Electronic Medical Records has been a trying experience for Healthcare BUT CRUCIAL! 

Electronic Medical Records has been a trying experience for Healthcare BUT CRUCIAL! 

MD ANDERSON DID NOT NOTICE THE RESULTS BEING REVIEWED FOR THEIR MALE PATIENT STATED WERE FEMALE!

Tx Oncology referred patient to MD Anderson to confirm or deny a suspected diagnosis of PV with a bone marrow biopsy.

MD Anderson physician phoned patient with results of preliminary results along with the recommended treatment with Hydroxyurea 500 mg. Patient elected to receive treatment with his Oncologist at Tx Oncology. 

1/16/13: Tx Oncology appointment- Oncologist prescribed Hydroxyurea 1000 mg based on the report received from MD Anderson. It wasn’t long after that, his Oncologist left the country to visit family. He continued to go in for routine labs and refill his medication. He was not seen by any other Oncologist - apparently no one covered for the Oncologist and apparently the Oncologist never returned.  

After some time, and much encouragement from worried family for not being followed up by an Oncologist, he began to see a different Oncologist at a different Tx Oncology location (hence keeping records together). Basically nothing changed labs, refills etc.

2017 moved to Austin, Tx and again began seeing an Oncologist at Tx Oncology. The new Oncologist wanted to see the records from MD Anderson so we (I) obtained the records from the Electronic Medical Records Patient Portal. 

While obtaining the records, I was curious about what the bone marrow biopsy report contains. NOTICE: I do not have a medical degree and I do not claim to have qualifications of such!  I have been in the medical field for 30 years and have read several reports but never a bone marrow biopsy- I was intrigued. 

Reading through the Preliminary report, 46/XX-20 - stopped me in my tracks - WHAT??? I continued to read, “20 Diploid Female Metaphases” were analyzed, over and over throughout the report it continued “20 Diploid Female Metaphases” were analyzed. End of report- What is going on?  I saw an Addendum- yes this is will clear things up - so i thought - Addendum in red: No Molecular Support For Diagnosis!! The rest of the report read the exact same as the Preliminary report: 46/XX-20; “20 Diploid Female Metaphases” were analyzed throughout the addendum. 

The patient was never made aware of the Addendum that was entered into his chart about an hour and a half later the same day as the information was released to the patient. 

I requested the records from the Tx Oncology office who began his treatment- the addendum is what is in their record - stating no support for diagnosis and female! 

MD Anderson records were given to the new Oncologist in Austin at his next visit. They were faxed to them previously but stated “not received.”

Upon showing the results, the first response and only response was, “No comment, you will need to contact MD Anderson.” Really? We are showing you a report that is obviously wrong, he’s taking chemotherapy and you have no comment?  The visit continued with results of lab tests previously ordered by the Oncologist at the last appointment  New diagnosis: MTHFR Mutation; Hyperhomocysteinemia. We asked about repeating the bone marrow biopsy- we need answers. It’s not a test anyone wants to endure period but we have to know - does he need chemotherapy? We needed a new result. Finally, the Oncologist agreed to order a new bone marrow biopsy. This was August 2017; finally September 20, 2017 the new test was performed; advised 72 hours should have results. Phoned office after that time frame and no results. This continued and continued. During another appointment with a different doctor, we were asked about the results. Advised we had been told they weren’t in, the doctor called the hospital and asked for them to send the results. The hospital stated, “they’ve been signed off on so I can fax them right over!” Immediately the results were received. The doctor gave us the results - MALE PATIENT ; MALE METAPHASES ANALYZED; NO ET; NO PV - BUT DAMAGE FROM THE CHEMOTHERAPY TREATMENT. Unfortunately, he could not stop his Chemotherapy, as he was not an Oncologist. 
We called the same day and asked the Tx Oncology office about results- still not received and “we will call you when we have them!” 

 

TWO WEEKS LATER - October 17, 2017, appointment to get the results of the biopsy. Oncologist came in pretended to not have the results, left room, came back and said,”Stop the chemotherapy today! Do not take any more. No MPN found in his bone marrow at all. When asked about the RF-1, we were told that was possibly remnants of the PV. I immediately said Hydroxyurea causes that and had the medication print out in hand. We were then told, I won’t need to see you now, you can follow with the Nurse Practitioner. Absolutely not, specialists fees being charged and specialist copays - we will see a Specialist! Advised lab numbers would spike without the chemotherapy and to come back for lab in 3 weeks. He went for lab, nurse was waiting outside lab door to take him to see Nurse Practitioner regardless of our wishes.

MD ANDERSON AND TX ONCOLOGY (multiple offices) MISDIAGNOSED, GROSSLY NEGLECTED; VIOLATED HIS RIGHTS NOT TO MENTION VIOLATED THE CODE OF ETHICS EACH MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL VOWS TO PROTECT!!

This error was missed by more than one physician. They do not take the time to read the results and apply it to the patient it refers to, instead they look at the result and the recommended ranges and/or take the diagnosis from the physician who read the results. Then they treat or not treat! Three people died on the Leukemia Floor the year this was discovered. 

Original Tx Oncology Dr left the country, left him hanging without a physician! 
Austin Tx Oncology Physician refused to answer any questions and failed to advocate for the patient knowing there was an error in his EMR.  We had to beg to get a repeat bone marrow biopsy, while patient was still consuming Chemotherapy! Tx Oncology Physician violated so many code of ethics,  rules and then dropped him like a hot potato! Physician did not try to help us get answers nor report it to the administration!  

One of our questions: what happened to the FEMALE patient the results were for?

Why did the insurance not catch it when they paid the claim? Did they not request the report? Instead, paid for a claim, lots of unnecessary lab tests, hospitalizations, and prescriptions their insured did not need! Insurance premiums skyrocketed! 

There must be more accountability for the information entered into a patients medical records. Errors cause unnecessary confusion, delay in treatment, unnecessary costs and lack of trust in the medical profession as a whole  

HE COULD HAVE DIED!  THE UNKNOWN DAMAGE TO HIS HEALTH AND THE IMPACT TO HIS MENTAL, EMOTIONAL HEALTH, HIS CHILDREN’S MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH SEEING HIM SICK FROM THE MEDICATION AND THE FINANCIAL IMPACT AND INABILITY TO SUSTAIN IT IS HEARTBREAKING! 

JUST THINK- THIS COULD HAVE BEEN YOU OR YOUR FAMILY! 

Insurance companies and Pharmaceutical Companies get a bad rap for their increase in cost; this is a perfect explanation/example of why! The Employer cost to cover this member and the claims is unjust! Insurance fraud at its best. Yes he received service for alot of the charges; which could have been avoided not to mention, the cost of the Chemotherapy!! 

Not one apology, explanation, or answer has been offered or received! At this point, none of those will be enough!

NO ONE WILL LISTEN- ATTORNEYS RUN AWAY!! WE MUST MAKE THEM ACCOUNTABLE! STOP LETTING THEM KEEP ATTORNEYS IN THEIR BACK POCKETS SO THERE IS NO RECOURSE FOR THE PATIENTS.

Governor Abbott states, “The Texas Tort Reform does not apply to his case!

I WILL NOT STOP - I SEE IT WILL TAKE GOING TO THE NEWS TO GET JUSTICE!!

I WILL TELL THE WORLD HIS STORY!

The Best Research Hospital, World Renowned MPN Physician and an Oncology Clinic all over Texas must be held accountable!!

Research Funds being allocated to a hospital with major mistakes and not being held accountable- I don’t see it sitting well with the public! 

Physician’s complaining Texas doesn’t have enough physicians and New Ones don’t want to work in Tx due to they are not protected enough against Malpractice. Ethic violation before they are even hired. If that’s what they are worried about, maybe they shouldn’t have become a physician or even better, TREAT patients accordingly, pay attention to your reports and take a stand when you notice an error. Lots of cases could be avoided with simple communication and honesty.

Please sign the Petition to bring awareness to medical errors, misdiagnosis, neglect, holding physicians accountable and regain trust within the medical profession! 

Thank you