|
|
|
March 19, 2000
It's a long road back for EmilyDobsons training to becometherapists to help daughter injured in crashBy FRITZ BUSCH Journal Staff Writer SLEEPY EYE -- The last nine months have been a test and an education for the Larry and Melanie Dobson family in many ways. Their daughter Emily Steffens was injured June 9, 1999, in two-vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 169 and Highway 19. Emily and three friends were on their way back from a college visit in St. Paul when the accident. The girl who had just graduated at the top of her class was in a coma for an extended period of time before she regained consciousness. She had just registered at St. Catherine's College in St. Paul and planned to major in mass communications and theater. Emily, who was not wearing a seat belt, suffered the most serious injuries, including brain injuries. She was a prolific and popular student at Sleepy Eye High School, excelling in theater arts and music. Emily is now learning many things over again with the help of a laptop computer, her parents, hospital therapists, and 12 women from Sleepy Eye who volunteer their help daily in the Dobson's home. She can walk by herself, but her right arm is paralyzed and her right leg is weak. If she falls, she cannot catch herself. She recalls friends she hasn't seen in years when she gets mail from them, but only if her parents don't ask her any questions about her friends. Emily is blind in the right half of her visual field and needs constant attention. Still, the family has reason for optimism. "Doctors told us she would never get as far as she already has," said Larry Dobson. "They also told us she would never be able to live alone. Of course, we hope they are wrong about that, too. We don't know who would take care of her when we can't." The Dobsons have made many trips to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and to the New Ulm Medical Center, so Emily can receive therapy treatments. Larry Dobson, Emily's stepfather, said he is taking cognitive therapy training in Indianapolis, Ind. later this week. He plans to become a certified brain injury specialist through the Mayo Clinic, so he can give therapy to his daughter. The accident has created financial problems that the Dobsons hadn't expected. The Dobsons thought they were well insured with $60,000 worth of personal injury protection (PIP) in their auto insurance, plus health insurance. But the PIP money was gone in less than six days in the intensive care unit of North Memorial Medical Center. The Dobsons later learned that the neurosurgeon who operated on Emily at North Memorial Medical Center was not an authorized by their plan, although the hospital itself was. That caused the Dobsons to pay for 20 percent of his services. "We assumed that doctors would be covered by insurance, or they would tell us. They don't. You have to find that out by yourself," said Larry Dobson. The situation was rare, according to Mark Kulda of the Insurance Federation of Minnesota. Kulda said that 98 percent of doctors in Minnesota are authorized providers by the three biggest health plans in the state. All told, the Dobsons' bills are over $110,000. Larry Dobson has a copy of the 28-page Minnesota no-fault insurance law which he said is designed to ensure that people get immediate care at the hospital after an accident, without regard to who was at fault. Dobson that part of the law is fine, but the problem is that benefits should be coordinated to that the insured are covered if they have auto and medical insurance. Dobson wants to change the language in the Minnesota no-fault law so that persons with health insurance could use it as primary insurance to pay expenses from their first day in the hospital. He would also like to include a clause for coverage of expenses incurred after hospital stays, such as home modifications and other treatments to ensure that all related expenses can be covered. State Sen. Dennis Frederickson, R-New Ulm, and Rep. James Clark, R-Springfield, will carry legislation they think can prevent what happened to the Dobsons from happening to others. "I most certainly think its something the Legislature should evaluate and consider making changes," said Frederickson. "We haven't arrived at just what should be changed or how much. This won't be easy to accomplish. It involves insurance companies and large amounts of money." He said whatever would be changed, will be scrutinized by the insurance industry. "Larry has a compelling story to tell concerning his daughter and why there should be some changes," said Frederickson. "Often laws get changed because of personal experiences our constituents bring to us. Certainly Larry has been very articulate about the tragedy and its effect on them." He said serious discussion could be looked at next year. Research and background work is being done now. The Dobsons also talked to Minnesota Assistant Attorney General Steve Wartsch about drafting language related to their issues. Larry said is also getting support from the Brain Injury Association. "Most people probably aren't aware of this, unless it happened to them. It just doesn't make sense," said Dobson. He said the cost to care for his daughter is estimated to cost between $5 and $10 million. He said the experience made them appreciate life and how little things they didn't used to think are important, are important, like time spent with family and friends.
|