New Yorkers For Patient & Family Empowerment Inc

SUMMARY OF PATIENT & FAMILY'S PROGRAM ACTIVITIES 2015 A. HOSPITAL VISITING POLICIES. WORKING WITH THE INSTITUTE FOR PATIENT- AND FAMILY-CENTERED CARE (IPFCC), PATIENT & FAMILY DESIGNED A PROGRAM FOR A HOSPITAL VISITING POLICY PROJECT WHICH WILL PRODUCE AN UPDATED SICK, SCARED AND SEPARATED FROM LOVED ONES REPORT FOCUSING ON NEW YORK CITY - WITH A BEFORE-AND-AFTER ASSESSMENT OF VISITING POLICIES IN CONNECTION WITH AN IPFCC SPECIAL TRAINING AND FOLLOW-UP EFFORT FOR PARTICIPATING HOSPITALS. B. NEW YORK PHYSICIAN PROFILE WEBSITE AND DISCLOSURE PROGRAM. PATIENT & FAMILY DEVELOPED A SET OF WRITTEN SUGGESTIONS FOR DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH STAFF ABOUT HOW TO IMPROVE THE NEW YORK PHYSICIAN PROFILE WEBSITE AND DISCLOSURE PROGRAM. C. NURSING HOME ARBITRATION ISSUE. PATIENT & FAMILY PRODUCED AN AMICUS BRIEF, WITH HELP FROM MFY LEGAL SERVICES IN AN APPEAL OF A NEW YORK COUNTY CASE THAT CENTERED ON THE RIGHT OF A NURSING HOME RESIDENT TO BRING A CLAIM IN COURT RATHER THAN BEING FORCED INTO PRIVATE ARBITRATION. IN ADDITION, OUR LETTER TO THE EDITOR IN RESPONSE TO A SERIES EXPOSING THE PROLIFERATION OF ARBITRATION AGREEMENTS AND THEIR HARMFUL IMPACTS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES ON NOVEMBER 4. PATIENT & FAMILY ALSO DEVELOPED COMMENTS ON A CENTER FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES REQUEST FOR INPUT ON THE QUESTION OF MANDATORY ARBITRATION AGREEMENTS IN NURSING HOME CONTRACTS. D. SAFE STAFFING AND SAFE LIFTING AND MOVING IN HEALTHCARE. PATIENT & FAMILY PARTICIPATED BY INVITATION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S SAFE PATIENT HANDLING WORKGROUP TO DEVELOP A SET OF HELPFUL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE NEW SAFE PATIENT HANDLING ACT, FOR SAFE LIFTING AND MOVING IN HEALTHCARE. PATIENT & FAMILY'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALSO SERVED AS A PANELIST AT THE SAFE PATIENT HANDLING CONFERENCE HELD IN SARATOGA SPRINGS ON OCTOBER 28 AND 29. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MATTEI RECEIVED THE PAUL E. HARENBERG AWARD AT THE NY STATEWIDE SENIOR ACTION COUNCIL'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON OCTOBER 14, BASED LARGELY ON THIS WORK. IN ADDITION, PATIENT & FAMILY COMPLETED AND RELEASED A REPORT, ALL HANDS ON DECK, REGARDING THE NEED FOR SAFE LEVELS OF FRONTLINE STAFFING IN HOSPITALS AND URGING HOSPITALS TO POST THEIR STAFFING LEVELS ON THEIR WEBSITES. E. NURSING HOME SAFETY; HOSPITAL DISCHARGE PLANNING. PATIENT & FAMILY DEVELOPED A SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INVESTIGATION BY THE NYS COMPTROLLER REGARDING DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH OVERSIGHT OF SAFETY IN NURSING HOMES, AND MET WITH THE COMPTROLLER'S STAFF REGARDING AN AUDIT OF ENFORCEMENT MATTERS. PATIENT & FAMILY COMPLETED ITS RESEARCH ON FAMILY CAREGIVERS AND THE NEED FOR HOSPITALS TO BETTER ENGAGE WITH THEM, ESPECIALLY IN HOSPITAL DISCHARGE PLANNING.