Alliance for Safety Awareness for Patients
ASAP…the time to act is now!
The Alliance for Safety Awareness for Patients (ASAP) is a non-profit organization formed by Alicia Cole and her parents Ron & Betty Cole. Alicia is a Survivor of Necrotizing Fasciitis which she contracted following routine surgery at a top rated hospital in August of 2006.
Alicia vowed that if her life was spared from this ravaging disease, once she got better, she would dedicate herself to insuring that no other family would have to endure the same preventable nightmare. Unfortunately, a peaceful convalescence was not to be the case. The medical bills marked ‘Past Due’ began arriving even as Alicia lay in the hospital attached to an IV with liquid food, antibiotics and a wound vacuum machine. Her battle for proper follow-up care and medical supplies began immediately upon being sent home from the hospital. While still bed-ridden and healing from her six surgeries Alicia and her parents were forced to begin a campaign of letters and calls fighting for help.
In total disbelief, she began sharing her experiences via emails and blogs to educate and help others. As her health improves, Alicia is continuing to increase her efforts by counseling with other Survivors and promoting public awareness of the epidemic of staph infections.
Her efforts did not go unnoticed and Alicia was invited to be the first patient and member of the public to address Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Advisory Committee on Hospital Associated Infections created by Senate Bill 739.
This committee is charged with advising on the best ways to implement public reporting of hospital acquired infection rates in California Hospitals. Today, Ms. Cole has been named an official voting member of the committee. That now brings the total number of representatives from hospitals, medical associations, doctors and governmental agencies to 40 and the number of consumer/patient representatives to 2. Alicia is grateful for the appointment and sees it as an important responsibility.
Our Mission
To educate and protect patients through awareness of hospital acquired infections such as necrotizing fasciitis, MRSA, VRE, sepsis and others. The Alliance for Safety Awareness for Patients working in conjunction with established advocacy groups, healthcare providers and legislators strives to reduce the spread of preventable hospital-acquired infections by empowering the public to make informed decisions and become proactive participants in their healthcare.
Our Vision
- To partner with established patient safety organizations to reduce the epidemic of hospital–acquired infections and to facilitate safer hospital care.
- To encourage healthcare facilities to make infection prevention a priority.
- To educate and empower patients with the knowledge to protect themselves and become proactive participants in their own health care.
- To reinforce to doctors and nurses the importance of infection prevention and hygiene practices as critical components of patient safety and as a means of preventing patient to patient contamination.
- To improve healthcare disclosure and accountability.
- To educate the family, friends and caregivers of the infirmed on protecting themselves and preventing the spread bacteria to others in their immediate surroundings.
- To provide support to the Survivors and families of those effected by hospital-acquired infections.
www.PatientSafetyASAP.org
14622 Ventura Blvd., #102-827
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
818-379-9679
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