THE WELCH COMPANY
440 Davis Court #1602
San Francisco, CA 94111-2496
415 781 5700
rodwelch@pacbell.net


S U M M A R Y


DIARY: July 6, 2010 02:52 PM Tuesday; Rod Welch

Linda visits Millie for Hospice case management.

1...Summary/Objective


..............
Click here to comment!

CONTACTS 

SUBJECTS
Default Null Subject Account for Blank Record

0403 -
0403 -    ..
0404 - Summary/Objective
0405 -
040501 - Follow up ref SDS B5 0000. ref SDS B3 0000.
040502 -
040503 -
040504 -
040506 -  ..
0406 -
0407 -
0408 - Background
0409 -
040901 - On 010427 0830 meeting at Kaiser - Doctor Johnson notes Millie looks
040902 - so good nobody can believe she has such severe cancer, ref SDS 87
040903 - OJ6I; the doctor explained again Millie's cancer has mutated through
040904 - 11 relapses to resist chemotherapy.  The doctor advised that Kaiser
040905 - has a new strategy prescribing therapy that is effective for treating
040906 - cancer as a chronic disease by "targeting" the genetic profile of
040907 - cancer that has mutated in patients, like Millie, to resist
040908 - chemotherapy. ref SDS 87 SJ6N
040910 -  ..
040911 - On 100501 1037 Millie letter to medical team confirms understanding of
040912 - new strategy to treat Millie's cancer with targeted therapy.
040913 - ref SDS 88 F25O
040915 -  ..
040916 - On 100501 2017 Doctor Rugo reports plans to collaborate with Doctor
040917 - Johnson at Kaiser on work plan for Millie to recover from 11th relapse
040918 - of cancer caused by UCSF medical mistakes. ref SDS 89 HH4I
040920 -  ..
040921 - On 100502 2143 Kaiser confirms that some patients respond well to new
040922 - "targeted" therapies. ref SDS 91 YX8L  Kaiser contends that all of the
040923 - strategies for "targeted" therapies have been executed for Millie,
040924 - which seems conflicting with the record in this case. ref SDS 91 MZ4N
040926 -  ..
040927 - On 100503 1522 Millie notifies medical team that time of the essence
040928 - to get the next treatment going. ref SDS 92 TD5W
040930 -  ..
040931 - On 100503 1945 Kaiser notifies Millie to get remaining 2 treatments
040932 - with Abraxane chemotherapy that seems to be failing, and then after 3
040933 - more weeks without treatment, following a trip abroad, the doctor will
040934 - discuss "next steps." ref SDS 93 YL5N
040936 -  ..
040937 - On 100503 2338 Millie reports to medical team that she will implement
040938 - Kaiser's guidance to delay changing treatments, and takes Kaiser's
040939 - letter on 010503, as assurance that recovery will be equal to changing
040940 - treatment immediately on 100505. ref SDS 94 6X7S
040942 -  ..
040943 - On 100504 1609 Sara, Practice Manager for the UCSF Oncology Breast
040944 - Care Clinic, called and notified Millie that Doctor Rugo will soon
040945 - communicate with Doctor Johnson, or had already done so, to coordinate
040946 - with Kaiser on planning Millie's next treatment to recover from the
040947 - 11th relapse of cancer. ref SDS 95 NT5N
040949 -  ..
040950 - On 010505 0730 Millie received the 2nd treatment at Kaiser for the 3rd
040951 - cycle of Abraxane chemotherapy, as ordered by Doctor Johnson.
040952 - ref SDS 96 KE4K
040954 -  ..
040955 - On 100511 0900 cancer marker CA 15-3 520 increased another 100 points,
040956 - seemingly on an accelerating rise, which threatens to cascade out of
040957 - control, because Abraxane chemotherapy is not effective. ref SDS 97
040958 - L54I
040960 -  ..
040961 - On 100512 0730 Millie received 3rd treatment for 3rd cycle of
040962 - Abraxane. ref SDS 98 KE4K
040964 -  ..
040965 - On 100515 1415 Millie departed 2-week trip to Europe. ref SDS 99 PK9O
040967 -  ..
040968 - On 100527 0217 Millie files claim with Kaiser Claims Resolution
040969 - Department for standard of care to recover from 11th relapse of cancer
040970 - caused by medical mistakes getting radiation treatments at UCSF on
040971 - referral from Kaiser. ref SDS A0 IZ7N
040973 -  ..
040974 - On 100528 0322 Millie requests support from Medicare to separate
040975 - recovery for medical mistakes getting radiation from UCSF, from health
040976 - care benefits limited by Medicare insurance coverage. ref SDS A1 QQ6N
040978 -  ..
040979 - On 100528 1031 called Medicare they have formed a team to review
040980 - Millie's case, and contacted Kaiser's Claims Resolution Department for
040981 - response to Millie's claim. ref SDS A2 4W5F
040983 -  ..
040984 - 100601 0830 Doctor Johnson reported that Kaiser has not had time to
040985 - collaborate with UCSF on treatment for Millie to recover from UCSF
040986 - medical mistakes.  He discussed treating Millie with MPA, but this was
040987 - not prescribed because Millie was treated with MPA in 2009, and UCSF
040988 - ended the treatment due to fears about blood clot side effects, which
040989 - were believed to cause breathing problems Millie had, though later
040990 - breathing problems were discovered to be caused by defective radiation
040991 - treatment.  Since Doctor Johnson said Kaiser has no more treatments
040992 - for Millie, the only way Millie can get relief from pain caused by
040993 - cancer that is progressing without treatment is get treatment in
040994 - Hospice.  Since Hospice is the only choice of care offered today,
040995 - Millie accepted this.
040997 -  ..
040998 - On 100601 1531 Sharon called to schedule starting Hospice medical
040999 - services beginning tomorrow between 0900 - 1000. ref SDS A4 036C
041001 -  ..
041002 - On 100602 0913 Liz provides orientation on Hospice care; she confirms
041003 - Sharon's report yesterday, that if Kaiser performs on the insurance
041004 - agreement to provide standard of care for Millie's patient profile,
041005 - than Millie can elect to recover from 11th relapse of cancer, rather
041006 - than continue with Hospice support for dying peacefully. ref SDS A5
041007 - 036C
041009 -  ..
041010 - On 100602 1046 Diane received notice from Medicare to file claim for
041011 - Millie to get treatment for recovering from UCSF medical mistakes; she
041012 - is preparing a statement of claim. ref SDS A6 036C  Advised Diane to
041013 - use Millie's statement of claim submitted to Kaiser on 100527.
041014 - ref SDS A6 MZ5H  Eileen called later and reported that Kaiser denied
041015 - Millie's claim on the grounds that Medicare does not authorize payment
041016 - for treatment to recover from cancer, after a patient starts Hospice.
041017 - ref SDS A6 UN4M  Requested that Eileen read he claim and then make a
041018 - good faith determiantion. ref SDS A6 I33H  Eileen called back after
041019 - reading the claim and advised the denial of claim has been withdrawn,
041020 - and the matter is referred to Claims Resolution Department.
041021 - ref SDS A6 UN5P
041023 -  ..
041024 - On 100603 1112 Linda called to schedule a visit for Hospice social
041025 - support. ref SDS A8 036C
041027 -  ..
041028 - On 100604 1350 Linda visited to begin case management for Millie's
041029 - Hospice care. ref SDS A9 036C
041031 -  ..
041032 - On 100606 1243 Judy visited Millie to begin Hospice social support,
041033 - covering from Linda. ref SDS B1 036C
041035 -  ..
041036 - On 100611 0900 Linda visited again.  She has not read the record to
041037 - verify understandings. ref SDS B2 036C  Linda doubled Millie's pain
041038 - medication with morphine. ref SDS B2 QK5O
041040 -  ..
041041 - On 100618 1451 Linda continued current pain medication; she ordered
041042 - medication for digestion to help Millie avoid coughing up food.
041043 - ref SDS B3 036C
041045 -  ..
041046 - On 100623 1452 Linda visited a day ahead of schedule.  Millie's pain
041047 - level is averaging 1 - 2.  She reported current pain medication is
041048 - satisfactory. ref SDS B5 QK5O
041050 -  ..
041051 - On 100706 1452 Linda visited, ref SDS 0 036C, and learned Millie's
041052 - pain level remains below 3 with current medication, including 60 mg
041053 - morphine and 2 oxycodone pills per day.  Millie reported being
041054 - satisfied with pain control. ref SDS 0 QK5O  Phlebitis has subsided in
041055 - both legs. ref SDS 0 2F9K  Left arm and hand are visibly swelled.
041056 - ref SDS 0 ON9K  Linda took vitals which are excellent for anybody, and
041057 - commented that "Millie looks wonderful." ref SDS 0 2F9F  In a few
041058 - weeks Linda will perform re-certification analysis for Millie to
041059 - remain in Hospice.  Millie advised that she intends to stay in Hospice
041060 - until Kaiser responds to her claim requesting treatment to recover
041061 - from UCSF medical mistakes that caused 11th relapse of cancer, and
041062 - with treatment that does not cause pain and suffering. ref SDS 0 2F5F
041063 - Linda is off-work next week, and so will see Millie again in 2 weeks.
041064 - ref SDS 0 QL56
041065 -
041066 -
041067 -
041069 -  ..
0411 -
0412 -
0413 - Progress
0414 -
041401 - Linda called this morning and asked about visiting this afternoon.  We
041402 - scheduled the visit for between 1300 - 1400.  When she arrived about
041403 - 1500, Linda apologized for having a hectic schedule today.
041405 -  ..
041406 - This meeting followed the visit a few weeks ago on 100623 1452.
041407 - ref SDS B5 036C
041409 -  ..
041410 - Linda asked Millie about her pain level?
041412 -  ..
041413 - Millie said her pain remains below 3.
041415 -  ..
041416 - Linda asked if Millie is satisfied with her pain control, or would
041417 - she like to increase morphine?
041419 -  ..
041420 - Millie advised that her pain level is very tolerable, and so she does
041421 - not want to increase medications.  Millie advised that she has
041422 - increased to oxycodone to 2 pills on some days to control breakthrough
041423 - pain.  She explained again that her pain subsides whe she lays down.
041425 -  ..
041426 - Linda observed Millie's legs show no further signs of phlebitis, as a
041427 - result of ending chemotherapy and getting treatment beginning on
041428 - 100601. ref SDS A3 OP4G
041430 -  ..
041431 - Linda noted swelled left arm and hand are most evident symptoms of IBC
041432 - cascading out of control due to delayed treatment.  Linda did not
041433 - examine Millie's chest which is severely infected with cancer.
041435 -  ..
041436 - Linda asked about Millie's recent upset stomach that caused coughing
041437 - and food coming up, and reduced eating, leading to Linda prescribing
041438 - Prilosec, reported on 100623 1452. ref SDS B5 QL66
041440 -  ..
041441 - Millie reported having no further problems.
041443 -  ..
041444 - Linda took vitals...
041445 -
041446 -        BP..................... 126 78
041447 -        Pulse.................. 63
041448 -        Temperture............. 97.5
041450 -  ..
041451 - Linda used a stethoscope, and commented again that Millie has
041452 - excellent breathing today, following up similar report on 100623 1452.
041453 - ref SDS B5 QL41
041455 -  ..
041456 - Linda advised the Millie seems in excellent health, and commented on
041457 - how "great you look," following up the past few meetings, most
041458 - recently on 100623 1452. ref SDS B5 VE4W
041460 -  ..
041461 - Linda advised that in a few weeks Hospice requires that the case
041462 - manager perform a re-certification analysis to verify that Millie is
041463 - still eligible to continue to Hospice.
041465 -  ..
041466 - Millie nearly fainted.  She explained extensive discussions with
041467 - Kaiser on needing hospice for pain medication.  On 100601, Doctor
041468 - Johnson said Millie's only choice was pain and suffering and death, or
041469 - Hospice medication to relieve pain until death. ref SDS A3 4H3K  On
041470 - 100630 1537, Millie notified the medical team that she would continue
041471 - in Hospice for pain relief until Kaiser provided a work plan for her
041472 - to recover from UCSF medical mistakes using treatment targeted to
041473 - cancer that does not cause pain and suffering. ref SDS B6 M93V
041475 -  ..
041476 - Linda apologized for causing Millie significant anxiety.  She was not
041477 - aware of Carol's call last Thursday morning, representing herself as
041478 - Chief of Hospice, and asking if Millie wants to dis-enroll from
041479 - Hospice, and Millie responded citing her letter to the medical team
041480 - the day before, reported on 100701 0915. ref SDS B7 036C
041482 -  ..
041483 - Linda said that re-certification for cancer patients is mostly pro
041484 - forma, and that cancer patients remain on Hospice continuously, as
041485 - needed.  Linda advised that if Millie were to be de-certified, then
041486 - her care would revert to Doctor Johnson for treatment.
041488 -  ..
041489 - Millie breathed a sigh of relief.
041491 -  ..
041492 - Linda is off-work next week.  She scheduled the next meeting for week
041493 - after next, and said someone from Hospice will call Millie next week
041494 - to see if a meeting by a substitute case manager is needed.
041496 -  ..
041497 - Millie thanked Linda, and said she feels next week will go okay
041498 - without a Hospice visit.
041499 -
041500 -
041501 -
041502 -
041503 -
041504 -
041505 -
0416 -