Coalition to Heal Healthcare in Florida Announces Launch of New Interactive Web Site; Site Offers Latest Information on Florida's Medical Liability Crisis.Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers TALLAHASSEE Tallahassee (tăləhăs`ē), city (1990 pop. 124,773), state capital and seat of Leon co., NW Fla.; inc. 1825. Tallahassee is a wholesale trade and distribution center for the surrounding lumber, livestock, and agricultural area. , Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 19, 2002 The Coalition to Heal Healthcare in Florida today Florida Today is the major daily newspaper serving Melbourne, Brevard County and the Space Coast region of Florida. It was founded in 1966 by the Gannett corporation. announced the launch of the group's new interactive Web site, offering the latest information on Florida's medical liability crisis and the coalition's campaign to seek reforms during the 2003 legislative session. The Web site, http://www.healFLhealthcare.org See .org. (networking) org - The top-level domain for organisations or individuals that don't fit any other top-level domain (national, com, edu, or gov). Though many have .org domains, it was never intended to be limited to non-profit organisations. RFC 1591. , contains background information on the coalition, including its comprehensive plan for fixing Florida's broken medical liability system. It also includes a section titled "What's at Stake," which sets out the key issues surrounding sur·round tr.v. sur·round·ed, sur·round·ing, sur·rounds 1. To extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle. 2. To enclose or confine on all sides so as to bar escape or outside communication. n. the current crisis and how it is negatively impacting the level of healthcare for all Floridians. The site has a "Resources" section containing important reports and study findings on the medical liability crisis and a "News Room" that includes a digital press kit complete with various fact sheets, frequently asked questions and recent news articles covering the issue. There are two grassroots features on the site -- a "Tell A Friend" function that allows the user to spread the word on the coalition to friends and colleagues through email, and a "Take Action" function that allows the user to send a letter to his or her own state representative and state senator Noun 1. state senator - a member of a state senate senator - a member of a senate urging legislative action. The Coalition to Heal Healthcare in Florida, spearheaded by the Florida Hospital Association and the Florida Medical Association, is a broad alliance of more than 50 of the state's top healthcare and business groups. It has provided a detailed package of proposed reforms to the House Medical Liability Insurance Workgroup and the Governor's Select Task Force on Healthcare Professional Liability Insurance. The Coalition's solutions center on three basic areas -- defining more clearly reasonable parameters of litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. and compensation, providing for a more stable insurance market and improving patient safety. "Without question, the medical liability crisis is already hurting Floridians. Fair reform is within our reach, but we have to work together to achieve it," said Wayne NeSmith, president of Florida Hospital Association. "We feel that this Web site is a valuable resource for all Floridians to stay informed on the latest happenings and get involved in this important legislation." The Coalition, working in support of Governor Jeb Bush's efforts to repair the liability system, is asking state lawmakers to restore fairness and balance to the process so that injured in·jure tr.v. in·jured, in·jur·ing, in·jures 1. To cause physical harm to; hurt. 2. To cause damage to; impair. 3. patients can be justly compensated while protecting health care for all Floridians. "By year's end, at least six Florida hospitals will be forced to close their obstetrics obstetrics (ŏbstĕ`trĭks), branch of medicine concerned with the treatment of women during pregnancy, labor, childbirth (see birth), and the time after childbirth. units because they can't find affordable liability insurance," NeSmith added. "Other hospitals are struggling to maintain their emergency rooms, mammography mammography, diagnostic procedure that uses low-dose X rays to detect abnormalities in the breasts. The early diagnosis of breast cancer made possible by the routine use of mammography for screening women increases a woman's treatment alternatives and improves her units, and various types of surgery. Florida's leading health care and business groups are united on this issue -- the Legislature must address this crisis to ensure that our citizens can obtain these important services." |
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