| RISK MANAGEMENT - PERMANENTE MEDICAL GROUP - OAKLAND |
| Violation of Fed and State Elder Abuse Laws - Patient Abandonment - Fraud |
| 10th of Jul, 2011 by gaston56 |
Let me outline briefly how a set of circumstances, that comprised the most easily resolved medical problem on the planet, has evolved into a tsunami of gigantic proportions.
Approximately three months ago, an elderly man (69 yr old former football player) who had been treated for a deteriorating skeletal condition for ten years, was assigned a temporary replacement
Permanente physician, Dr. Susan Scholey, while his permanent physician, Dr. Gary Rinzler, took a few weeks to rest.
Dr. Scholey decided that, even though X-rays and ten years of ongoing evidence of success with this patient were present, they were insufficient.
Dr. Scholey therefore, placed an assessment requirement before the patient which was not part of the agreement the patient had with his permanent doctor, an assessment that Dr. Scholey could not defend in terms of either science or medical necessity.
Since Dr. Scholey was theoretically in charge in Dr. Rinzler's absence, and since her recommendations to interrupt the ongoing treatment were not overturned by her immediate supervisors, Dr. Scholey terminated care of this elderly patient, including all medications.
Upon the return of Dr. Rinzler to the scene, he attempted to simply take back the patient and resume care. However, Drs Scholey, Midgley, Isaacs and Pearl evidently had decided that the independent assessment was necessary.
That being the case, the patient found the time resources to comply, since the assessment was now being recommended by Dr. Rinzler, if only so that he could resume care. The patient therefore underwent the assessment with Permanente physician, Dr. Kegang Hu.
As the patient knew he would, Dr. Hu agreed wholeheartedly with Dr. Rinzler that the treatments being provided to the patient for ten years were appropriate.
However, when the patient then asked to be returned to Dr. Rinzler's care as agreed, Dr. Scholey advised everyone that the matter had been referred to Permanente RISK MANAGEMENT, in Oakland, CA.
So, now we have a patient paying $5,000 in premiums, still only wanting to resume his decade long medical regimen, having complied with an unnecessary assessment, still being denied the only medical services Kaiser Permanente was providing to him for this premiums.
Actions taken by the patient's Medical Representative thus far:
Medical Licenses of Drs. Scholey, Midgley, Isaacs and Pearl have been reported to the Medical Board of California. The Charge: Violation of the Elder Abuse Laws and Patient Abandonment.
Kaiser Permanent has been reported to the California Department of Managed Health Care for the same violations of law.
The patient himself has repeated constantly that the only thing he requires is a return to the regimen that several physicians prior to Dr. Scholey felt was perfectly appropriate.
It is amazing all the staff time expended and agony generated when the resolution of this issue has always been so simple: Return the patient to the regimen that was in place prior to Dr. Susan Scholey deciding for non-medical, non-scientific reasons that an interruption was appropriate.
The patient has unilaterally indicated to anyone who will listen that he has backed away from a consideration of litigation, and simply and humbly continues to request that the simple treatment for his deteriorating skeletal condition be resumed under the direction of Dr. Gary Rinzler.
Not that it is particularly relevant, but to follow up on the football comment above. The condition was the result of a violent illegal back block during a football game that caused the compromised spinal condition initially. At that time, those kinds of hits were legal.
AGAIN THE SOLUTION IS SIMPLE: A RETURN TO WHAT WAS THREE MONTHS AGO BEFORE DR. SUSAN SCHOLEY decided an elderly man didn't deserve to have his suffering ameliorated.
That the Permanente Medical Group has chosen to ignore this patient's pain and legitimate need in the face of several evaluations which support the patient's long term regimen is testimony that, when an organization loses contact with the human aspects of medicine, all sorts of abuses are possible.
As of this writing, this elderly man, 69 years of age, is without medical services of any kind. He is currently paying Kaiser Permanente $5,000 in premiums for absolutely nothing.
Isn't there a word for that someone in America? |
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This is a wonderful summary of an absurd situation. Too many people involved with solving a simple problem that anyone with common sense could have resolved in one minute.
For heavens sake, just return this older man to the doctor he has confidence is not attempting to abuse him.
Dr. Gary Rinzler has always been the solution.
The patient doesn't need to be spending $5, 000 annually to pay the salaries of Risk Management folks or Dr. Scholey or Dr. so and so.
Three physicians have endorsed his ten year old program. It costs Kaiser Permanente about $1, 000 per year to fund this fellows program, and he pays them $5, 000 for the privilege. Even in America, an 80% profit is handsome.
However, true to American greed, Kaiser seems to be going for a 100% profit. How distasteful is that? After all, how can they overpay these people if all they are taking is 4/5 of the man's money. |
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