The Quaid Foundation – Chasing Zero
The Quaid Foundation was established in 2007 by Dennis and Kimberly Quaid shortly after their 12 day old twins received an accidental overdose of Heparin. I placed the link to the Foundation web site under the Patient Safety section of this site's blogroll at that time.
Several times since 2007 I have considered deleting the link because there were few updates. I wondered whether the Quaids had lost their passion for patient safety. Even with a well-publicized case behind them, I imagine it is a rather daunting task to take on large, complex, healthcare issues and hope to make a difference. Not to mention that, happily, the Quaids are busy raising two healthy toddlers, Thomas Boone and Zoe Grace.
Recently however, things have changed. The Quaid Foundation has joined forces with TMIT (the Texas Medical Institute of Technology) and has a new web site address: http://www.safetyleaders.org/quaid/.
CNN's Anderson Cooper recently interviewed Mr. Quaid, and The Discovery Channel is airing Chasing Zero, a documentary dealing with preventing medical harm.
Regarding Chasing ZeroThe TMIT/Safety Leaders web site states:
A made-for-TV documentary, 55 minutes long and entitled Chasing Zero: Winning the War on Healthcare Harm, will be shown four times globally beginning April 2010 on the main Discovery Channel. After it has aired, a commercial-free DVD will be produced and distributed for free to all U.S. hospitals by TMIT, and will be sent to the chairmen of the governance boards and their CEOs. A second hour of content composed of digital short stories and concept messages will be added to the DVD.
Watch the trailer.
I'm happy to see that the Quaids have apparently not lost their passion for patient safety after all.
Trudi McDonald says:
April 26th, 2010 at 6:34 am
This website is outstanding. But, does not go far enough with the advent of the the HC bill just passed into law. Before its passing, hospitals, doctors, administrators, and nurses had to adhere with low standards. By standardizing patient care through simple measures, increased lives can be managed, or more deaths will follow. However, no where is there a mention of “Nursing care” and their low level of patient care. I had to “lead” my own self & medical care by refusing to allow “nurses” to give me medication. I requested a “doctor” 7 times in the ER! A 6ft tall nurse came into my ER room, and by force wanted to medicate me. When I refused, they wanted to mediate me with Xanex. Because I had not seen a real “doctor” in the ER, I left there immediately. That 6ft nurse continued to intimidate, and then harassed me to the door as I left th ER. All ER’s must have a doctor in attendance, this is a law! Hospitals are skirting the edge of the law by stating “there is always a doctor on staff in the hospital.” I know how to be a patient because I’ve had 2 heart attacks. I took charge of my medical care by listening closely to my Heart Doctor who has since passed on. Dr. Dennish, told me it was my personal responsibility to take charge of all my medical care, and I did. Most people are afraid to do such. When will your org. and website, include a series of “bad” hospital care with pertinent care from patients only? This subject is critical to consumers that are at the highest risk everywhere. I was called a “bitch” as I walked out of that hospitals ER.
Kathy Larson says:
October 4th, 2010 at 11:58 am
On Sept 22nd, I was in for surgery on a venous aneurysm.
The anestheseiologist gave me a spinal, left the OR and the nurse anesthetist injected a “mislabeled” drug in my IV. It was Atracurium, a paralying drug. It stopped my breathing and because I was paralyzed, I couldn’t tell anyone of my distress. I was conscious, hearing & seeing, and in a state of complete terror.
It turns out that the Nurse A. “drew up an labeled” the drug herself. Surely, there is a better way to insure this doesn’t happen again !
Chris Peck says:
October 7th, 2011 at 6:03 pm
Last year the CVS pharmacy gave me twice the dose of heparin, I was on that for5 days then had to be hospitalised and needed emergency surgery for a ruptured colon.
The surgeon told my family that he could not do the surgery since my blood was so thin it was off the charts
After two days of taking plazma my blood was barely on the chart but I was going septic sto the surgeon had to go in. He informed my family not to expect me to survive
CVS said oh well we will try not to do that again.
They never even informed the State of Texas that they screwed up so now I have to tell the state
The hospitals make some mistakes but the pharmacy is gona kill you!
Barbara LaMore says:
January 29th, 2012 at 11:36 pm
Warning ! Be very careful if you are required to administer Lovenox. The syringes are not scaled. If you are prescribed .2mls of Lovenox, You will receive pre-drawn syringes of .3mls of Lovenox. You will need to find a vessel/ measuring device in order to discard .1ml of Lovenox to ensure the proper dose is administered . I notified Sanofi that their company should include a measuring device for discarding unwanted medicine to ensure the accurate prescribed dose of medication is administered. By using a scaled syringe filled with .1ml of water : I finally found that the center of my plastic compass used for geometrical measurements in Math held .1ml of Lovenox. I was able to then discard the unwanted amount of medication and administer the proper dose of Lovenox to ensure my child’s safety. Talk about the room for medication errors!!!!!! Why is this allowed???
Barbara LaMore says:
January 29th, 2012 at 11:50 pm
I went to a Walgreen Pharmacy unfamiliar to me, since our preferred Walgreen pharmacy was unable to fill my son’s prescription of Lovenox. I asked the Pharmacist ” Are there any special directions I need to be aware of?” He stated “Just give one syringe Twice daily (am & pm) . I stated ,”OK, I am not familiar with this med so I will sit and read the instructions” If I had listened to the pharmacist; I would have given my son .1ml TOO much of Lovenox at each administration( twice daily). I made sure that the Pharmacist was aware that he had given me the wrong dose to administer and I notified Walgreens Pharmacy also. Always read the instructions – You are the first line of defense!!
Barbara LaMore says:
January 30th, 2012 at 12:05 am
I was a kidney donor many years ago. I was left sitting in a chair as my bedding was taken and then never replaced . I was left without any ability to reach the call button. I had no pain meds administered ,nothing to eat or drink for many hours.I was crying in pain and agony when my husband came to my rescue. He went into the hall and yelled”so you throw away the donor once you take the organ”%&%#! As it was I had been in surgery 4hrs longer than I was suppose to be. When I emerged I had been gutted. the incision was not small in fact it went from my sternum to my belly button. When my husband and I asked what had happened we were never told . Along with my DR’S , I was unable to obtain my records for 7 yrs. Even then there was no explanation for the lengthy surgical stay. Nor was there any explanation for the large incision or the cut to my diaphragm.We trust total strangers with our lives. We teach our children not to.