Monday, February 23, 2009

Bruce Holstien Respondd to El Defenzor ...

On Mon, Feb 23, 2009 at 12:33 PM, Holstien, Bruce wrote:

Dear Mr. Villarreal,
Thank you for providing CHRISTUS Spohn with an opportunity to respond to your inquiry. I have forwarded your inquiry to Estela Chapa, Vice President for CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi – Memorial.
I appreciate your contact and have asked Mrs. Chapa to respond to your inquiry promptly.
Sincerely,

Bruce Holstien
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On Mon, Feb 23, 2009 at 4:58 PM, Chapa, Estela wrote:

Mr. Villarreal:
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to your recent inquiry, unfortunately, we are unable to discuss the care provided to any particular patient; as such a discussion would violate federal law.
The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPAA") prohibits health care providers from discussing the care provided to patients with third parties, including the media. We value the privacy of our patients, and we are not in a position to explain what care was rendered or the circumstances under which it occurred.
CHRISTUS Spohn takes seriously the duties imposed on all hospitals under Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act ("EMTALA"). Patients that present to our emergency room are provided with an appropriate medical screening examination and appropriate medical care under EMTALA.
As you are aware, CHRISTUS Spohn Health System has a rich and enduring tradition of providing care to all. We provide care in our emergency room to any patient suffering from an emergency medical condition regardless of age, race, sex, sexual orientation or the patient's ability to pay. Last year, we provided $54 million in charity care and community benefits to patients in South Texas. Not only is this commitment to our neighbors and community consistent with EMTALA but also the mission statement of CHRISTUS Spohn Health System.
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to your inquires.
Sincerely,
Estela Chapa, FACHE
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
CHRISTUS Spohn Health System

2 comments:

Jaime KenedeƱo said...

That letter was the typical bureaucratic response / disclaimer / marketing message with absolutely not one iota of meaningful substance with regard to the issues addressed by El Defenzor. Homero, we have went after these guys before and indeed we have humbled this for profit non profit monstrosity and we did force them to take notice. The reprieve came about due to a disenchantment with you know who & what. That ship is still sinking! What a miserable slow capitulation nonetheless deserved. What a pity letting go of that one. This entity and it's many heads and umbrellas kick all of us around as if we were little bitty ants and our byte is annoying at best, But what if we all stung at one time?

Anonymous said...

Estela Chapa. Go ahead and link her to fullofshit.com