Mad Mary
Joined: 24 Jun 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2003 12:01 pm Post subject: Need contacts, help to file a grievance against FMC
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Can anyone tell me the best way to file a formal complaint against my unit and its management? The staff is unable/unwilling to provide me with names or phone numbers of anyone within the company I can contact. I'm in an FMC unit in PA that is horribly understaffed and poorly managed and I am fearing for my safety. I don't know where to begin this process. Any help would be appreciated. I'm looking to contact someone that is above the facility administrator. I have talked to him and it is of little help. I would also like to contact governmental and patient centered organizations that deal with these issues. Thanks in advance!
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ridgerunner
Joined: 11 Jan 2003
Posts: 101
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2003 12:50 pm Post subject: bad unit
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mad mary had you thought about taking a positive attitude first. after all it is your life. have you tried to get the workers to turn the machine facing you and get them to start showing tou how the machine works learning a little each treatment will put you in a position to catch anything before it happens. also you can reset the alarms and become part of your treatment. this will help the workers out and help you. a little honey catches more flies.
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leadsag
Joined: 31 Oct 2002
Posts: 263
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2003 1:00 pm Post subject: grievance policy
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Your unit has to have a grievance policy. You should have received a copy of it. It will outline what steps you are expected to go through. <
><
>If that doesn't satisfy you, contact your ESRD Network. The Contact information for your area is:<
><
>Network 4<
>(Delaware, Pennsylania) <
> <
>ESRD Network Organization #4<
>UPMC Health System<
>200 Lothrop Street<
>Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2582 <
> Phone: 412/647-3428<
>Fax: 412/683-6814<
>email: bfreed@nw4.esrd.net <
><
>I would suggest contacting DEO also. Contact information in on the webpage.<
><
>
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Disgusted
Joined: 26 Jan 2003
Posts: 45
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2003 2:51 pm Post subject: grievance policy
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FMC should have a grievance policy posted on their wall. If the network is not hearing your complaint or not acting upon it, then I suggest DEO to intervene on your behalf. DEO knows the major corporate officers to speak to at FMC to hear your complaint and investigate. If you are physically able to learn more about your treatment such as calculating your dry weight, ensuring technician is inputting correct information and not just silencing the alarm etc then this would make for a better treatment for you. It is the providers duty to make sure that staffing is adequate to not jeopardize your life when you are at dialysis receiving your life-sustaining treatment.
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advocate
Joined: 25 Apr 2003
Posts: 20
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2003 6:44 pm Post subject: The tide is turning!!!
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I am working on a way for patients to become fully trained on their tx so at the very leaste they can protect themselves in dialysis. And, yes, it should be possible to go higher up the ladder if you have the wherewithal to tackle it (many patients can't as they dont have the enmotional reserves, the health or the support). No doubt you will need an attorney as many have tried to go up the ladder only to be turned a deaf ear. Or let's put it this way, you can try the ladder and if you find you cant climb it, you can go for the attorney. If you can afford to hire the attorney in the first place that would be even better. DEO is supposed to provide free legal assistance. You can also start exposing the situation by sending an editorial to the newspaper or getting an interview on a tv Newstalk type program. As I said, there are viable ways to take them on, but most patients don't have the reserves for it.
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ptsw
Joined: 22 Jan 2003
Posts: 24
Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2003 12:52 am Post subject: staffing
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PA has no staffing ratios. There are not many states with dictated ratios. How many staff per patient?? Have you spoken with your administrator, social worker about your concerns? There should be a grievance procedure for your unit. Take those steps first. FMC has a few home training programs in PA.
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Lin
Joined: 28 Oct 2002
Posts: 337
Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2003 2:31 am Post subject: FMC
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I'm in an FMC unit in NJ. They have a grievance policy posted, and we were also given copies. In the waiting area there are
ochures with a "comments to CEO" that we can fill out and send to him. The whole area is part of TARC (trans atlantic renal council) <
>They will turn the machine towards you if you ask at EVERY tx.. they say they like pts. to be educated, but they mean about what they consider pt. stuff; they don't take too kindly to pts. who are educated about "their" stuff, machine settings and such; too bad, lol It's my life, and yours too, so learn about such things. It's what you don't know that can kill you! Lin.
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Contact 000
Joined: 25 Jun 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2003 10:57 pm Post subject: Number to call
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Please feel free to contact me at DE.Org as I have a number of someone in FMC that you can contact. They have been helpful in the past.<
>Arlene
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jfwag
Joined: 11 Jan 2003
Posts: 140
Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2003 3:19 am Post subject: Arlene...
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...I know from personal experience can get you a hold of the proper people at FMC to take of your difficulties. She has done it for me years ago, where a vice-president took the the time call me and we settled our dispute over the phone. Good Luck
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Sick of it
Joined: 11 Feb 2003
Posts: 46
Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2003 4:30 am Post subject: Advocating
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Advocate: DEO is not supposed to provide free legal assistance. We are not a legal referral site. We will advocate on behave of the patient. Also, there are a number of patients that have sought to change their situations and have been able to with some effort on their part solely and sometimes with our help. Don't just take it because you think you must get lawyers involved from the beginning or call a news paper. If it has to do with your health or your safety start finding out what can be done and don't be frightened off. <
><
>There are many levels and avenues to effect change and we at DEO have a lot of viable ways to change your situation that don't require immediate court battles and press involvement. Although, now DEO can speak softly because we do carry some big sticks with us that we will use if provoked.
