Every Patient's Right: Ending Isolation In Healthcare, a podcast of The NEVER Alone Project

She wasn't just a wife—she was a hospital administrator. And still, they wouldn't let her see her husband before he died. Welcome to "Every Patient's Right (TNAP)." In today's episode, Steve sits down with Teresa Olivieri, a former hospital administrator whose husband, Kurt, was left isolated during his final days in the hospital. Despite her insider knowledge, Teresa Olivieri was denied visits, l...

Dr. Richard Leiter and Dr. Samantha Gelfand were among the few doctors to publicly speak out about the dangers of hospital isolation in 2020. In January 2021, they wrote an OpEd for StatNews titled, " Even during a pandemic, hospitals must make family visits and communication the standard of care. " In this episode, host Steve Reiter sits down with Dr. Leiter and Dr. Gelfand, palliative care physi...

He called her one last time before they took his phone.  "I love you,"  he said.  "Get better. I'll find a way in." Welcome to "Every Patient's Right (TNAP)." In this episode, we bring you the powerful story of Catherine Bonnet, whose husband Ian was suddenly hospitalized with COVID in September 2021. Like so many families during the pandemic, Catherine was forced to advocate from outside the hosp...

Dr. Wes Ely is a renowned ICU physician and researcher. In this episode, host Steve Reiter talks with Dr. Ely about the hidden harms of ICU isolation, over-sedation, the dangers of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), what most doctors have wrong about ICU treatment, and the critical need for family presence at the bedside. Together, they explore real patient stories—highlighting how isolation pol...

Jenna Hadley Johnsen is interviewed by Steve Reiter.  Welcome to "Every Patient's Right (TNAP)." In this episode, host Steve Reiter is joined by Jenna Hadley Johnsen, a seasoned nurse and devoted daughter, who shares her family's harrowing journey during the pandemic. When both parents were hospitalized, Jenna Hadley Johnsen was forced to advocate from afar, fighting protocols that shut her out as...

Dr. Mary Frances is interviewed by Steve Reiter. Welcome to Every Patient's Right: Ending Isolation in Healthcare from the Never Alone Project. In this episode, host Steve Reiter talks with Dr. Mary Frances O'Connor, renowned clinical psychologist and author of "The Grieving Brain" and "The Grieving Body." Together, they explore the science behind grief—how it affects both our minds and bodies—and...

Steve E Reiter is interviewed by Steve Reiter. Welcome to "Every Patient's Right." On this episode of Every Patient's Right: Ending Isolation in Healthcare, Steve Reiter sits down with his longtime friend, Stephen E. Reiter, to explore the devastating consequences of medical isolation—both from personal heartbreak and systemic failures. Stephen shares the deeply moving story of his wife Mary, whos...

In this episode of Every Patient's Right: Ending Isolation in Healthcare, host Steve Reiter welcomes Dr. Howard Cohn of the Cohn Health Institute to share insights on Neuro Emotional Technique (NET)—a groundbreaking method for healing emotional trauma, especially in the wake of medical isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, they dive into how NET uses muscle testing and principles from...

Gail Macrae is interviewed by Steve Reiter. Welcome to "Every Patient's Right." In this episode of Every Patient's Right, host Steve Reiter interviews Gail Macrae, a former nurse from Kaiser Permanente in Santa Rosa, California. Gail shares her firsthand experience on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing how strict hospital isolation protocols negatively impacted patients, famili...

Steve Reiter interviews Dr. Susan Heitler. Welcome to "Every Patient's" the p" podcast from the Never Alone Project, dedicated to ending isolation in healthcare and restoring vital human connections. In this episode, host Steve Reiter talks with Dr. Susan Heitler, a clinical psychologist and author of "Prescriptions Without Pills," about the emotional challenges caused by medical isolation, partic...

Welcome to another episode of Every Patient's Right, the podcast from the Never Alone Project, where we explore the real-life impact of medical isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic and the urgent need for compassionate care policies. In this heartfelt conversation, host Steve Reiter sits down with KC Netzke, who shares the moving story of her father, Carroll Netzke—a Minnesota farm boy, a devote...

Laura Jensen is interviewed by Steve Reiter.  Welcome to "Every Patient's Right" by the Never Alone Project. On today's Every Patient's Right episode, host Steve Reiter sits down with Laura Jensen for a powerful and deeply personal conversation. Laura shares the heart-wrenching story of her husband, Gary, a vibrant and larger-than-life man who passed away after weeks in the hospital during the ear...

Steve Reiter speaks with Scott Schara, whose daughter, Grace, born with Down syndrome, tragically passed away in October 2021 following forced medical isolation during a hospital stay. Scott shares Grace's joyful spirit, how their family navigated hospital protocols, and how his advocacy seeks to protect others from experiencing the same injustice. Together, they discuss the limits of patient righ...

Chelsey Hellwege and Calley Riste are interviewed by Steve Reiter.  Welcome to "Every Patient's Right" by the Never Alone Project. In this episode, sisters Chelsey Hellwege and Calley Ristee share the heartbreaking experience of losing their father, Driggs Jessup, to COVID-19 in September 2021. They recount the isolation he faced in the hospital, despite being a fit and active community figure kno...

Host Steve Reiter engages in a poignant conversation with Gregory Gandrud, a man whose firsthand experience with the complexities of healthcare isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic offers a critical lens on the intricacies of patient care. Gregory, who was hospitalized with COVID-19 at the age of 60 and faced a prolonged period of isolation, recounts the harrowing journey through intensive care...

In this episode of Every Patient's Right, host Steve Reiter speaks with guest Steve Dettel about his experiences during forced medical isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Steve Dettel shares the challenges he and his late wife faced while being isolated in the same hospital, even though they both had the same illness. Their story emphasizes the effects of such isolation, highlighting the obsta...

In this episode of "Every Patient's Right" Ending Isolation and Healthcare Podcast, host Steve Reiter speaks with Gail Seiler, her husband, Brad Seiler, and their daughter, Angela Haynes, about Gail's hospitalization experience in late 2021. Gail shares her story of being admitted to a Texas hospital for COVID-19 and facing significant isolation due to restrictive visitation policies. Brad, a form...

In today's episode, we have Dr. Stephen Guffanti, a former emergency room physician turned holistic medicine practitioner and literacy advocate. Dr. Guffanti shares his harrowing hospital experience, where both he and his roommate faced severe mistreatment. He exposes systemic flaws in corporate healthcare, criticizes the COVID protocols, and emphasizes the crucial role of patient advocates. Dr. G...

Steve Reiter interviews Debbie Shivers. Welcome to this episode of "Every Patient's Right: Ending Isolation and Health Care" by the Never Alone Project. Welcome to "Every Patient's Right," a podcast examining the effects of forced medical isolation and advocating for essential healthcare policy reforms. This episode focuses on the case of Rodney Shivers, who faced severe medical challenges during...

Host Steve Reiter converses with Patti Giliano, a seasoned psychiatric nurse practitioner, about the intense challenges faced during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tune in as Patti recounts the widespread hospital shutdowns influenced by corporate and CDC directives, which led to significant nurse layoffs and halted crucial medical operations. She shares her personal COVID-19 battle, s...

In today's episode, Steve sits down with State Representative Julie Mayberry from Arkansas, who has been a formidable advocate for improving hospital patient visitation rights, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rep. Mayberry shares her personal experiences and the journey of crafting and passing the "No Patient Left Alone" bill, addressing the legislative hurdles and the importance of famil...

host Steve Reiter sits down with Tracy Bird, who shares the heartbreaking story of her husband, Jeff, and his isolation during his battle with COVID-19 in December 2021. Tracy recounts the fear and confusion leading up to Jeff's hospitalization, the lack of communication with medical professionals, and the trauma of being unable to say goodbye. This episode delves into the ethical implications of...

Today, we're joined by Carolyn Blakeman from the former Feds Group and Rachel Rodriguez, a dedicated Florida-based attorney. In this episode, we delve into the critical issues of forced medical isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic, exploring its devastating impact on patients and their families. Our guests share powerful personal stories, spotlight systemic healthcare problems, and emphasize the...

In this powerful and emotional full trailer episode of Every Patient's Right , host Steve Reiter narrates his heartbreaking personal experience of losing his wife, Elizabeth, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite both being COVID-negative, Steve and his family were denied the opportunity to be at Elizabeth's bedside during her 21-day hospitalization. As Steve recounts the tragic series of events a...