Blog

June 9 9:44 AM

A busy morning, and a satisfying one. The news report on unsafe practices in outpatient surgery centers from ABC is making the rounds - it's on our home page - and the article, "Infection Control Assessment of Ambulatory Surgery Centers," co-written by many of our friends, came out today in JAMA. Contact our executive director, Steve Langan, at 402.659.6343 or steve@HONOReform.org, and he will send you a copy.

I am so grateful for friends throughout the country who are helping to make a difference. Thank you for validating the struggle of so many of us who have been affected by unsafe practices.

One of the nurse anesthesists involved in the Las Vegas outbreak was arrested today. And there was a an excellent story by Luis Fabregas, titled "Syringe reuse failed to surface in Children's Hospital records," published yesterday. If any of the editors in Pittsburgh happen upon my blog, will you please - please - consider the opinion piece I wrote and sent to you?

I also responded about the outbreak of hepatitis B at the free dental clinic in West Virginia...and sent that to editor Jake Womer.

Our committee meets at noon today - full steam ahead on our November 12 awareness and fundraising event in Fremont.

June 3 10:51 AM

A report today from the coordinator of the One & Only Campaign: 800 orders, from as far away as Ireland and New Zealand. I am so proud of the efforts of the Safe Injection Practices Coalition...clearly becoming noticed by people who want and need this valuable - and life saving - information!

May 27 11:26 AM

On the first day of the roll out of the One and Only Campaign, we had 192 requests! Notices of the release of the video appeared in over 100 web postings. Thanks again to the SIPC for all your hard work and dedication!

May 26 6:22 PM

Something I can cross off my bucket list: I was on the Tom Becka Show today on KFAB in Omaha. And part of an article that appeared in the Omaha World-Herald today - and one that will be out in the Las Vegas Review-Journal - all of the debut of the One and Only Campaign video. I believe Dr. Michael Bell, narrator of the video, will also be part of the Las Vegas story, written by reporter Paul Harasim. KETV 7 in Omaha has invited us to be part of a story; we will likely see them tomorrow or Friday. Many thanks to members of the Safe Injection Practices Coalition for allowing me to be one of the spokespersons for our campaign!

May 20 1:16 PM

Good news from our partners on the Safe Injection Practices Coalition: At 9 AM EST on Wednesday, May 26, a multimedia version (video, web site, etc.) will go out on the wire to all editors! Along with Dr. Bell, I am one of the spokespersons. We anticipate a lot of interest from media and the public on the importance of One Needle, One Syringe, Only One Time!

April 13 8:20 AM

Thanks to all of our wonderful partners here in Nevada:

http://www.lvrj.com/news/hepatitis-group-has-eye-on-trial-90726779.html

I am meeting this morning with some of the patients and with one of the attorneys who is working on the majority of the cases. At one o'clock jury selection resumes.


 

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April 12 8:42 PM

Many thanks to attorneys Billie-Marie Morrison, Will Kemp, Robert Adams and colleagues for their help and guidance today as the first civil trial - the jury selection - started today in Las Vegas. This is an important case for many reasons...as it underscores, in yet another way, the importance of maintaining the integrity - from the perspective of providers, patients, and pharmaceutical companies -  of "single use." I will continue to report on tomorrow and Wednesday from Las Vegas.

This article appeared just minutes ago in the Las Vegas Sun: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/apr/12/jury-selection-begins-first-hepatitis-c-case-reach/

Evelyn McKnight presents on Friday in Kearney, Nebraska, to about 350 PAs. Featuring copies of her book A Never Event, HONOReform will have a booth Thursday and Friday at the Kearney Holiday Inn.

March 23 8:50 AM

Our friend Pam Dembski Hart sent us this article: http://wbztv.com/business/Mass.officials.New.2.1576129.html

Partly because of concerns over IV injections, Mt. Sinai Hospital in Sloughton, Mass, is not accepting new admissions.

March 4 8:56 AM

Along with the many people in Las Vegas who were affected by the 2008 outbreak, I am disappointed that Desai's bankruptcy has delayed the civil lawsuits there. We appreciate the work of our friends and advocates in Nevada, and we welcome the opportunity to help in any way we can. It is clear that we must also all work together to change the way outbreak victims are treated within the legal system. Story from Las Vegas Review-Journal below:

http://www.lvrj.com/news/desai-files-bankruptcy--puts-lawsuits-and-malpractice-trial-on-hold-86320967.html

March 3 10:06 AM

"Join HONOReform to Celebrate a Decade of Patient Safety Reform" on Friday, November 12, at the Fremont Golf Club. Our outstanding committee is developing a wonderful event. We welcome our local and national partners and supporters to join us in Fremont. Among the highlights is Evelyn McKnight's announcement of HONOReform's accomplishments in patient safety and education over the last ten years...Call Steve Langan at 402.659.6343 for more information. Details on the event will be announced shortly.

March 2 10:25 AM

With many thanks to the efforts of Lauren Lollini and her colleagues in Colorado...for pushing for the regulations of surgical technicians.

KRISTEN PARKER CASE CALLS FOR NEW LEGISLATION

Lawmakers Call For Regulation Of Surgical Technicians

DENVER -- Colorado lawmakers announced new legislation to help keep patients safe from people like Kristen Parker, the surgical technician convicted of exposing thousands to hepatitis C at Rose Medical Center.

February 26 9:10 AM

I leave Sunday to work on Monday in Atlanta with our wonderful partners at the CDC. As part of the One and Only Campaign materials, we are making the training video. I have the honor of doing the introduction. The video has five segments, each respresenting what what wrong in recent American outbreaks - and how these situations could be, can be, easily avoided. I am ready for my close-up!

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February 20 12:15 PM

The announcement last week of an outbreak in a Tampa area holistic medicine clinic gives us even more reason to visit lawmakers on the Hill on Monday and Tuesday. Our dedicated volunteers from Florida will make visits for us. A full statement by Evelyn in response to the Florida outbreak is on the main page of our web site. Thank you for your support of prevention of unsafe injection practices.

February 1 2:03 PM

Welcome to our expanded Web site!

On behalf of the many people throughout the United States who have been affected by unsafe injection practices and other healthcare acquired infections, thank you for your support. It is our aim to have the updated HONOReform Web site serve as an information hub for patients, consumers, healthcare professionals, advocates, lawmakers, scientists, concerned citizens, and others. To that end, I invite you to please contact us anytime. As we work together to create safe environments that are supported by adequate legislation, please feel free to share your experience, insight and resources. Please call on me anytime.

Evelyn McKnight
Co-founder, President, HONOReform
evelyn@HONOReform.org