Change Preferences | Sign Out

TODAY'S NEWSPAPER
Subscribe | PostPoints

SEARCH:

| Search Archives

washingtonpost.com > Photo

Health Care's Frequent Fliers

Kenny Farnsworth called 911 hundreds of times -- sometimes daily. Was he part of the health-care problem, or a result of it?

Kenny Farnsworth, 59 and homeless, at the Tenleytown fire station. In fire departments and emergency rooms around the country, patients such as Farnsworth are known as "frequent fliers" -- people of modest means and poor health who go in and out of emergency rooms day after day, their fundamental health issues rarely resolved, at a tremendous and ever-growing cost to hospitals, municipalities and taxpayers.

Kenny Farnsworth, 59 and homeless, at the Tenleytown fire station. In fire departments and emergency rooms around the country, patients such as Farnsworth are known as "frequent fliers" -- people of modest means and poor health who go in and out of emergency rooms day after day, their fundamental health issues rarely resolved, at a tremendous and ever-growing cost to hospitals, municipalities and taxpayers.

Rebecca Drobis

Among even the city's most habitual 911 callers, Farsworth was peerless. It wasn't out of the ordinary for a Washington ambulance driver to shuttle Farnsworth more than once on the same shift. His transports were for conditions including choking, high blood pressure, trouble breathing and internal pains. Over the years, he has suffered from convulsive seizures; a deviated septum; pancreatitis; gastritis; two perforated ulcers; a hernia; lymphedema, which causes swelling in his legs; acid reflux disease; and irritable bowel syndrome.

Among even the city's most habitual 911 callers, Farsworth was peerless. It wasn't out of the ordinary for a Washington ambulance driver to shuttle Farnsworth more than once on the same shift. His transports were for conditions including choking, high blood pressure, trouble breathing and internal pains. Over the years, he has suffered from convulsive seizures; a deviated septum; pancreatitis; gastritis; two perforated ulcers; a hernia; lymphedema, which causes swelling in his legs; acid reflux disease; and irritable bowel syndrome.

Rebecca Drobis

Paramedic David Cole, left, first encountered Farnsworth while responding to one of his 911 calls in 1997.

Paramedic David Cole, left, first encountered Farnsworth while responding to one of his 911 calls in 1997.

Rebecca Drobis

"I don't mean to wear out anybody," Farnsworth says. "Many times I've felt like a burden. You can't help but feel like one."

"I don't mean to wear out anybody," Farnsworth says. "Many times I've felt like a burden. You can't help but feel like one."

Rebecca Drobis

Many of Farnsworth's calls were the result of a choking sensation. He didn't understand what caused it, but at some point nearly every day he started to feel as if his throat were closing in on itself. His panic would accelerate the process, and by the time the medics arrived, he'd be clutching at his throat and speaking in hoarse whispers. Last year, Farnsworth went under the knife at George Washington University Hospital. What had been bothering him for so many years was a damaged hyoid bone, the horseshoe-shaped bone above the Adam's apple. A scar from surgery is visible on his neck. Now he almost never experiences the choking sensation and his 911 call volume has fallen dramatically.

Many of Farnsworth's calls were the result of a choking sensation. He didn't understand what caused it, but at some point nearly every day he started to feel as if his throat were closing in on itself. His panic would accelerate the process, and by the time the medics arrived, he'd be clutching at his throat and speaking in hoarse whispers. Last year, Farnsworth went under the knife at George Washington University Hospital. What had been bothering him for so many years was a damaged hyoid bone, the horseshoe-shaped bone above the Adam's apple. A scar from surgery is visible on his neck. Now he almost never experiences the choking sensation and his 911 call volume has fallen dramatically.

Rebecca Drobis

Paramedic Dave Cole breezes past Farnsworth, who is having a meal the the Tenleytown fire station. He's invited to dine with the firefighters and medics whenever the third platoon is working. In return, Farnsworth tries to pitch in around the firehouse, cleaning up and doing small chores. Firefighters there and at other houses in Washington have been known to offer him a cot when he needs it.

Paramedic Dave Cole breezes past Farnsworth, who is having a meal the the Tenleytown fire station. He's invited to dine with the firefighters and medics whenever the third platoon is working. In return, Farnsworth tries to pitch in around the firehouse, cleaning up and doing small chores. Firefighters there and at other houses in Washington have been known to offer him a cot when he needs it.

Rebecca Drobis

Farnsworth wears clothing provided to him by the firefighters and carries all his belongings in two bags.

Farnsworth wears clothing provided to him by the firefighters and carries all his belongings in two bags.

Rebecca Drobis

Gallery Credits:
Photo Editor, Producer Dee Swann Text Editor Amanda McGrath

Note: Please upgrade your Flash plug-in to view our enhanced content.

This Story The Treatment of Kenny Farnsworth Article \| Kenny Farnsworth, a homeless man, called 911 almost daily. He's known as one of health care's frequent fliers, or patients who rely on emergency room care alone. Transcript: Post Magazine: Health Care's 'Frequent Fliers' Health Care's Frequent Fliers		TOOLBOX E-Mail This Save/Share + Digg Facebook Reddit Twitter myspace del.icio.us NewsTrust Stumble It! COMMENT 0 Comments Your browser's settings may be preventing you from commenting on and viewing comments about this item. See instructions for fixing the problem. Discussion Policy CLOSE Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post. Who's Blogging » Links to this gallery		More on washingtonpost.com • More Photo News » washingtonpost.com
» This Story:Read +\|Watch +\|Talk +\| Comments

© 2009 www.washingtonpost.com

News | Politics | Opinions | Business |Local | Sports | Arts & Living | Going Out Guide

Jobs | Cars | Real Estate | Rentals | Classifieds

SEARCH:

Search Archives

washingtonpost.com: Contact Us | Work for Us | Advertisers | Site Map | Search Terms | Topics Index | | Newsletters | Mobile | RSS | Widgets

The Washington Post: Subscribe | Home Delivery Service | Advertisers | PostPoints | e-Replica | Online Photo Store | The Washington Post Store | About The Post

The Washington Post Company: Information and Other Post Co. Websites

© Copyright 1996- The Washington Post Company | User Agreement and Privacy Policy | Rights and Permissions

Help | Contact Us