1. Provide the title of your story or series and the names of the journalists involved.
Unwarranted medical procedures; Tricia Bishop and Robert Little
2. List date(s) this work was published or aired.
The Sun broke the story Jan. 15, 2010, and its coverage continued throughout the year. Submitted entries were published Jan. 15, July 25 and Dec. 6.
3. Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
When St. Joseph Medical Center, a prominent cardiac care hospital in the Baltimore suburbs, began quietly asking some of its patients to come in for check-ups, The Sun quickly revealed why: One of its star physicians, Mark Midei, was suspected of implanting hundreds of coronary stents into patients who didn't need them. Throughout the year The Sun's reporting brought out the details: Midei hand-picked his own cases for peer-review while the hospital and regulators looked the other way; A startling ratio of stent placement was apparent in public regulatory data long before the hospital ever started notifying patients — and at two other Maryland hospitals as well; State and federal investigators picked up the case; And while the hospital said hundreds of patients were affected, in fact it was likely thousands.
4. Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Hundreds of court records and medical malpractice claims in the state's alternative dispute resolution office; Clinical trial reports from Pubmed; Reports from state regulators documenting on-site audits of the
hospital and its cardiac care facilities; State Public Information Act requests produced billing data, broken down by procedure, for every hospital in Maryland that received public insurance funds.
5. Explain types of human sources used.
Interventional cardiologists throughout the country, attorneys and doctors who specialize in malpractice claims, prosecutors and regulators in Maryland and other states that have seen similar cases, anonymous sources within the hospital and state regulatory agencies.
6. Results (if any).
More than 200 lawsuits were filed within six months of The Sun's initial report. State regulators have taken action against Midei's license and federal investigators announced a $21 million settlement agreement with the hospital. State regulatory agencies have opened investigations of at least one other Maryland hospital. Legislators have called for hearings to discuss greater state oversight of medical billings and peer review. The U.S. Senate Finance Committee conducted an inquiry and released a report finding evidence of fraud, and calling it part of a larger national issue.
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.
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8. Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
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