larkins’ thought: why would there be an X-ray jacket if there were no images????] They can take plain film pictures between the exam.
ML: Do they use thermal paper?
[I asked this because Dr. Rhee, Lynette Seid, Andrew Golden and everyone else I talked to at Kaiser had previously told me that images from my procedure had only been saved on thermal paper. This bizarre claim was even put in writing.]
SR: No. Thermal paper hasn’t been used in a long time. Thermal paper was used in mammography more than 20 years ago.
ML: There were no digital images saved?
SR: You used the word “video”. There was no taping. That is not procedure.
ML: Are there digital images?
SR: I don’t know if they would be digital.
ML: Is there a possibility they might be digital?
SR: What do you mean by digital? [ML note: SR didn’t allow me to answer that question.] It was probably around the time we started to convert to digital in regular radiology, not necessarily in urology. Southern California, from L.A. down, did start to convert to non-film images.
ML: When you say “converting to non-film”, you mean digital?
SR: Correct. But I want to be careful about what you’re understanding. A film can be converted to digital and digital can be converted to film. [Maura Larkins’ thought: Why would anyone want to convert from digital to film????]
ML: Right now urology never uses digital X-rays or fluoroscopy?
SR: Fluoroscopy and digital are different things. We do not use video cameras.
ML: Fluoroscopy is never digital?
SR: I’m not going to say NO. Depending on type [page 6 begins here]of machine.
ML: Sometimes fluoroscopy is recorded digitally?
SR: I’m not going to answer that because it does not relate to VUCG. For a voiding urethrocystogram there is not recording of fluoroscopy.
ML: You talked to Dr. Rhee?
SR: Yes. I don’t want to mislead you.
ML: You don’t want to mislead me?
SR: Mrs. Larkins, please don’t put words in my mouth. I don’t want to miscommunicate with you.
ML: You said, “I don’t want to mislead you.”
SR: I don’t want to mislead you into something you may not understand due to dynamics of urology department.
ML: You don’t want to mislead me, do you?
SR: Mrs. Larkins, is there anything I can answer?
ML: I want you to answer this: you don’t want to mislead me, do you?
SR: I want to give you correct information. I want you to understand the dynamics of procedures. You should call Mary Hanshaw. They gave you her information.
ML: They gave me her name, but not her number.
SR: [silence]
ML: They gave me her name, but not her number.
SR: [silence]
ML: Hint, hint.
SR: Are you asking me something?
ML: I’m asking for her number.
SR: 619 528 5527. Mary is on vacation.
ML: What is her title?
SR: Director of Radiology.
ML: Who is her supervisor?
SR: Dana Gascay.
ML: What is her position?
SR: Associate Medical Group Administrator. I don’t have her information.
ML: Who is her supervisor?
SR: Jim Malone.
ML: There must be someone between her and Jim Malone.
SR: Nope, there’s not.
ML: If there is an Associate Medical Group Administrator, wouldn’t there be a Medical Group Administrator?
SR: Which is Jim Malone.
ML: I bet sometimes you don’t like your job, do you?
SR: I love my job.
ML: Surely you don’t enjoy telling me these things?
SR: I’m just telling you the truth.
ML: I hope you don’t have to do any more phone calls like this today. It really must be stressful.
SR: Well, you have a wonderful afternoon.
ML: Okay. Bye-bye.
FOLLOW-UP PHONE CALLS TO MARY HANSHAW
I called Mary Hanshaw several times at 619 528 5527.
On April 24, 2014 I called but no person or machine picked up.
On April 25, 2014 I called 619 528 5527 and talked to Elsa, who transferred me to Mary Hanshaw’s answering machine. The recorded message said, “This is Mary Hanshaw, Director of Diagnostic Imaging.”
I left this message: “This is Maura Larkins. On April 7 I submitted a request to view records. 14 days have passed and I still haven’t seen records. It’s supposed to be 5 days. Please call me...”
On May 1, 2014 I called and talked to a man, who transferred me to Mary Hanshaw’s answering machine/voice mail.
I left a message:
This is Maura Larkins. I left a message on April 25 and I haven’t heard back. I made a records request on April 7. I talked to Stephanie Ritter. She said she would check my X-ray chart [I meant to say “jacket”] but she hasn’t gotten back to me. I haven’t heard from her since April 8. Please call me... And please send the records. I believe you are beyond the legal limit for this request.
FOLLOW-UP CALL TO SR:
On May 1, 2014 I called Stephanie Ritter at 619 528 3297. Her personal greeting on her voicemail said she’s out of the office. She continued, “If you need assistance, contact the secretary at 528 5538” or the clerk at 619 528 5417.
Then the message switched to someone else’s voice:
“Sorry, the mailbox belonging to Stephanie Ritter has an extended absence greeting in place and will not accept new messages.”
EMAIL TO LYNETTE SEID:
I sent an email to Lynette Seid on April 24, 2014 telling her that her subordinates were not complying with the law. She has not responded as of May 1, 2014.
If Kaiser were telling the truth about the images of my VUCG, it wouldn't have gone to all the trouble of creating a hoax set of 7 images, with four images appearing twice and one image appearing three times, trying to pretend it's a set of 13 images! See the images here.
Lynette Seid, who is both CFO and chief of medical records at Kaiser Permanente in San Diego, and Dr. Eugene Rhee, chief of urology, told me a bizarre story to explain the absence of my digital X-rays on Kaiser San Diego's main computer, but the story has fallen apart.
Dr. Paul Bernstein and Dr. Andrew Golden started a review of this episode, but canceled the review within a week.
Lynette Seid is legally required to give me copies of my X-ray images. To avoid doing that, she created a CD which she claimed was scanned thermal paper images!
Much to the consternation of Seid and Rhee, the innocent underlings at Kaiser keep telling the truth. The technician who did my VUCG said my digital video would be uploaded to the main Kaiser computer. It never was. A clerk in Radiology records said that I could have a CD of the digital video for $10. I sent the money, but I didn't get the CD.
For some reason, doctors wanted to conceal the VUCG results. I assume that the reason is the typical one at Kaiser: saving money by denying care.
When I complained, Kaiser wrote to me that the digital video I had witnessed on the computer monitor WAS NOT SAVED--except that a few THERMAL PAPER IMAGES HAD BEEN PRINTED OUT DURING THE PROCEDURE.
In fact, the test had been done on a brand new digital fluoroscopy machine at the brand new Garfield Specialty Center in San Diego. The Center had had a grand opening one week earlier, and Kaiser Permanente's newsletter boasted that all X-rays were digital. In fact, the "thermal paper" images were simply digital images printed out on high quality paper.
This month, Ms. Seid's subordinate "SR" got caught flat-footed because she had no idea she was supposed to claim that X-rays were saved only on thermal paper in 2011. SR accidentally revealed information that Ms. Seid had gone to a great deal of trouble to conceal.
On April 7, 2014 I submitted a request to Radiology Records for the VUCG digital video.
Strangely, I was told by multiple individuals on April 7, 2014 that they had "still" images for a procedure done on me on June 16 2011. I did not have any procedure on June 16, 2011. My VUCG procedure was on June 15, 2011.
April 7, 2014
When I turned in my request at the radiology window, the young man who was sitting there immediately started preparing a CD. I asked if it was a digital video that he was preparing. He said it was a set of 13 still images from a procedure that was dated June 16, 2011. He was going to charge me $15 for the CD—from the wrong date! I said I wanted the digital video from June 15, 2011, not still images dated June 16, 2011.
The young man went to get someone else to talk to me. He went and sat at another desk and waited while a young woman named “V” sat down in his chair.
V asked me, “What are you going to play the CD on?
I was dumbfounded for a moment since this question seemed so bizarre. I was planning to play it on, and upload it to, my computer, but I didn’t understand why she was concerned about this. I figured I was free to do whatever I wanted with it, including using it as a bookmark or a Frisbee.
V asked me again, “What are you going to play the CD on?
I finally shrugged and said, “Whatever I feel like playing it on.”
Van said there was no video.
But then she started talking about VHS tapes. “If it’s on VHS…” she said, but then she didn’t finish her sentence. Perhaps eyebrows knitted and my mouth dropped open when she started talking about VHS tapes.
Van went to get J.
J, who said her title was “a senior”, said, “We don’t have moving videos.”
J said her supervisor is SR, and SR’s supervisor is Mary Hanshaw, who is the ADA for radiology files, but she refused to tell me who Mary Hanshaw’s supervisor is.
She said I should call the two names she gave me, but she didn’t give me phone numbers. Perhaps I was supposed to call out their names loudly?
I waited while J made a call. She wouldn’t give me SR’s phone number. Finally she said SR will call me.
TRANSCRIPT OF PHONE CALL FROM KAISER RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT
SR phone call April 7, 2014
SR called me on my cell phone. She identified herself as “Manager here at Radiology Records.” I was not able to write fast enough to record every single word, but I recorded most of the conversation.
SR: Was your procedure done in urology department?
ML: Yes.
SR: What date?
ML: June 15, 2011.
SR: I have June 16, 2011. I am not aware of any moving video. I know they watch it on fluoroscopy which is like a video camera which is not actually taped.
SR: [With] fluoroscopy you can watch moving images. Those images are not saved by videotape which I think is what you are referring to. Usually they take pictures in between live video fluoroscopy. Fluoroscopy is live X-rays like a video camera. You never record moving images. For that type of procedure it’s not fully reported from beginning to end. Just spot pictures.
ML: “Spot pictures” are X-ray on a film?
SR: Correct.
ML: Do you have some films from my procedure?
SR: I’m not sure. But we don’t have moving videos. If there is anything it would be a film.
ML: Sometimes you do have plain film for people who have VUCGs?
SR: Yes, because we do it a lot on babies. I can find out if there are plain films.
ML: I’d like you to do that.
ML: So there are never any digital videos for VUCGs?
SR: For this particular exam, no. And that’s common practice, not just Kaiser. Angiograms, they tape that.
ML: You know what a VUCG is?
SR: Yes, it’s a voiding urethrocystogram.
ML: And you know for a fact that they don’t make digital videos of them?
SR: I’m 99% positive. We do babies…
ML: How about adults?
SR: I don’t even think they have the capability to do it.
ML: This is the latest technology?
SR: Correct. That’s common practice.
ML: Can you find out if anybody gets digital videos for VUCGs?
SR: I’ve been here for 20 years and it’s something I’ve never known has been done her as well as in the outside community. It’s not a standard of care.
ML: Can you find out?
SR: If it’s done at urology? I would have to call urology.
ML: You have an obligation to produce records if they exist. So you will call me when you find out?
SR: Yes, I will.
ML: Thank you. Bye-bye.
April 8, 2014
Stephanie Ritter called back.
SR: I reached out to the chief of urology and confirmed that we do not tape. You used the word video. We do not tape the full fluoroscopy for VUCGs. Your X-ray jacket is in our main warehouse up in L.A. and we’ve ordered that to be delivered and hope to have it by the end of this week so we can review if there are any images in the jacket. [Maura Larkins’ thought: why would there be an X-ray jacket if there were no images????] They can take plain film pictures between the exam.
ML: Do they use thermal paper?
[I asked this because Dr. Rhee, Lynette Seid, Andrew Golden and everyone else I talked to at Kaiser had previously told me that images from my procedure had only been saved on thermal paper. This bizarre claim was even put in writing.]
SR: No. Thermal paper hasn’t been used in a long time. Thermal paper was used in mammography more than 20 years ago.
ML: There were no digital images saved?
SR: You used the word “video”. There was no taping. That is not procedure.
ML: Are there digital images?
SR: I don’t know if they would be digital.
ML: Is there a possibility they might be digital?
SR: What do you mean by digital? [ML note: SR didn’t allow me to answer that question.] It was probably around the time we started to convert to digital in regular radiology, not necessarily in urology. Southern California, from L.A. down, did start to convert to non-film images.
ML: When you say “converting to non-film”, you mean digital?
SR: Correct. But I want to be careful about what you’re understanding. A film can be converted to digital and digital can be converted to film. [Maura Larkins’ thought: Why would anyone want to convert from digital to film????]
ML: Right now urology never uses digital X-rays or fluoroscopy?
SR: Fluoroscopy and digital are different things. We do not use video cameras.
ML: Fluoroscopy is never digital?
SR: I’m not going to say NO. Depending on type [page 6 begins here]of machine.
ML: Sometimes fluoroscopy is recorded digitally?
SR: I’m not going to answer that because it does not relate to VUCG. For a voiding urethrocystogram there is not recording of fluoroscopy.
ML: You talked to Dr. Rhee?
SR: Yes. I don’t want to mislead you.
ML: You don’t want to mislead me?
SR: Mrs. Larkins, please don’t put words in my mouth. I don’t want to miscommunicate with you.
ML: You said, “I don’t want to mislead you.”
SR: I don’t want to mislead you into something you may not understand due to dynamics of urology department.
ML: You don’t want to mislead me, do you?
SR: Mrs. Larkins, is there anything I can answer?
ML: I want you to answer this: you don’t want to mislead me, do you?
SR: I want to give you correct information. I want you to understand the dynamics of procedures. You should call Mary Hanshaw. They gave you her information.
ML: They gave me her name, but not her number.
SR: [silence]
ML: They gave me her name, but not her number.
SR: [silence]
ML: Hint, hint.
SR: Are you asking me something?
ML: I’m asking for her number.
SR: 619 528 5527. Mary is on vacation.
ML: What is her title?
SR: Director of Radiology.
ML: Who is her supervisor?
SR: Dana Gascay.
ML: What is her position?
SR: Associate Medical Group Administrator. I don’t have her information.
ML: Who is her supervisor?
SR: Jim Malone.
ML: There must be someone between her and Jim Malone.
SR: Nope, there’s not.
ML: If there is an Associate Medical Group Administrator, wouldn’t there be a Medical Group Administrator?
SR: Which is Jim Malone.
ML: I bet sometimes you don’t like your job, do you?
SR: I love my job.
ML: Surely you don’t enjoy telling me these things?
SR: I’m just telling you the truth.
ML: I hope you don’t have to do any more phone calls like this today. It really must be stressful.
SR: Well, you have a wonderful afternoon.
ML: Okay. Bye-bye.
FOLLOW-UP PHONE CALLS TO MARY HANSHAW
I called Mary Hanshaw several times at 619 528 5527.
On April 24, 2014 I called but no person or machine picked up.
On April 25, 2014 I called 619 528 5527 and talked to Elsa, who transferred me to Mary Hanshaw’s answering machine. The recorded message said, “This is Mary Hanshaw, Director of Diagnostic Imaging.”
I left this message: “This is Maura Larkins. On April 7 I submitted a request to view records. 14 days have passed and I still haven’t seen records. It’s supposed to be 5 days. Please call me...”
On May 1, 2014 I called and talked to a man, who transferred me to Mary Hanshaw’s answering machine/voice mail.
I left a message:
This is Maura Larkins. I left a message on April 25 and I haven’t heard back. I made a records request on April 7. I talked to Stephanie Ritter. She said she would check my X-ray chart [I meant to say “jacket”] but she hasn’t gotten back to me. I haven’t heard from her since April 8. Please call me... And please send the records. I believe you are beyond the legal limit for this request.
FOLLOW-UP CALL TO SR:
On May 1, 2014 I called Stephanie Ritter at 619 528 3297. Her personal greeting on her voicemail said she’s out of the office. She continued, “If you need assistance, contact the secretary at 528 5538” or the clerk at 619 528 5417.
Then the message switched to someone else’s voice:
“Sorry, the mailbox belonging to Stephanie Ritter has an extended absence greeting in place and will not accept new messages.”
EMAIL TO LYNETTE SEID:
I sent an email to Lynette Seid on April 24, 2014 telling her that her subordinates were not complying with the law. She has not responded as of May 1, 2014.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Kaiser Bungles X-Ray, Girl Suffers, Dad Says
The handling of this X-ray was accidentally bungled; Kaiser also intentionally mishandles X-rays to save money.
January 22, 2013
Kaiser Bungles X-Ray, Girl Suffers, Dad Says
By PHILIP A. JANQUART
Courthouse News
IRVINE, Calif. (CN) - Kaiser's delivery of an X-ray to the wrong doctor resulted in major surgery and a permanent scar for a 14-year-old girl, her father claims in Orange County Court.
Nicole Ley, now 16, had taken two bites of a barbecued hamburger during a family dinner on Jan. 10, 2010, when she felt something lodge in her throat. Attempts were made to clear the unknown object out, but parents Marc and Tina could not see anything. Nicole then began having a hard time breathing and complained of persistent pain. Marc and Tina are insured by Anthem Blue Cross, but rushed their daughter to a Kaiser Permanente hospital because it was the closest to their home.
An x-ray was taken of her throat, but Dr. Nak B. Chhiv said he did not see any foreign objects and that Nicole probably scratched her esophagus while eating the hamburger. He added she would need to "tough it out."
Nicole was cleared to go home and Chhiv told the family the radiologist would look at the x-ray to confirm his findings. They were told the radiologist would call the next day if there were any unforeseen problems.
Four days later, Nicole was still experiencing significant pain. On Jan. 15, 2010, she woke up with a 101.6 degree fever, prompting her mother to take her to the pediatrician. Dr. Michael B. Nestor, a Kaiser emergency room doctor on duty the night Nicole showed up, called while they were en route, explaining that the x-ray was mistakenly put in his in-box. He said he had passed Nicole off to Dr. Chhiv during a shift change and that the x-ray should not have been put in his in-box since he was leaving for vacation. He did not see it until four days later, when he returned.
He then informed Tina he had discovered a foreign object in her daughter's throat and she needed to get her to a hospital. Tina and Nicole raced to Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, where a CT scan revealed the foreign body was lodged dangerously close to her carotid artery. Nicole was transported to Childrens Hospital of Orange County where she stayed for seven days. On Jan. 19, 2010, cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Brian Palafox, performed surgery to remove a metallic bristle that had migrated, penetrated through the esophagus and abutted against the carotid artery.
"If proper interpretation of abnormal x-ray findings had been communicated at an earlier date, the metallic foreign body would not have moved/migrated approximately 1 cm abutting carotid artery," the complaint states. "Nicole Ley has suffered very significant physical and emotional injuries. She has suffered with significant depression, nightmares, difficulty concentrating and became withdrawn and introverted."
She was consequently diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and has been receiving treatment from a psychotherapist, according to the complaint.
"Her school work suffered and she later switched schools," the complaint states. "She has felt very self-conscious about the scar on her neck and consulted with a plastic surgeon about scar revision."
Plaintiff is suing for negligence and is seeking general, incidental and consequential damages, in addition to medical and related expenses, and loss of earnings and earning capacity.
Ronald E. Harrington of Irvine represents Ley.
January 22, 2013
Kaiser Bungles X-Ray, Girl Suffers, Dad Says
By PHILIP A. JANQUART
Courthouse News
IRVINE, Calif. (CN) - Kaiser's delivery of an X-ray to the wrong doctor resulted in major surgery and a permanent scar for a 14-year-old girl, her father claims in Orange County Court.
Nicole Ley, now 16, had taken two bites of a barbecued hamburger during a family dinner on Jan. 10, 2010, when she felt something lodge in her throat. Attempts were made to clear the unknown object out, but parents Marc and Tina could not see anything. Nicole then began having a hard time breathing and complained of persistent pain. Marc and Tina are insured by Anthem Blue Cross, but rushed their daughter to a Kaiser Permanente hospital because it was the closest to their home.
An x-ray was taken of her throat, but Dr. Nak B. Chhiv said he did not see any foreign objects and that Nicole probably scratched her esophagus while eating the hamburger. He added she would need to "tough it out."
Nicole was cleared to go home and Chhiv told the family the radiologist would look at the x-ray to confirm his findings. They were told the radiologist would call the next day if there were any unforeseen problems.
Four days later, Nicole was still experiencing significant pain. On Jan. 15, 2010, she woke up with a 101.6 degree fever, prompting her mother to take her to the pediatrician. Dr. Michael B. Nestor, a Kaiser emergency room doctor on duty the night Nicole showed up, called while they were en route, explaining that the x-ray was mistakenly put in his in-box. He said he had passed Nicole off to Dr. Chhiv during a shift change and that the x-ray should not have been put in his in-box since he was leaving for vacation. He did not see it until four days later, when he returned.
He then informed Tina he had discovered a foreign object in her daughter's throat and she needed to get her to a hospital. Tina and Nicole raced to Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, where a CT scan revealed the foreign body was lodged dangerously close to her carotid artery. Nicole was transported to Childrens Hospital of Orange County where she stayed for seven days. On Jan. 19, 2010, cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Brian Palafox, performed surgery to remove a metallic bristle that had migrated, penetrated through the esophagus and abutted against the carotid artery.
"If proper interpretation of abnormal x-ray findings had been communicated at an earlier date, the metallic foreign body would not have moved/migrated approximately 1 cm abutting carotid artery," the complaint states. "Nicole Ley has suffered very significant physical and emotional injuries. She has suffered with significant depression, nightmares, difficulty concentrating and became withdrawn and introverted."
She was consequently diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and has been receiving treatment from a psychotherapist, according to the complaint.
"Her school work suffered and she later switched schools," the complaint states. "She has felt very self-conscious about the scar on her neck and consulted with a plastic surgeon about scar revision."
Plaintiff is suing for negligence and is seeking general, incidental and consequential damages, in addition to medical and related expenses, and loss of earnings and earning capacity.
Ronald E. Harrington of Irvine represents Ley.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Flashblind: patient exposes Dr. Paul Bernstein's policy of giving lots of X-rays, but concealing the results
Dr. Paul Bernstein has scruples. He often sets them aside to pull in the big bucks as Kaiser Permanente Medical Director in San Diego, but it seems to trouble him when he harms patients in pursuit of profits.
His latest book seems to be an effort to find doctors that are worse than he is. Ironically, he relied on the Freedom of Information Act to research the book, while he supports the falsification and concealment of Kaiser medical records.
San Diego Medical Director and Author Exposes Government Experiments in New Release
Hollywood Industry
August 01, 2012
Los Angeles, California (PRWEB)
Dr. Paul Bernstein will be introducing his newest, controversial release, Flashblind, in La Jolla, discussing the grim truth behind the work of fiction, as revealed in his extensive research via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Flashblind, a medical thriller, brings to light the actual history of government sponsored radiation experiments on American citizens throughout the atomic age. Funded by the US Department of Energy--the same agency responsible for testing nuclear bombs--carefully guarded genetic research experiments were done in secret for decades.
Award-winning author and medical director for Kaiser Permenente in San Diego, Dr. Paul Bernstein will discuss this new and highly acclaimed novel, "Flashblind," at a book signing on Sunday, August 5, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Warwick's at 7812 Girard Avenue, La Jolla. Here's another story about how Kaiser handles X-rays and reports.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Kaiser Permanente alters X-rays and CT scans
I find this story completely credible, shocking though it is. Kaiser made up a silly story about my VUCG X-rays not having been saved in any permanent form. Kaiser has refused to provide the X-rays to my new non-Kaiser doctors. Kaiser also created a false report about the results, apparently so I wouldn't ask for any treatment.
Kaiser hires a lot of people whose job is to talk employers into using Kaiser for their employees' health insurance. It appears that one of the services they offer to employers is to create deceptive reports about patients to save money for employers. I never would have believed this if I hadn't seen it myself.
Kaiser Permanente alters X-rays and CT scans
Gripevine.com
May 23, 2012
Hello and thank you for following my "gripevine gripes" against Kaiser Permanente. I hope you have reviewed Kaiser Permanente hid my Colon & Lung Cancer from me for 4 1/2 years, parts 1 through 4.
I thought I would take this time to show you that some of Kaiser Permanente doctors lied to me and said they were doing a Endoscopy on me to remove 2 stones stuck in the Bile Duct, when they actually did a Colonoscopy and removed a Cancerous Tumor in my Upper Colon.
The problem was that these Kaiser doctors actually flipped me over at Kaiser Hayward, after the Colonoscopy that they lied about and took an X-ray and replaced all my previous X-rays. Why? To cover up my injuries for California Workers Compensation and my company that I worked for called Clark Pest Control.
From the very start Kaiser Permanente doctors lied on a Radiology Report that showed I had a Tumor in my Colon and stated on the Radiology Report within normal limits and just ignored the Tumor. Then they did a Spirometry Test where the results came back that I had a Moderate Obstructive Defect and they changed the results 13 days after the test to a Mild Defect. The Dr. Glassberg came in and acted like she couldn't access my Kaiser Permanente file, when she could have. Then she wrote this 8-30-07 letter blaming my Mild Defect (Asthma) on my Obesity.
Then I was scheduled to go to a Pulmonary Qualified Medical Evaluator for my Lung Injury that I sustained at Clark Pest Control. I will put down a few pages so you can see the Fraud behind this set up by Kaiser Permanente in Fremont and the State of California.
But I want you to see that when Kaiser Permanente replaced my old X-rays and reports, what they made a mistake with.
The Kaiser Santa Clara X-ray from June 26th, 2007 that Kaiser Hayward sent them, shows that I had a Hernia, but I didn't have my Umbillical Hernia at that time. They forgot that if they replace the old X-ray it will show the Umbillical Hernia. Funny!
Kaiser hires a lot of people whose job is to talk employers into using Kaiser for their employees' health insurance. It appears that one of the services they offer to employers is to create deceptive reports about patients to save money for employers. I never would have believed this if I hadn't seen it myself.
Kaiser Permanente alters X-rays and CT scans
Gripevine.com
May 23, 2012
Hello and thank you for following my "gripevine gripes" against Kaiser Permanente. I hope you have reviewed Kaiser Permanente hid my Colon & Lung Cancer from me for 4 1/2 years, parts 1 through 4.
I thought I would take this time to show you that some of Kaiser Permanente doctors lied to me and said they were doing a Endoscopy on me to remove 2 stones stuck in the Bile Duct, when they actually did a Colonoscopy and removed a Cancerous Tumor in my Upper Colon.
The problem was that these Kaiser doctors actually flipped me over at Kaiser Hayward, after the Colonoscopy that they lied about and took an X-ray and replaced all my previous X-rays. Why? To cover up my injuries for California Workers Compensation and my company that I worked for called Clark Pest Control.
From the very start Kaiser Permanente doctors lied on a Radiology Report that showed I had a Tumor in my Colon and stated on the Radiology Report within normal limits and just ignored the Tumor. Then they did a Spirometry Test where the results came back that I had a Moderate Obstructive Defect and they changed the results 13 days after the test to a Mild Defect. The Dr. Glassberg came in and acted like she couldn't access my Kaiser Permanente file, when she could have. Then she wrote this 8-30-07 letter blaming my Mild Defect (Asthma) on my Obesity.
Then I was scheduled to go to a Pulmonary Qualified Medical Evaluator for my Lung Injury that I sustained at Clark Pest Control. I will put down a few pages so you can see the Fraud behind this set up by Kaiser Permanente in Fremont and the State of California.
But I want you to see that when Kaiser Permanente replaced my old X-rays and reports, what they made a mistake with.
The Kaiser Santa Clara X-ray from June 26th, 2007 that Kaiser Hayward sent them, shows that I had a Hernia, but I didn't have my Umbillical Hernia at that time. They forgot that if they replace the old X-ray it will show the Umbillical Hernia. Funny!
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Is Kaiser Permanente violating the California Business and Professions Code with false advertising about digitized x-rays?
Kaiser Permanente boasts about its new Garfield Specialty Center in its October 2011 e-newsletter: "All our X-rays and imaging tests are digital and become part of your electronic health record, which can help speed diagnosis and treatment."
But Kaiser Member Services wrote to me on August 3, 2011 that x-rays taken on June 15, 2011 at the Garfield Specialty Center were not available to my urologist or to Emergency Room doctors because they were saved only on thermal paper! No images at all were available to Emergency Room doctors.
Kaiser wrote:
"Per our records I understand that you spoke with...the X-ray Department on July 11, 2011 where it was explained that the urethra cystogram could not be downloaded to a CD due to it was not digitized. Urethra cystogram was not saved electronically and
we can provide medical record on thermal paper."
(Click on image to enlarge.)
Which is it, Kaiser? Are all x-rays at Garfield Specialty Center digitized, or did Kaiser move some old machines into the new building, and those machines can only save x-rays on thermal paper? Obviously, both claims can not be true.
Kaiser tampered with medical records and created a bizarre series of paper images to hide x-rays. Kaiser was determined to prove that the patient did not have the problem she claimed to have. This plan was written down by the referring doctor in an email to the Department Administrator before the procedure was done. I have written to Dave Horton and Rhianne Steins, who head the Diagnositic Imaging Department, but I've received no response. Chief Financial Officer Lynette Seid was kind enough to respond to me, but she admits she doesn't know much about the issue, and says it will take her two to four weeks to sort it out. And as one can see from the above image, Liza Zinola, Service Area Assistant Administrator for Member Services, is actively supporting the cover-up.
What possessed some Kaiser administrator to plan such an incompetent hoax? I think they are used to having patients who ask no questions.
Here's the Kaiser article:
Garfield Specialty Center in full bloom
Partners in Health e-newsletter
October 2011
If you live near Central San Diego, you’ll be happy to hear that our Garfield Specialty Center is now fully open for business.
Our Garfield Specialty Center “offers a convenient, central location for members to receive same-day surgery and medical care from 58 specialty care providers,” says Mary Ann Barnes, senior vice president and executive director of Kaiser Permanente in San Diego.
(Click on image to enlarge.)
The Ambulatory Surgery Center has four operating suites, six gastrointestinal procedure suites, and pre- and post-operative patient care areas. Other services available include:
orthopedics
podiatry
pain management
plastic surgery
general surgery
head and neck surgery
audiology
gastroenterology
urology
pharmacy
laboratory
radiology
All our X-rays and imaging tests are digital and become part of your electronic health record, which can help speed diagnosis and treatment. In our laboratory, full-spin, adjustable chairs enable technicians to draw blood from either arm. Exam rooms are built for greater noise reduction and patient privacy.
“We’ve designed this building with a lot of windows and natural light,” says Barnes. “Our designers paid close attention to creating a comfortable, healing environment for our patients.”
The Garfield Specialty Center is at 5893 Copley Drive, about 8.5 miles from our San Diego Medical Center.
But Kaiser Member Services wrote to me on August 3, 2011 that x-rays taken on June 15, 2011 at the Garfield Specialty Center were not available to my urologist or to Emergency Room doctors because they were saved only on thermal paper! No images at all were available to Emergency Room doctors.
Kaiser wrote:
"Per our records I understand that you spoke with...the X-ray Department on July 11, 2011 where it was explained that the urethra cystogram could not be downloaded to a CD due to it was not digitized. Urethra cystogram was not saved electronically and
we can provide medical record on thermal paper."
(Click on image to enlarge.)
Which is it, Kaiser? Are all x-rays at Garfield Specialty Center digitized, or did Kaiser move some old machines into the new building, and those machines can only save x-rays on thermal paper? Obviously, both claims can not be true.
Kaiser tampered with medical records and created a bizarre series of paper images to hide x-rays. Kaiser was determined to prove that the patient did not have the problem she claimed to have. This plan was written down by the referring doctor in an email to the Department Administrator before the procedure was done. I have written to Dave Horton and Rhianne Steins, who head the Diagnositic Imaging Department, but I've received no response. Chief Financial Officer Lynette Seid was kind enough to respond to me, but she admits she doesn't know much about the issue, and says it will take her two to four weeks to sort it out. And as one can see from the above image, Liza Zinola, Service Area Assistant Administrator for Member Services, is actively supporting the cover-up.
What possessed some Kaiser administrator to plan such an incompetent hoax? I think they are used to having patients who ask no questions.
Here's the Kaiser article:
Garfield Specialty Center in full bloom
Partners in Health e-newsletter
October 2011
If you live near Central San Diego, you’ll be happy to hear that our Garfield Specialty Center is now fully open for business.
Our Garfield Specialty Center “offers a convenient, central location for members to receive same-day surgery and medical care from 58 specialty care providers,” says Mary Ann Barnes, senior vice president and executive director of Kaiser Permanente in San Diego.
(Click on image to enlarge.)
The Ambulatory Surgery Center has four operating suites, six gastrointestinal procedure suites, and pre- and post-operative patient care areas. Other services available include:
orthopedics
podiatry
pain management
plastic surgery
general surgery
head and neck surgery
audiology
gastroenterology
urology
pharmacy
laboratory
radiology
All our X-rays and imaging tests are digital and become part of your electronic health record, which can help speed diagnosis and treatment. In our laboratory, full-spin, adjustable chairs enable technicians to draw blood from either arm. Exam rooms are built for greater noise reduction and patient privacy.
“We’ve designed this building with a lot of windows and natural light,” says Barnes. “Our designers paid close attention to creating a comfortable, healing environment for our patients.”
The Garfield Specialty Center is at 5893 Copley Drive, about 8.5 miles from our San Diego Medical Center.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Medical technology at Kaiser Permanente
Link: x-rays saved only on thermal paper at new Kaiser Garfield Specialty Center in San Diego
Invasive cancer urinary Tests can have little diagnostic value, Kaiser Permanente study warns
Hematuria, or blood in the urine can trigger a battery of urinary tests for cancer are invasive and unnecessarily expose patients to radiation, but the procedures contribute little to the diagnosis, according to a study conducted byhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif Department of research & evaluation of the Kaiser Permanente Southern California published in May the issue of the Journal of Urology...
VCUG is a common x-ray that shows the bladder and lower urinary tract. Using motion x-ray called fluoroscopy, the radiologist is able to view and assess the function of the bladder and urinary tract, watching as the bladder is filled and emptied with a water-based contrast solution.
Urol Radiol. 1992;14(1):56-8.
Digital radiography in urologic imaging: radiation dose reduction on urethrocystography.
Digital luminescent radiography (DLR) is a new form of digital radiographic technology which can be used as an alternative to conventional radiologic systems; it replaces conventional screen-film systems by photostimulable phosphorus. Due to the linear dynamic range of photostimulable phosphorus, x-ray examinations can be performed with significantly lower radiation exposure. In this study radiation dose was reduced by about 90% using DLR for urethrocystography.
Invasive cancer urinary Tests can have little diagnostic value, Kaiser Permanente study warns
Hematuria, or blood in the urine can trigger a battery of urinary tests for cancer are invasive and unnecessarily expose patients to radiation, but the procedures contribute little to the diagnosis, according to a study conducted byhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif Department of research & evaluation of the Kaiser Permanente Southern California published in May the issue of the Journal of Urology...
VCUG is a common x-ray that shows the bladder and lower urinary tract. Using motion x-ray called fluoroscopy, the radiologist is able to view and assess the function of the bladder and urinary tract, watching as the bladder is filled and emptied with a water-based contrast solution.
Urol Radiol. 1992;14(1):56-8.
Digital radiography in urologic imaging: radiation dose reduction on urethrocystography.
Digital luminescent radiography (DLR) is a new form of digital radiographic technology which can be used as an alternative to conventional radiologic systems; it replaces conventional screen-film systems by photostimulable phosphorus. Due to the linear dynamic range of photostimulable phosphorus, x-ray examinations can be performed with significantly lower radiation exposure. In this study radiation dose was reduced by about 90% using DLR for urethrocystography.
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