Susan Sheridan became involved in patient safety after her family experienced two serious medical system failures. Her Husband, Pat, died in 2002 after his diagnosis of spinal cancer failed to be communicated. Their son, Cal, suffered severe brain damage called kernicterus five days after his birth in 1995 when his neonatal jaundice was untreated.
Sheridan is co-founder and past President of Parents of Infants and Children with Kernicterus, which works in partnership with private and public health agencies to eradicate kernicterus. In 2003, Sheridan co-founded Consumers Advancing Patient Safety, a nonprofit organization that seeks a safe, compassionate and just healthcare system through proactive partnership between consumers and providers of care. During this session, Ms. Sheridan will describe her personal experiences involving medical error and discuss the importance of effective communication between all healthcare professionals in the diagnostic testing pathway.