Transparency, Integrity, Honesty Whistleblower, Patricia Moleski, Information Technology Department vs. Adventist Health System, Orlando, Florida
by Andy Hanson
NOTE FROM ANDY:
Readers, I asked Beatrice Neff to reflect on the Whistleblower and the Corporation series and your responses before posting Part 4. I am in her debt. Andy
I applaud Andrew Hanson and Adventist Today for taking on the controversial story of Patricia Moleski, the whistleblower who is going up against Adventist Health Systems (AHS). My comment from the beginning was, you will get plenty of cautionary advice from well-meaning people around you warning you that your personal/professional reputation may take a broadside hit due to politics within the Adventist hierarchy. My hat goes off to you for your courage, tenacity, and fearless mindset as you go forward. The conversation has been lively (review the comments from Part 1,2,3 to receive the full impact from all angles). To quote Jack Hoehn on another blog: “We are explaining our thoughts, bringing up possible stumbling blocks or deal breakers. We nibble around the edges of ideas, we stick a toe in water. We pull back in fear or step out to see where the current of thought might take us.” No one involved in the conversation has been timid: rather, bold, edgy, condescending, prompt rebuttals, idealistic. This is an important story to see through to its end – this dialog can move forward in a productive way as we methodically peel the onion. It is through this type of open conversation that we can understand one another better and learn from our differences.
This is a modern day David and Goliath scenario. AHS (defendant), a 32 billion dollar corporation with 50,000 employees, 41 medical institutions throughout several states. Patricia Moleski (plaintiff), her house was allegedly invaded, car set on fire, computer tapped, fired from her job for being a whistleblower and now living in poverty. Her YouTube interview came across as compelling – she is you and me. When you realize the minimal staff position she had, the overwhelming story, the high position the medical organization has in the community, the judges that might have a conflict of interest, it would be so easy to let it disappear without any one person standing up for what is right – and see this through to the finish line. What I mean by right is that everyone, no matter how small, deserves to have due process in the judicial system. II Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (self discipline). This is what is called for.
Attorney comments on the blog predicted attorneys should be racing to offer assistance on a contingency basis if there was any credibility to her claims. The fact that Patricia is currently acting as her own attorney caused further skepticism. One person sent this information to Spectrum’s blog to encourage more dialog, publicity, and action. It was considered to be “Old News – if it had been worth investigating, it would have been done years ago”. The lawsuit was filed in 2010. Several people on the blog asked, “Did AT just find out about this? Why was it not reported two years ago?”
However, we all remember Erin Brockovich, an unemployed single mother who became a legal assistant and almost single-handedly brought down a California power plant, accused of polluting water supply and causing cancer and death to many. Erin became a strong, tough, spirited environmental activist who took a stand to do what was right. She had a terrible time retaining an attorney and badgered the one she finally retained. 1996 – the largest direct action lawsuit of its kind – $333 million dollars with 600 people who had been tragically affected by death of family.
Another case comes to my mind. Several families in Woburn, MA (suburb of Boston) made a formal complaint of toxic water pollution (1984 Book and Movie – A Civil Action). It took years to retain a law firm. Partners of the prosecutor discouraged him from taking the case, saying that it was hopeless and they would be financially and emotionally bankrupt – but for moral and ethical principles they took the case. Opposing high-power defense attorneys hired by corporate giants resulted in a battle to the finish. Victims’ families were awarded monetarily and the corporation was forced to clean up – the nation’s most expensive clean-up in US history. One of the victims of this tragedy was a friend of mine.
It is at the core of our SDA culture to be protective of our own and especially when there are questions regarding our church leaders and the medical right arm of the church. We immediately deny, without interest in getting further information for enlightenment. We think it is so outrageous, it must not be true. But we are all human; no organization should be above scrutiny, questioning or reproach. As one person commented, “Having been around for a while, I have seen enough to learn that the Adventist System can do weird things and mistreat people. I sure can’t say either way about this case, but I would never take the denomination’s side just because I am also an Adventist.”
In 2004 an SDA pastor (salary $22,000/year) brought his 5-year-old son, who was dying of a brain tumor, to Florida Hospital emergency department. They were refused care because they didn’t have insurance. After a class action lawsuit was filed and after his father sat before Congress, the hospital became interested, offering free care and an ocean cruise. A belated apology was issued to the family at the GC.
We are aware of prior GC president Robert Folkenburg engaging three exclusive law firms, spending over $6 million dollars of tithe monies over a seven-year period, to keep evidence from going to trial. This litigation is not dragging up old business. It is essential to evaluate historical incidents to prevent making the same mistakes. The definition of insanity is to “repeat the same thing over and over and expect a different outcome.” As Maya Angelo has said “When we know better, we do better.”
We can no longer be quick to say, “because it is a religious organization and the right arm of the SDA World Church, it must be right.” Let this be a teachable moment and may we have the courage to stray from the status quo. If there is a flaw, there is “more shame in hiding the truth than in admitting the mistake.” My hope is that we can strive together toward greater honesty, integrity, and clarity.
I believe (please clarify) that Beatrice Neff is a emeritus professor of religion from Union College and has contributed articles to a number of SDA journals. If I am correct, I also knew her wonderful mother and sister.
Regardless, this is an eloquent plea for those in the church who believe that justice and mercy are as much "right arms" of Adventism as its medical work; after all, justice, mercy, and healing are what Christ came to bring.
The timing is not at all unusual: think of the many financial crooked dealings of U.S. banks and Wall Street that even now are only beginning to be prosecuted but occurred before Patricia's case was taped. Justice does not always move swiftly, but if more good Christians believed that it was more important for the church to do what is right than to cover their very soiled linen, perhaps there would be more people attracted to a church with integrity.
Why is it so difficult to believe that the church can do no wrong? As Beatrice has given us a brief history, the church has been on the wrong side of truth and honesty in many situations. Closing our eyes and not wanting to know the truth does not make it disappear.
I was the one that reported this to Spectrum, with the editor's reply that it was "old news." Unfortunately, it was never news with that publication. The church hopes that it is so easily dismissed as "old news" and simply forgotten and buried in the debris of its many unsavory acts from the past.
What are you able to offer that this does not deserve a thorough investigation?
Are you aware of the numerous such incidents in the past? Adventist Today has published a number of books including similar events.
Are you acquainted with Harris Pine Mills fiasco? The Folkenberg case? Have you read "Truth Decay," how the Trust Departments of the church bilked millions from trusting members? Were you around when the Merikay Silver Case was ruled in favor of the plaintiff when the church was in violation of anit-discrimination laws and had to be forced by the law to pay equal pay for women?
It is good to trust, but "Trust, but verify," should always be remembered. If the church is innocent, it should have no fear of investigation, nor should members fear.
Stupid question, but re the comment anpit the ex-GC Pres Robert Folkenburg engaging three exclusive law firms, spending over $6 million dollars of tithe monies over a seven-year period, to keep evidence from going to trial. Was this keeping the SDA-pastor/brain tumour matter from going to trial, or another case?
This is Bea Neff wondering where to jump in. My husband and I spent 25 years of our lives working in AHS institutions most of them in administrative positions. See Part 3 toward the end of the discussions where I contributed to the discussion. Timo, you now take the same stance with me that you did during Part 3 – assuming I was not credible. I am not aware that anyone needs credentials to enter a discussion. Having worked at several flagship hospitals throughout North America, I feel as though I have a real sense of AHS (Mission and Purpose, policies and politics). Many wonderful experiences but also a very personal tragedy. When my husband was mismanaged/misdiagnosed and suffered a heart attack hours later, a cover up for 10 days, someone confided that the whole protocol in Emergency had changed because of my husband's case. When I confronted and demanded answers, I was finally told the back story and that his life would be considerably shortened because of this " oops". My husband worked for AHS till the day he died at age 57. We were loyal to the organization to the end. There was no way we could do anything but be silent – we might lose our jobs. Thirteen years earlier my husband had lost his job over saying yes to going to lunch with the wrong person. He was not being "sensitive to the organization". (Loss of job, loss of home, move in with parents with our two children for 10 months – taking 10 years to regain administrative position).
The purpose of the transparency blog was simply to state "everyone, even the small person deserves "due process." The examples show the extreme efforts that took place before the right thing was done in each instance.
Stephen, The Folkenburg example had to do with David Dennis, senior auditor of the GC at the time who ran out of funds to continue his case which had been going on for seven years. The 5 year old who presented Florida Hospital with a brain tumor was a separate example of what the family had to go through to get care (lawsuit/appearance in Congress).
Thank you Elaine for your support of the principle of this case. Just to let you know – I am not that Beatrice Neff. My father-in-law graduated from Union and was a pastor for many years. So you can only imagine the intrigue of mixing those two ingredients (politics of the ministry and healthcare) together over a lifetime. My children are sixth-generation SDA so the roots go deep – that does not mean we have to wear such rose-colored glasses that we can't evaluate an issue objectively and demand transparency, integrity, and honesty. Just because I contributed doesn't mean I am pro-whistleblower – it only means EVERYONE , educated or not, rich or poor deserves due process. The silence of AHS is deafening – we know that the first order of legal cousel is – be silent.
Bea, I appreciate your story and the hope for transparency which may be only a wild dream. My father was a pastor and a first generation SDA but even as a child I sensed that all was not right in the church; later, it was confirmed with the many incidents which have been brought to light.
The old saying, "Where there's smoke, there's fire" has not become prophetic because it was wrong, but because too often there's much more than is reported and as the church holds tightly the publicity, much of it is never known. There is a strong sense of trust regarding the church, often bordering on gullibility.
This is similar to the parent who defies the school principal when his child is punished: "My child would NEVER do that," he's a very good boy." Only to discover that it WAS your child (as a parent I know this too well). When such a grievous accusation is made with all the coroborating evidence, no one should fear investigation: if it is true, it deserves to be punished; if it is not, then AHS should want their name to be cleared. Patricia has lost everything; AHS has nothing to lose by simply keeping quiet and hoping it will blow away. The more who know about this, the better chance that a demand for investigation may be possible.
Which one of you here would not want answers if it was your infant who died because of mismanagment? Would you rather believe it was simply a natural death? It is common knowledge that in all hospitals there are many such incidents REPORTED; but how many are never reported? There have been many hospital surveys of self-reporting that prove this fact. Mistakes are made!If these charges are true, it is criminal; if not, without investigation we will never know. Ignorance is bliss, I suppose.
This reminds me of what happened 16 years ago. My 19-year-old daughter died in a collision between a Nissan and an Omni Trans bus. I tried to find a lawyer willing to take the case on a contingency basis without success and I gave up after wasting several months of my time. No lawyer was willing to go against a corporation with deep pockets.
It also reminds me of what happened in one of our Adventist hospitals before the death of my father who was scheduled for a minor surgery and was diagnosed with a severe case of anemia. He was 87 and his physician wanted to perform an exploratory surgery to find the cause of his anemic condition. He refused to sign the authorization; the doctor then asked my sister to sign on his behalf and she refused; then the physician asked me to sign, and I declined.
Since he was determined to perform the exploratory surgery regardless of the wishes of the patient and his children, he decided to do the minor surgery with anesthesia, and did the exploratory surgery as well while my dad was sedated. We could have sued for malpractice, but we didn’t want to sue an Adventist institution. Suing your church seemed akin to suing your mother.
The story of Patricia Moleski seems to be credible, but fighting against a 32 billion dollars worth corporation is probably a loosing battle, especially since she is broke and unemployed. Her car was set on fire, and a bullet missed her head by a few feet. She had to relocate for fear of her life. She needs our prayers and support. She may eventually succeed, but let’s not forget that it took over three decades for Lindy Chamberlain to get justice.
Did it not occur to you that by not suing the physician you might well have allowed him to damage another patient? Silence allows wrong to continue.
You would have been suing the surgeon as the hospital was only a secondary defendant, and they in turn, could refuse the physician any hospital privileges.
I have not declared guilt: but whistleblowers are entitled to protection under federal law. AHS is guilty of not obeying that law. Do you contest that? Unless you are fully aware of the church's past history of coverups and deceitful actions, you are speaking from ignorance.
Guilty of not obeying the whistleblower law; guilt not yet proved of deletion of records. There were two laws involved in this case.
How does AHS escape guilt in the whistleblower law?
From what exclusive vantage point are you able to state so confidently that her report is non-credible? You have watched and listened to the video, haven't you? If you have privileged information, unknown to us and not revealed by her video, why don't you provide it rather than continuing to have "intuition" that such claims are often made by "certain personalities pick unwinnable fights with highly successful-and wealthy-opponents? Particularly when they had been beneficent to 'victim' at one time? Perhaps the real purpose here is a psychic payoff, in sympathy for "victimhood".
That is certainly an ill-founded assumption unless you have evidence other than your biased assumptions.
Timo, thank you for your contribution to this conversation and that you are going to the Sources (AHS CEO's). Having been in the arena of administration in several flagship hospitals throughout North America, I can attest to the Quality Assurance in place and can agree with what you have just stated in principle. (The majority of situations happen on the staff level, and cover-up can begin on that level or middle management, proceeding to the top. It is very possible that with organizations so large, the CEO is not even aware until the "boulder is so large it can't be swallowed".) However, in the case of Robert Folkenburg and the auditor, the problem and cover-up was with our SDA pope. He won in this instance but proved later to be sent in disgrace from his top position. This is a fact – not vitriol.
"Why do certain personalities pick unwinnable fights with highly successful-and wealthy opponents?"- (Quote from Timo) Could we see or hear something that unsettles us intellectually and obey our gut to question and investigate? When did we abandon the adage " children are to be seen and not heard?" Lindy and Michael Chamberlain were up against tremendous odds and it took four inquests and 32 years to get the legal admission that a dingo killed their daughter not her parents. As for a psychic payoff – reading the book Pirates of Privilege is where you will find a graphic account of what happened when only the hierarchy GC, Unions, Conferences, Academia, and Medical Institutions engaged in
Those of us who have shared our personal tragedies do not share because we have a grudge against the organization. We share because it gives an understanding of another side of a scenario and thus a balance on a human level. Thank you all for sharing. I will admit that when I voiced our personal experience of being fired from my husband's VP position for accepting a lunch invitation, with the wrong person, I experienced the same feelings of terror, disbelief, etc. that I did in 1982. Robert Folkenburg was one of the hospital board members along with the CEO of the hospital, who dramatically changed our life in a heartbeat.
My computer got so hot – it scrambled. To finish the sentence – Medical institutions engaged in Davenport's Ponzi scheme. My last paragraph is second to the bottom. Sorry. We all need the modern day miracle meaning Change of Perception according to Marianne Williamson.
Timo,
How do you explain Moleski’s argument that she was ordered to delete two records made by the nurses, one describing the death of a baby due to an overdose of medication and another resulting in the death of a patient who was overdoses and jumped from the seventh floor to his death? She claims that she was ordered to make those deletions and was fired for refusing to follow orders. Why do you think those deletions were necessary?
Timo, you question why Ms. Moleski doesn't "Empower Herself"? What is our role in living the Golden Rule? What Bible character had people hold his arms up on the mountaintop? What did Jesus write in the sand?
I agree with you Nic – there are some missing pieces to this puzzle. We play a valuable role in keeping the awareness alive searching all angles of this situation.
Timo said:
“Her admission "Even the FBI will not take her calls…"should be a significant statement for the readers here.”
Yes, of course; and her claim that she was ordered to delete the record of two deaths resulting from medication overdose is significant as well. The FBI refusal to continue talking to her can be explained, while I find her claim dealing with said deletions more difficult to explain.
There can also be haste to disbelieve. Better to push for thorough investigation.
Why is it so incredulous that something like this could have happened? Stranger things occur every day. How could reputable physicians defraud the Medicare system when there is government oversight? Hmm. Florida made the news with its huge millions in Medicare fraud by physicians and medical providers.
So, why is fraud and deceit not possible? Check out Wall Street for the best answers. And there are all sorts of regulations, but even the rating agencies lied!
Do you think the FHS is immune to such tactics? Why? How hard is it to coverup such errors? The very highly paid CEOs of this and other SDA health systems says a lot: when they can bring home more than their counterparts at Mayo's and John Hopkins, they are willing to continue doing what keeps them there.
We are the product of our personal experience. Many decades ago I was working for an Adventist hospital and was ordered to do what I considered to be inappropriate. I refused and was fired. This is one reason I feel sympathy for Patricia Moleski.
I could relate other instances where my duty to God the way I understood it forced me to refuse orders from my superiors. In spite of this, I am willing to let the evidence lead to the truth of what happened. In the case of Lindy Chamberlain it took over three decades for the truth to come out.
Hey Tim-o, Chuck, Claims Adjuster, AHS Risk Management Professional Delete Requester. How are you doing? I bet you are nervous that the highly respected FBI will find out your requests for IT personnel and Risk Administrative Secretaries to delete little portions within the Event Description of Risk Master that don’t suit your pocketbook. What about the two year old little girl that was injured and you wanted notes removed from her claim record? Did you disclose that delete information to her parents, or AHCA about that incident? AHCA or the government would never know, now would they? How would they? They would never know it was there in the first place because they would only see what AHS shows them. What about the AHS Assistant Risk Director in the actual patient medical record of the suicide patient only days after I reported his overdose? HIPPA violations? Not for me! That will be saved for you and everyone that stripped the rights of those patients who trusted they were receiving good care and confidentiality. What was/is the bonus amount you are/have been receiving for this type shenanigans? Oh, and why did the law firm of Ingram and Associates write that brochure for AHS Risk Management on how to get away with patient information deletion? Didn’t you read my Interrogatories submitted to the court? I don’t have anything of AHS’ and if you continue to slander me I will see you in court. By the way, the FBI is on my side and don’t doubt it for a second! AHS picked the wrong woman to push their delete button. I am watching the news daily to see when the FBI arrests all of you.
Timo,
I'm curious as to your official capacity regarding "conversations with several CEO's and CFO's of various FH and AHS entities. I am not as yet willing to divulge all that has been disclosed" to you.
It sound like you certainly have skin in this game, according to Patricia's latest statement. It's beginning to sound like you have been stringing everyone along with you plea for unbiased reporting but evidently, you have very biased reasons for your positions.
Timo – Elaine asked you whether you have any skin in the game based on the above statement from Patricia Moleski. Please clue us in.
Timo,
The folowing are rules we are supposed to live by when commenting her at AT. It seems you have been granted a great deal of liberty to bend them.
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"No reader applying critical thought will simply accept what you say simply because you say it."
Look in the mirror and address that to the figure you see.
Tim-O/S.Pr–ce, Do you remember when you saw me in the parking lot of AHS with Mr. S.Len-or? He told me that you all knew about the deletions and that there was nothing I could do about it but find another job. You had me sitting there deleting your mess and then walked into your church to pray and somehow convince yourself that you were doing God's work. How can you justify what you have done to me, the patients and the employees of AHS? The highly respected Adventist leader S.Len-or showed sympathy when I told him what I had found out about all of you. I told him that the first computer icon that my supervisor – J.Hill-ck gave me access to was the delete button. J.Hill-ck did not want to perform your deletions, so you brought me in blind and trusting to do it for you. In S.Len-or’s own words "I feel bad that you have to see that" and "the top AHS people know about it" and "if you do anything about it, they will lose their jobs." The managing tactics of S.Joh–son is what put this mess in the public arena and your group attack against me will be the very thing that will peel your group corruption wide open for all to see. How can you justify your million dollar collections, off of the innocent blood of the unknowing patient victims? I am not a disgruntled employee. I am a person who loved Adventist Health System and cared about the company. Months prior to my suspension I sent a letter to T.Hami-ton about wanting to start AHS hospital prayer teams and this showed the intent of my heart. I remember telling you before I found out about this mess that “I loved my job so much that I would work at AHS for the rest of my life at minimum wage.” Do you remember that? There are many employees at AHS who are loving, compassionate and caring individuals, who know that I don’t have the capacity for guile. It will be the honesty, integrity and compassion of those who sit within the Adventist church to put a stop to this corruption and extend the healing ministry of Christ Jesus! Matthew 18 ~“If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.“I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
Timo,
Are you denying that deletions of adverse events are done in Adventist institutions in order to protect them from lawsuits by patients and employees who have been the victims of the errors committed by hospital employees?
Timo, regarding your comment below:
"By the way, no one has ability to "irrevocably delete" ANY parts of a medical record. There are subset-databases where certain records are modified, but in no case does anyone have this sort of power, and certainly not conferred to an administrative assistant within risk management. Any modifications would have to transpire at the pen of the care provider, usually bedside. Once entered into the electronic system, deletion is not possible. there are multipkle safeguards to this very thing."
I have to disagree with you on this one. I for a fact know that in my case Medical records including diagnostic studies (x-ray; CT scan ) were altered and then disappeared. I am not saying got misplaced or lost, I am saying completely gone out of any sort of archive, database etc etc. Basically like it never happened. It was even confirmed by DHHS ( Department of Health and Human Services), that the records in question were removed. Now how can anyone other than someone who has the authority remove pertinent medical records?
Timo – such condescending doth continue. And Timo, are you perhaps overly zealous, naively believing there is never a way to delete? It all starts simple – with a mistake (not intentional). Every time something new happens ( i.e. morphine pump that is miscalibrated unintentionally – because it is a new procedure, piece of equipment – is considered high risk. When the laparoscopic and micro surgeries began again high risk, calling for extra attention, extra people.
But when things go haywire, procedures and protocol are put in place to protect the institution (the patient as well – if possible – if they haven't died). In other words, how we handle things – and of course immediately bring in the legal team if necessary.An over-simplification but you get the caution.
In the world of IT, for months before the new millenium, all of our medical institutions made huge plans as to what to do IF anything should go wrong with computers. Indeed the department heads were in the hospitals for the witching hour of midnight to usher in the year 2000. A great cheer went up when everything went fine – without a hitch. I submit to you that any time there is a change of practice in IT within a medical organization, it is also high risk time. And, as someone already mentioned, Wall Street is a perfect example of what can and has happened. If you are quick to say "but this isn't WS – this is an SDA institution, it can't happen". We don't know at this moment – we wait and see.
By the way, there was a surge of adrenaline at the last exchange (Patricia vs Timo).
Timo,
I only made the comment in answer to your post that medical records can never be deleted. I do not intend to get off topic here, but since you made the comment, I believe I should be allowed to answer.
"Unless there were credibility issues with some of your claims-in which case the court might rule against you"
The court ruled in my favor in 2000 and 2001 and the court again ruled in my favor (twice in the last 6 months) and again we are on our way up the appeals ladder. Payout? All I am asking is that I get medical treatment pertaining to my industrial injury. Medical treatment that has been awarded to me by the court. Nothing more nothing less. How does that translate to payout?
Timo,
To make such a blanket statement as "deletions do not occur" and then tell of a case were there were deletions is contradicting that statement. Any time someone says "nothing can go wrong" beware–it will. There is no 100% certainty and that statement presumes that mistakes are never made, which invalidates anything you might say when it is made.
Timo, I apologize for having misread your statement about deletions. Investigative reporting does not accuse, but ask questions, which I believe is what has been done. Also, withholding judgment should be practiced. I am NOT accusing AHS of misdeeds, but only asking for a full investigation to ferret out the facts, which to this time, are not completely answered. Do you disagree?
I have NO bias against the hospital. That is your assumption Timo – I am interested that we take a look at all possible angles. Again, the purpose of this transparency blog was to realize the importance for even the little person to access rights under the law.
Indeed the hospital has nothing to worry about if all is above board. I gave 25 years of my life to AHS, many of them in administrative positions and came away with many fond memories and enjoyed wonderful relationships.
When I mentioned "overzealous" I was merely referring to your comment to Nic about being overzealous and your being condescending to him. You state that you are "zealous for journalistic integrity and verified veracity" Good, let us continue attempting to deal with all angles of this tragedy.
By: A Family Friend
I am very intrigued by this individual’s perception of what has and continues to happen to Ms. Moleski. He touts a trite synopsis of what transpired throughout her past, five-year ordeal by simplistically polarizing corporate, work-place dynamics as they pertain to well documented and understood sociological and psychological machinations of workplace crimes. He reflexively dismisses the transparent behaviors common to primary and co-perpetrators of corporate crimes- classic forms of retaliation and concealment designed not only to inoculate themselves from opprobrium, but to subvert any possibility of facing severe criminal penalties. He further discredits himself, using what he possibly feels to be his God-like discernment, or intuition, to impel him on an odyssey of amateur journalism to construct a utopic hospital system and then denounce Ms. Moleski as a self-serving, disgruntled employee with a martyr complex, and as one who’s real motivation was to retaliate against an employer so as to assuage unrelated grievances. It is troubling that this person boasts that he spent (could it be?) nearly the ENTIRE morning investigating, and now has a consummate command of the electronified world of medical record keeping, its laws and references to punishments doled out to ex- employees, and furthermore, actually believes his giddy summation of what he was told by hospital administrators of the vary organizations that are litigating against a now jobless woman with a son. He feels good about himself because, now, armed with some self-serving facts of his own, he can suggest and champion a punishment for this single mother. How wonderful it must feel to be the self-appointed firebrand for a company ( yes, a company, not a so-called non-profit entity) cloaked in a thick garb of religiosity ,whose real gospel is written by its disciples in the inner, clandestine offices of risk- management and is edited into hellish posterity by unwitting IT scribes. He capstones his arrogance and hones his condescension by appointing himself as Ms. Moleski’s spiritual council, suggesting that she should learn to “empower herself”, and that her notion of right and wrong is fleeting and thus distorted by her workplace experiences. It is quite possible, Mr. whoever you are, that you are confusing your powers of intuition with an unbridled, supercilious ego, and might even feel threatened because someone, who’s motivations you can never hope to understand, did something that you feel would cause your own value system (predicated on financial comforts) to collapse should you too be forced to make a moral decision that would endanger your livelihood and incur unforeseeable consequences to your family. You can snipe from a position of safety. A teenager can bully a peer through social media. That takes no brains at all. When a shameless and corrupt ‘Behemoth’ corporation bullies an adult mother of three with sham litigation, and uses underworld tactics to terrorize her, those responsible are devoid of spiritual and social intelligence, and are something else. Guilty. Also guilty of setting her car on fire with an auto-initiating exotic accelerant that burned so hot so as to flash- weld the metal brake assembly together ( just the intuition of the BATF’s chromatographic lab test and an accelerant- sniffing canine). Or a gunshot fired into her home with her thirteen-year old son sleeping nearby. Intuition dictates that someone was pretty angry with her…and nervous. And law enforcement substantiates two attempted home invasions. It is likely that most people would agree that the odds of these occurrences being unrelated to Ms. Moleski’s whistleblower status drop fairly quickly with these facts. So, between pubescent, teen angst and a renegade clique of executives guarded by money and “God”, on what moral, ethical and spiritual rung have you ascended or descended? Those who have made brave decisions resulting in great change often irritated many because they felt compelled to make a journey up a ladder that defines God’s true mandate… from ape to angels. Goliath may be giant, but David has game.
Dear Patricia Moleski,
In listening to a video that you did in July, 2011 on u-tube, I would like to express my empathy to you for all the personal losses you have experienced, so matter who the source related to your case. You have put yourself and your family at risk. I have nothing against AHS, but from the bottom of my heart, I would like to personally thank you, on behalf of the patients that were harmed because the Cerner software was causing medication errors; thank you for coming forward for their sakes. As a RN and legal nurse consultant, I would like to bring us all back to the beginning of why you became so concerned. Let's forget everything else that has been going back and forth on this board and get back to the very initial problem of patients being harmed because the software was dropping medication entries and therefore patients were getting double doses. There are several nationally known law firms who may take your case related to a medical device injury causing double dosing and sometimes fatal medication injuries to patients. This would not only help you to gain an attorney, but also stop the ongoing injury that may be continuing to happen to patients at any facility utilizing this software. Please, consider this approach as a possible solution. They could also help protect you as a whistle blower. In the meantime, it would be most helpful if we could all focus on the issue of being patient advocates, as Patricia Moleski has been. There is no need to personally rant on each other at all. The bottom line is, patients were being harmed by a device injury. Do not lose heart. Jan
Mr. Onjukka,
I have been reading this blog over and over and it's apparent you have taken this matter personally for some reason. Because I want to be an informed reader, I must ask you WHY?
To explain further:
From the start, your postings scream some personal knowledge, involvement, and personal hurt and intent, and so it becomes of issue to those reading this blog as to why that is, because you were very obviously taking it personal "BEFORE" Patrcia Moleski stated she saw you in a parking lot at church ( and you have stated you have never known Patricia Moleski, seemingly on any level what so ever )
When and if you explain that, your viewpoints and comments may be seen by readers to be unbiased, but until then, how can anyone reading this blog ever understand why you have sunk your teeth in here against Patricia Moleski.
Further:
Reading the content posted in this blog, and viewing Patricia Moleski's video leaves no confusion for readers in "WHY" she is screaming from the roof top, but for yourself, as you have said, having no involvement on any level leaves readers no other obvious perception.
My interest here is to follow the outcome and resolution of content learned from the video, and information posted here, and NOW, to try and understand WHY you have sunk your teeth into Patricia Moleski, though you alledge not to know her and have no involvement, but in contrast to that, you have stated you actually spoke to CEO's and others directly concerning Patricia Moleski, surely you can see that readers would QUESTION all of this in effort to understand.
So in contrast to all of your postings where your screaming how ridiculous Patricia Moleski is, alledging she is just disgruntled, you have failed to answer for your own disgruntled state with a person you claim to have never met, surely you see the severe confusion and questions this raises.
I would like to keep an open mind at all times, of all things, and because of that; I am receptive to hearing all facts on all sides from information made available.
So if you can come clean with us readers here TIMO, it is most appreciated.
Mr. Onjukka,
Are you a practicing "Adventist "? I believe I have read you are, and I ask because you stated :
" you've never set foot on any AHS property "
Are Adventist churches not AHS property?
I just want to be CLEAR, thank you for clarifying that as well.
"utterly fabricated intimations woven into a semi plausible story"
This is an unbiased statement?
So I am clear on the TOS here. Can you give me examples of responses I could submit to this topic currently being discussed in the blog.
The topic as I read it here is Timo Onjukka assertions that Patricia Moleski is delussional and has no credibility.
Please do not delete my post, because that is the topic being discussed and I am merely adding my opinion as all others here are doing.
Timo,
Since you elected to avoid my question, I will post it again:
"Are you denying that deletions of adverse events are done in Adventist institutions in order to protect them from lawsuits by patients and employees who have been the victims of the errors committed by hospital employees?"
Notice that I did not imply that such deletions are done for every adverse event taking place in AHS hospitals.
Are you saying that no deletions have ever been done in the AHS? Are you also saying that the entire Moleski story was fabricated out of thin air?
Timo,
You said that your strong condemnation of Patricia are done “In the interest of fairness, journalistic integrity.” Are we supposed to accept this claim of yours at face value? Didn’t you state that you have close friends at AHS? Could it be that you might have a vested interest in protecting them instead of acting with unbiased journalistic integrity?
The jury is still out, yet you already have shown what your verdict is. According to you, Moleski has fabricated the whole story out of thin air. Is this a good example of journalistic integrity? Just wondering!
Timo,
“You stated the following: “Yes, it is ridiculous that she is claiming AHS tried to firebomb her car … [and] tried to murder her …”
Did Patricia claim that AHS was the one who set her car on fire and attempted to murder her? Where did you get this from? I didn’t hear this in the video, and I listened the entire thing twice. As far as I can recall, all she said was that someone had done those things but she did not point the finger at the identity of the culprit.
Timo,
Since you cannot answer my question, I conclude that Patricia’s claim that she was fired because she refused to delete the nurse’s record of two adverse events which resulted in the deaths of two patients might be genuine.
At the same time, since you deny having ever had any personal encounter with Patricia, then I have to admit that we need to insist that she clarify her declaration and explain why she made such a statement. Is it possible that she is confusing you with somebody else? Just wondering!
Patricia: Would you please explain why you made said statement?
For someone who claims only to be a disinterested journalist seeking truth, you have inferred that you have inside knowledge and know much more than any of the others here who have no "inside information" but after viewing the video, we are convinced that Patricia is NOT lying, despite all your inferences to the contrary.
You also have left the impression that you have some personal knowledge of AHS administrators and have talked with them. IOW: whether or not this is fact you seemed to leave the impression that you had "inside knowledge" leading to the conclusion that Patricia was lying.
You have never given any reason why one should suspect she is not completely truthful. She had nothing to gain and everything to lose, which she has, by revealing her own experiences. These are HER experiences, not yours or anyone else. But by the very specific and detailed description of what had occurred, it would be most unlikely that all this was a mere figment of the imagination of someone who was simply making it all up.
So the question is: how can you know so much more about Patricia and what really happened? I admit I know only her story. Do you know more than you are willing to reveal?
I found this article very interesting,
A whistle-blower lawsuit based on insider information from a former Florida HospitalOrlando billing employee and a staff physician alleges that seven Adventist Health hospitals in Central Florida have overbilled the federal government for tens of millions of dollars in false or padded medical claims.
The suit claims Florida Hospital used improper coding for more than a decade to overbill Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare, all federal government payors. In addition, it alleges, the hospital commonly overbilled for a drug used, for example, in MRI scans and billed for computer analyses that were never performed.
http://articles.
Thank you for posting this news article. I would not have seen it otherwise. I like to keep on on the world events, and so much can be missed when you walk around with blinders on.
I just finished reading the Sentinel article. The judge has given a green light for the suit to progress, calling the evidence "extensive and sufficient."
After doing research, and finding out about Patricia's story and Barb…will let you know my experience with Florida Hospital Daytona Beach was absolutely awful…was fired, falsely accused of insubordination because I asked the supervisor to sign my time sheet. I am a contract nurse and though to bring all my good skills to this facility. The area was beautiful, the housing perfect. There are beautiful ranches in Ormond Beach and I was given a horse. Life was perfect until…I encountered the wrath of this organization. After being falsely accused of insubordination I had 2 days to move out of the beautiful apartment. It took 2 months for me to find part time work, my reputation tarnished. A contract broken because of a supervisor who has ice running through her veins…….almost losing my home and car. Here it is 9 months later and the EEOC really has not done much after filing a complaint of discrimination. Finally I have found a lawyer who will assist me. This is just the beginning of a big fight and I stand my ground. This will never happen again. My goal is to take this lousy corporation down hospital by hospital. It is satans playground. Am I scared? Yes…and I will do what is right…fight these lousy B's back until..they are done…
Ms. Moleski:
I admire your courage and honesty. Any person who can sacrifice so much just to do the right thing is my hero.
I am no lawyer, but have you consider filing a formal complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) pursuant to Frank Dodd Act which rewards and protect whistleblowers like your self since the cooperation is a public traded company?
The type of unlawful conduct you describe in the YouTube video is overwhelming, which can land the corrupt bastards in jail plus a hefty fine which you will be entitled to 33% of that fine.
Keeps the fight going; I am also a victim of a corrupt cooperation similar to Adventist.
http://www.topix.com/forum/com/mms/T05CMKU395DUEUBKC
http://www.topix.com/forum/com/mms