Share Your Health Care Stories With AARP
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2007-06-29 15:16:57.562180-04:00
AARP has been collecting a myriad of health care stories as part of Divided We Fail, and using them to get results.
Three years ago, Marion Costa of Red Bank went to the hospital for a serious but treatable condition. During her hospital stay the IV connector used by hospital staff to administer blood transfusions was left in her arm for twice the number of days originally prescribed. The connector became infected and Marion acquired a life-threatening bacteria known as MRSA. Weeks of antibiotics, blood transfusions, and other treatments followed, and the effects of her infection continue to cause her discomfort. Costa considers it a miracle that she survived.
Edie Bickoff told the story of her life partner Rich Flagg, who was diagnosed with a tumor in his left lung. On the advice of his pulmonologist he entered elective surgery to remove the tumorous part of the lung. However, the surgical team misread the x-ray and removed 40 percent of his healthy lung instead, with fatal results.
Costa and Bickoff's powerful stories have been very influential in AARP New Jersey's effort to require public reporting of hospital-acquired infections and preventable medical errors.
Costa even testified before the New Jersey Senate and Assembly Health Committees. Because they took the time to share their experiences with AARP, hospitals could become cleaner and safer for everyone.
We hope that you will share your thoughts, ideas, experiences and concerns regarding health care and financial security. By telling your story you can help AARP work to raise awareness among policy makers and opinion leaders about these important issues.
With your permission, AARP will post the most compelling personal stories on our Web site and possibly in our publications. We need you to be an ambassador for AARP and encourage your family and friends to visit our Divided We Fail Web site and share their ideas and stories, too.
AARP needs to advance this social movement and we need your help. We hope that we can use your voice to urge candidates and elected officials to end gridlock and develop common sense solutions for better health care and financial security for all Americans.
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