From the newsroom of The Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Missouri, Monday, November 17, 2008 .....

Columnists Angela Curry

Hearing processor may be lost for good

On Sept. 11, 2007 I went to Menorah Medical Center for a knee replacement. I am deaf and have a cochlear implant. During my hospital stay, my implant processor went missing. After I was coherent enough to ask about my missing processor, I was given the runaround. And this is still happening.

The processor cost almost $7,000, and it is not in my budget to buy another one. I have communicated with Menorah in every way I could. I eventually went to the office of the director and vice president. I was told that they were in a meeting, so I waited. Twenty minutes later the risk manager showed up and screeched at me and told me that I was out of line and that Menorah was not going to replace my cochlear implant processor. She had a burly person escort me out.

The last person I contacted at Menorah was one of my doctors from MidWest Ear Institute. Again the risk manager intercepted the call. She told the doctor she was going to contact me and take care of the problem. I haven’t heard from anyone from Menorah since. — I.B., Grandview

DEAR I.B: We tried to get you connected with someone at Menorah who could address your concerns. We sent your letter to the director of patient services but later received a letter from Tina Boschert.

Boschert gave us the same response you said she gave your doctor. She said she would contact you and discuss your concerns. Boschert said that because of patient information rules she could not respond in writing to us but would respond directly in writing to you.

We don’t know whether Menorah will offer any assistance, but we suggest you get legal advice and also talk with your insurance company to see if you have any options in finding your processor, compensation for its loss or a replacement.

Copyright 2008 The Kansas City Star

+------------------------------------------------------
Do not forward this news/information. Tell your friends to subscribe directly to USA-L News at http://www.deaftimes.com

A public service of Creative Designers. Copyright 2008.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. If you wish to reprint this article, you are hereby required to obtain copyright permission from the publisher of the article, not USA-L News.

Deaf Times is not responsible for the content of USA-L News.
+------------------------------------------------------