Greetings! Welcome to our blog. So glad you found us.
Our hope is that this site generates important conversation among caregivers, administrators, patients, families, educators, policy makers and others on two very important issues in healthcare today: (1) the medical error crisis, and (2) while appreciating that medical errors will never be eliminated, how we respond to patients and family members when unintentional harm results from our care.
In an effort to stimulate this conversation and help lead change, our first educational film The Faces of Medical Error…From Tears to Transparency: The Story of Lewis Blackman addresses both of these important issues. The film premiered last September and in just five short months, The Story of Lewis Blackman has been used as a vehicle for change across the globe. In Chicago, Washington DC, Southern California, Australia, Japan and Europe, audiences have used the film to begin important discussions on medical error and open disclosure.
After helping lead the production of this movie for almost a year, I can say without a doubt creating this educational film has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. Helen Haskell empowered us all with her courage and commitment to improving the quality of healthcare. She has turned her son’s unfortunate story into an educational experience that we can all learn from and something that we will never forget. It is a true testament to the human spirit and the good that people can do despite the tragedy that befalls them. You can view a short trailer of the film on YouTube at www.youtube.com/transparenthealth to appreciate the power of many people like Helen who are committed to making a difference. Please let us know your thoughts on the trailer and the film.
As the world calls for greater accountability in healthcare, it is up to all of us to create change that results in safer, more transparent care. We are making progress towards this goal but there is still much work ahead. Open and honest communication around unintentional harm is an important component in solving the medical error crisis. Transparency allows for the education and empowerment of patients and family members to make informed decisions related to their care, ultimately resulting in better outcomes. Transparency also educates and empowers caregivers and administrators, helping us learn ways to improve our systems and avoid future medical error.
Please continue to visit our blog and share your thoughts. It is our hope this site will stimulate important discussions concerning open and honest communication after harm has occurred resulting in improved safety and reduced risk to patients. We will have thoughts and ideas from caregivers, administrators, policy makers, patient advocates and others from the front lines coming very soon…
Best regards,
Dave Mayer