Please join us in welcoming Colorado Citizens for Accountability (CCA) as the latest organization to join UCP Colorado’s Statewide Family Support Services. CCA is an organization dedicated to the safety of patients who access health care and the accountability of the health care system. According to Director and Founder, Patty Skolnik, with the exception of the elderly, people with special needs have more exposure to the medical field than any other. CCA aspires to help others learn to advocate for themselves or have someone that is able to help them navigate the health care system and, if needed, the justice system. “Joining UCP Colorado and the special needs community it serves just seemed to be a natural fit and a win win for both organizations”, Skolnik said.

After spending over 20 years as a social worker and senior executive Patty Skolnik founded CCA in July of 2005 after her only child, Michael, died soon after his 25th birthday, as a result of repeated medical negligence .Patty promised to give her son a voice and has done this for Michael and all others in need of being heard. CCA is a non-profit organization that consists of individuals, families, professionals and business owners who are dedicated to patient safety, committed to providing equal access to the justice system and believe that educating themselves and future generations to take action to protect individuals’ health and safety will help prevent senseless harm in the future.

CCA’s advocacy and legislative work has drawn a great deal of media attention. In recent years, CCA has generated positive media attention in the Rocky Mountain News, Denver Post, and the Centennial Citizen. They have also been featured nationally on the TODAY show, Montel Show, and local CBS, NBC and FOX news programs.

“We are all consumers of health care”, Skolnik said. “We all have the power to make systemic changes for the purposes of improving the quality of the health care we receive. CCA believes that making educated health care decisions depends on the consumer’s ability to access information about their health care providers and care facilities. Consumers deserve straightforward access to information pertaining to the health care they receive.”

For more information about CCA, please visit their website at www.coloradocitizensforaccountability.org.