Provide names of other journalists involved.
None
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
#1: November 14 #2: October 10 #3: September 30 #4: October 26
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
#1: This story delves into the complicated issue of dual eligibles, patients who receive both Medicaid and Medicare, and how their care has long been costly and uncoordinated. It addresses why the government must look to this population as they try to reduce healthcare expenditures and why any changes will be difficult. #2: The article takes a newsy, on-the-ground look at the monumental effort by Los Angeles County to begin implementing Health Policy by expanding coverage to the uninsured, even as the law is still being debated in Washington and around the nation. #3: This is a tick-tock narrative of one night in the emergency room at one of the nation’s busiest safety net hospitals. Through real patients, the story highlights how crowding has only gotten worse during the recession and how more patients are using the ER for primary care. #4: This is a profile of one young woman battling cancer. It shows how adolescent and young adult cancer patients have been overlooked for decades and why doctors are finally beginning to pay attention to their unique issues.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
For the stories, I used a variety of reporting sources, including state and local data, academic studies, journals and patient information.
Explain types of human sources used.
I also interviewed numerous sources for each story, including patients, doctors, advocates, state healthcare officials, consumer groups and nurses.
Results:
No measurable results.
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
None.
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
As you report on health and healthcare, don’t hesitate to tackle complex issues and to take new looks at old topics. Also, start covering Health Policy on-the-ground in your community now and write about how it is already impacting patients, doctors, hospitals and clinics.