1. Provide the title of your story or series and the names of the journalists involved.
Empowered Patient Special
Correspondent: Elizabeth Cohen
Senior Executive Producer: Roni Selig
Executive Producer: Jennifer Bixler
Producer: John Bonifield
Editors: Steven Keller, James Evans, Eduardo Alvarez
2. List date(s) this work was published or aired.
10/2/2010
3. Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
What can women do to prevent medical errors and skyrocketing costs? Elizabeth Cohen met up with the woman who "wore lipstick to her mastectomy" and reveals ways to save your own life and become an empowered patient.
4. Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
No FOI was required
5. Explain types of human sources used.
This was the type of special that heavily depended on people who have compelling stories. We sought them out after reading about their stories on line and hearing about them through word of mouth after talking with scores of experts in the patient advocate community.
6. Results (if any).
More Americans are Empowered Patients.
7. 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.
No corrections needed. The special was well received.
8. Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
It's all about the characters. When it comes to medical specials, don't make it too clinical, connect it to people. That's what viewers respond to.