- latimes.com/health/la-he-health-411-20111219,0,7931768.story?page=1
- articles.latimes.com/2011/aug/22/health/la-he-health-411-20110822
- latimes.com/health/la-he-health-411-20110627,0,456065.story
- latimes.com/health/la-he-health-411-20110613,0,62844.story
Provide names of other journalists involved.
N/A
List date(s) this work was published or aired.
6/13/2011, 6/27/2011, 8/22/2011, 12/19/2011
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
Each column answers two consumer health care questions. The pieces submitted cover: limits of advance care directives, the search for medical prices, financial help to pay for COBRA when HIV , storing health information, Health Policy’s impact on the low-income and uninsured, how to change a death certificate, medical groups imposing annual fees and whether states can opt out of Health Policy. Each column presented answers questions and provides solutions to real-life problems readers faced with regard to accessing and paying for care/insurance coverage or the need to correct a mistake.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Published journal studies, industry research, state and federal websites
Explain types of human sources used.
Physicians, attorneys, consultants, researchers, policy and health IT experts, coroners, patient advocates, public health officials
Results:
N/A
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.
N/A
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
I think the strength of the Health 411 column is that it directly responds to health consumers’ concerns based on their experiences interacting with the health care system. In addition to cultivating a wide range of well-informed contacts, the ability to provide resources that enable people to take concrete action to remedy an immediate problem or access and/or pay for care is a great need healthcare consumers have today in a complex and increasingly costly healthcare system. Providing information that can lead consumers to action can play an important role in any health information reported to the public.