Radiology technician falsifies mammography reports

[MillCreek]

http://www.breitbart.com/system/wire/ap_4851fac5294640d99b840698cc8becc5

What a bizarre story this is.  A radiology technician feels she is too busy, hacks the hospital computer system to arbitrarily classify 1300 mammograms as normal, and then ten women discover they have breast cancer visible on the mammograms.  Weird with a capital W.

[Tallpine]

If you want a job done right, do it yourself.

[RevDisk]

Gee, I suspect a particular healthcare risk manager will be creatively swearing as he reads that story. I doubt the hospital will be able to successfully shift liability to the person that deserves it.

[MillCreek]

Gee, I suspect a particular healthcare risk manager will be creatively swearing as he reads that story. I doubt the hospital will be able to successfully shift liability to the person that deserves it.

 

[RevDisk]

Rachael Rapraeger pleaded guilty to 10 misdemeanor charges of reckless conduct, one felony charge of computer forgery. She'll do maybe up to six months in a detention center, then get 10 years on probation and to pay a $12,500 fine. Betcha the hospital settles out of court for six figures per cancer patient, and offers free screening to any of the (hopefully) cancer free women in hopes of not getting sued by them as well.

This despite the fact that I'm reasonably sure somewhere in the policy and procedures is paraphrased "do not falsify results of cancer victims."

[Ned Hamford]

I can imagine the radiologist being a witness against the hospital to speak on the overwhelming workload, the threat of being fired for not keeping up with it, and how there was no one actually making sure the work was properly done.  I know I've seen a lot and heard of even more circumstances where corporations set absurd revenue/production ect expectations and then purposely turn a blind eye to operations; with explicit or implicit threat in the case of failure to meet said expectations.   Sometimes they want folks working off the clock, sometimes they want folks working themselves to death, and sometimes they just want magic or don't care.

Or of course, that radiologist could have just been a lazy sociopath. 

[RevDisk]

I know I've seen a lot and heard of even more circumstances where corporations set absurd revenue/production ect expectations and then purposely turn a blind eye to operations; with explicit or implicit threat in the case of failure to meet said expectations.   Sometimes they want folks working off the clock, sometimes they want folks working themselves to death, and sometimes they just want magic or don't care.

You're forgetting "and cut costs by 5-10% annually." 

[MillCreek]

You're forgetting "and cut costs by 5-10% annually." 

'And improve patient outcomes and quality metrics by 20%'.

[SADShooter]

AKA "Do more, with less, for less."

[Jocassee]

I can imagine the radiologist being a witness against the hospital to speak on the overwhelming workload, the threat of being fired for not keeping up with it, and how there was no one actually making sure the work was properly done.  I know I've seen a lot and heard of even more circumstances where corporations set absurd revenue/production ect expectations and then purposely turn a blind eye to operations; with explicit or implicit threat in the case of failure to meet said expectations.   Sometimes they want folks working off the clock, sometimes they want folks working themselves to death, and sometimes they just want magic or don't care.

Or of course, that radiologist could have just been a lazy sociopath. 

The present story aside--this is why I really, really hate big business sometimes.

[MillCreek]

I can imagine the radiologist being a witness against the hospital to speak on the overwhelming workload, the threat of being fired for not keeping up with it, and how there was no one actually making sure the work was properly done. Or of course, that radiologist could have just been a lazy sociopath. 

From the article, the radiology technician (not a radiologist) falsified the results of around 1300 mammograms over 18 months.  That is 72 mammograms per month, or call it 3.5 per working day.  I asked one of the radiology technologists in our system, and depending on how electronic the hospital in Georgia is, it is anywhere from 3-10 minutes per study to do the necessary paperwork to have the films reviewed by the radiologist.  In our system, it is about five clicks of a mouse and three minutes to verify all the information.  So I am going with lazy sociopath.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

From the article, the radiology technician (not a radiologist) falsified the results of around 1300 mammograms over 18 months.  That is 72 mammograms per month, or call it 3.5 per working day.  I asked one of the radiology technologists in our system, and depending on how electronic the hospital in Georgia is, it is anywhere from 3-10 minutes per study to do the necessary paperwork to have the films reviewed by the radiologist.  In our system, it is about five clicks of a mouse and three minutes to verify all the information.  So I am going with lazy sociopath.

but the other narrative is so much more entertaining!!
killjoy

[brimic]

I can imagine the radiologist being a witness against the hospital to speak on the overwhelming workload, the threat of being fired for not keeping up with it, and how there was no one actually making sure the work was properly done.  I know I've seen a lot and heard of even more circumstances where corporations set absurd revenue/production ect expectations and then purposely turn a blind eye to operations; with explicit or implicit threat in the case of failure to meet said expectations.   Sometimes they want folks working off the clock, sometimes they want folks working themselves to death, and

Its almost like you've been watching me....
Somehow everyone gets it done though- the customers are satisfied, the company stays in business, and the CEO collects their 8 figure bonus and everyone stays relatively happy.

I'm going with sociopath.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

radiologist should pray no one who is affected has kin like me. it would be very personal
probablt not kosher but i'd make her attend those 10 women's funerals  if i could she'd hand dig the holes and fill em in

[MechAg94]

I can imagine the radiologist being a witness against the hospital to speak on the overwhelming workload, the threat of being fired for not keeping up with it, and how there was no one actually making sure the work was properly done.  I know I've seen a lot and heard of even more circumstances where corporations set absurd revenue/production ect expectations and then purposely turn a blind eye to operations; with explicit or implicit threat in the case of failure to meet said expectations.   Sometimes they want folks working off the clock, sometimes they want folks working themselves to death, and sometimes they just want magic or don't care.

Or of course, that radiologist could have just been a lazy sociopath. 

I was also thinking "Doesn't a second person verify the finding of the radiologist?" 

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

That was her scam. She forged the verification.

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[MechAg94]

The present story aside--this is why I really, really hate big business sometimes.

Don't forget how much regulation and unpaid obligations that varioius levels of govt put on hospitals.  

I saw an article the other day that predicted the demise of the small town single doctor clinic as the levels of paperwork and admin costs outweight what a single doctor can manage. It wasn't just Obamacare, but all the regulations added over the last 10 or 15 years building up.

[MillCreek]

Don't forget how much regulation and unpaid obligations that varioius levels of govt put on hospitals.  

I saw an article the other day that predicted the demise of the small town single doctor clinic as the levels of paperwork and admin costs outweight what a single doctor can manage. It wasn't just Obamacare, but all the regulations added over the last 10 or 15 years building up.

This is absolutely quoted for truth.  When I started my healthcare legal career back in the 1980's here in Washington, small to medium (1-5 doctor) practices still were the norm, especially in suburban and rural areas.  Medical groups of ten or more doctors were found only in the 'big cities' of Seattle, Everett, Tacoma, Olympia, Vancouver, Spokane and Yakima.  But with all the regulations, the declining reimbursement, the paperwork requirements, and now the Federal push for electronic medical records, most small practices don't have the time, the resources or the expertise to keep up.  This is why even in the small towns, physicans are selling their practices to the local hospital, and in turn, those small rural hospitals are being acquired or affiliated with the larger healthcare systems.  It is the only way they can survive.  And all this started many years ago, so it is not just a function of Obamacare.

I remember at the start of my career, that I would deal with doctors whose medical records were 4x6 cards kept in a file box.  You would see one line notes like 4/17/75: pneumonia. Chest Xray. Penicillin.  Not at all like the three pages of electronic charting for a simple cold, that is now required to prove you aren't committing fraud for that $ 35 office call.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

My doc has as much staff pushing paper as he has helping patients

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[Tallpine]

Local county hospital has only ER light and a nursing home 

There is an independent NP but I wonder how long she will last.  Over $100/visit just for her 

Anything else is 60 miles to Billings.

I keep trying to figure out how we are better off than years ago 

[MillCreek]

^^^ Here in Washington, the Sisters of Providence, PeaceHealth and Catholic Health Initiatives are on a roll, in terms of buying up smaller hospitals and physician practices.  I think I read somewhere that the majority of Washington and Oregon hospitals are now affiliated with the Catholic church.

[lee n. field]

^^^ Here in Washington, the Sisters of Providence, PeaceHealth and Catholic Health Initiatives are on a roll, in terms of buying up smaller hospitals and physician practices.  I think I read somewhere that the majority of Washington and Oregon hospitals are now affiliated with the Catholic church.

At least you can count on them to not deliberately try to kill you.

[SADShooter]

My doc has as much staff pushing paper as he has helping patients

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Hence the substantial discount for private pay at my last dental visit-less overhead tied to hustling for the insurance reimbursement.