CPS  Welcome to Citizens for Patient Safety

Michael Skolnik

Citizens for Patient Safety is a global grassroots organization. Our agency builds alliances between and within diverse communities united in a common purpose by building bridges between consumers, the medical community, insurance and the legal community to improve the healthcare system and quality that patient's receive.

The origins of CPS began on September 21, 2001, when 22 year old Michael Skolnik underwent unnecessary brain surgery that ultimately led to his death three years later.


A study conducted by Health Grades Foundation in the U.S. suggests that medical errors are a major cause of death in this country, causing as many as 200,000 deaths each year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tells us that there are 1.7 million hospital-acquired infections each year resulting in 99,000 deaths.

Preventable urinary tract infections number in the thousands and add an average of $40,000 to the cost of a hospital stay.

Medication errors injure 1.5 million patients every year.  

Our Mission at Citizens for Patient Safety is to educate ourselves and future generations to take action to protect our health and safety from medical errors. Read Michael Skolnik's Story

 

Citizens for Patient Safety to receive revenue share for sales of “From Tears to Transparency: The Story of Lewis Blackman”

Through a special arrangement with Transparent Learning, Inc., Citizens for Patient Safety will receive a share of the revenue from every purchase of “The Story of Lewis Blackman” sold to interested parties who enter the Coupon Code C4PS-LB when ordering this ground-breaking DVD educational program.

“The Story of Lewis Blackman,” an award-winning film produced by Transparent Health®, chronicles the experience of a vibrant, healthy 15-year-old boy who entered the hospital for what was believed to be a low-risk medical procedure. Through the thought-provoking insights of a number of leading voices in patient safety education including Lucian Leape MD, Tim McDonald, MD, JD, Bob Galbraith MD, David Mayer, MD, Rosemary Gibson and Lewis’ mom, Helen Haskell, viewers are taken through all aspects of Lewis’ care. This is a full learning program complete with educational materials.

To learn more about the program, view the trailer, and place an order, click here. Please enter the Coupon Code C4PS-LB so Citizens for Patient Safety can get credit for your order!
New medical law gives patients more information (9 News)

 


Medical Board Implementing Physician Profile Requirements

The Colorado Board of Medical Examiners (“the Board”) has implemented the requirements of the Michael Skolnik Medical Transparency Act (“the Act”), which was enacted into law by the Colorado General Assembly in 2007 and amended in 2009. The Act requires all physicians who submit an application for an initial license, license reinstatement, reactivation, or renewal, on or after January 1, 2008 to disclose specific information that can be accessed by the public. Physicians in Inactive status and Shriners Hospital Physicians are exempt from the Physician Profile requirements.

BY LAW, a medical license CANNOT be renewed unless the physician complies with the profile requirements.

The Act requires that the following information be disclosed to the public (an * indicates modifications have been made to the original bill):

  • Name, Aliases, Current Address, Telephone number
  • Information regarding all medical licenses ever held
  • Current Board Certifications and Practice Specialty(ies)
  • Affiliations with hospitals and health care facilities
  • Current ownership interests in health-care related businesses*
  • Current health-care related employment contracts*
  • Public disciplinary actions against a medical license
  • Agreements and Stipulations to temporarily cease medical practice
  • Involuntary hospital or health care facility privileging actions dating back to 1990*
  • Involuntary surrender of a DEA registration
  • Criminal convictions or plea arrangements for felonies and crimes of moral turpitude dating back to initial licensure in any state or country*
  • Judgments, settlements and arbitration awards for medical malpractice claims dating back to 1990*
  • Refusal by an insurance carrier to issue medical liability insurance

Physician Profiles may be searched at the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies website by clicking on the button below.
Doctor Lookup in Colorado