Researchers examined the records of 6,000 patients who were given blood transfusions during heart-bypass or heart-valve surgery. All of the patients were treated at the Cleveland Clinic from June 30, 1998, through January 30, 2006. The study was published in this week’s New England Journal of Medicine. The conclusion: Heart surgery patients were more likely to die or suffer problems if they received transfusions of blood that is more than two weeks old rather than fresher blood.
The study underscores concerns that blood deteriorates with age and that allowing blood to be stored for six weeks may pose a safety risk, at least for certain patients. And the real scary part, the average age of the "old" blood was 20 days, not the full 42 days allowed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The average age of the fresher blood was 11 days. What would the results be if the “old” blood was the full 42 days old as allowed by the FDA?
Better ask your surgeon just how long the blood used for your transfusion has been “on the shelf.”
Monday, March 31, 2008
AWFUL NURSING HOME CASE
Ok, so the defense in nursing home cases often will say "we can't watch your loved one every minute of every day" - "falls happen, pressure sores are unpreventable, some elderly people just refuse medicine and treatment" but how do you defend this?
DEATH BY FIRE ANTS in a NURSING HOME... Case of Devers v. Greystone & Terminix, Huntsville, AL. 23rd Judicial Cir. Well, I don't think you can defend it - and neither did the jury, with a $5,350,000.00 verdict.
DEATH BY FIRE ANTS in a NURSING HOME... Case of Devers v. Greystone & Terminix, Huntsville, AL. 23rd Judicial Cir. Well, I don't think you can defend it - and neither did the jury, with a $5,350,000.00 verdict.
ILLINOIS NURSING HOME FINED $40,000
A Peoria, Illinois nursing home has been fined $40,000 stemming from violations in July of 2007 for not developing or implementing a plan to reduce the number and frequencies of falls experienced by its residents.
According to documents from the state department of health, Manor Court of Peoria did not properly supervise three patients at risk for falls, nor did the home circulate information about the high-risk residents among its staff members. The investigation also determined the home's operating policy on the books was insufficient. The health department cited the case of a 93-year-old man who was admitted to Manor Court in November 2006 with renal failure, congestive heart failure and hypertension. The patient's report noted he was moderately mentally impaired and needed assistance to move around. Between Jan. 11, 2007, and May 2, 2007, nurses found the man on four separate occasions lying on the floor, either in his bedroom or near the bathroom. He eventually was taken to a hospital to treat an injury he suffered to the left hip and arm.
I applaud the state department of health! Fines must be substantial if they are intended to punish poor care and get the attention of the facility owners.
According to documents from the state department of health, Manor Court of Peoria did not properly supervise three patients at risk for falls, nor did the home circulate information about the high-risk residents among its staff members. The investigation also determined the home's operating policy on the books was insufficient. The health department cited the case of a 93-year-old man who was admitted to Manor Court in November 2006 with renal failure, congestive heart failure and hypertension. The patient's report noted he was moderately mentally impaired and needed assistance to move around. Between Jan. 11, 2007, and May 2, 2007, nurses found the man on four separate occasions lying on the floor, either in his bedroom or near the bathroom. He eventually was taken to a hospital to treat an injury he suffered to the left hip and arm.
I applaud the state department of health! Fines must be substantial if they are intended to punish poor care and get the attention of the facility owners.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
RESTRAINTS IN NURSING HOMES
I am happy to report that nursing homes are reducing their use of, and reliance upon, restraints. Restraints come in a variety of styles and uses from wrist restraints….to leg restraints…to lap belt restraints…to vest restraints.
For years, many nursing homes over-used restraints to limit the mobility of residents thereby reducing the need for care, attention, and supervision by staff. And fewer staff means less expense and more profit for the nursing home owners. Changes to federal law in 1987 made it illegal for nursing homes to use restraints, such as bed rails or wheelchair belts, to discipline residents or because of convenience. The use of restraints on nursing home patients declined by almost 40% between 2002 and 2006 as states and nursing homes began to eliminate the practice.
Restraints create their own hazards and require a doctor’s order. Make sure your facility is not abusing the use of physical restraints.
For years, many nursing homes over-used restraints to limit the mobility of residents thereby reducing the need for care, attention, and supervision by staff. And fewer staff means less expense and more profit for the nursing home owners. Changes to federal law in 1987 made it illegal for nursing homes to use restraints, such as bed rails or wheelchair belts, to discipline residents or because of convenience. The use of restraints on nursing home patients declined by almost 40% between 2002 and 2006 as states and nursing homes began to eliminate the practice.
Restraints create their own hazards and require a doctor’s order. Make sure your facility is not abusing the use of physical restraints.
FDA DRUG APPROVAL - TIMING IS EVERYTHING
In Today's Wallstreet Journal, our local paper, and on the AP - "Late approval of Drugs linked to safety issues."
Hardly a week goes by without new research reflecting certain medications have unknown, serious side effects...At least three major drugs have been pulled from pharmacy shelves in the last four years (Vioxx, Baycol, amd Rexulin) because of unsafe side effects. And what do they all have in common?
According to the AP reports, "Looking at drugs yanked off the market, Harvard researchers found a disturbing pattern: Medicines approved right on deadline by the Food and Drug Administration are more likely to cause safety problems later than those cleared with more time to spare."
"The Harvard analysis of decades of drug approvals, published in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine, provides the first scientific evidence supporting some of those complaints.
The FDA challenged the findings with its own statistics. Still, the study sparked calls to re-examine the balance between speed and safety.
"The article is a wake-up call," said Dr. Steven Nissen, the Cleveland Clinic's influential cardiology chief who helped sound the alarm on the risks of some of those ultimately doomed drugs
"It puts the FDA in a very difficult situation when they're trying to make complex decisions under these very, very tight deadlines," he added. "We've got to reevaluate now whether that's good public policy."
"Amid concern about risky drugs, Harvard professor Daniel Carpenter took a closer look at the impact. First, he found approval is 3.4 times as likely in the two months leading up to the user-fee deadline as at any other time.
Drugs approved in that just-before-deadline period had a four- to five-fold higher rate of later being withdrawn or requiring serious safety warnings, compared with drugs approved faster - presumably slam-dunks - or those that miss the deadline, Carpenter concluded.
The FDA argued the findings weren't accurate, rushing out its own statistics that showed somewhat more withdrawals among drugs approved just before the deadline but not enough to be statistically significant.
"FDA won't approve a drug if we are not ready," said drug chief Dr. Janet Woodcock. "And we have the option of denying approval altogether if there is any question about safety."
But the Harvard researchers in turn rechecked their statistics, which had passed review by the medical journal, and informed FDA they were standing by the findings.
Among on-the-brink approvals that later caused problems: The painkiller Vioxx, pulled off the market in 2004 for increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes; its competitor Bextra, gone in 2005; the diabetes drug Rezulin, withdrawn in 2000 for liver problems; and cholesterol-lowering Baycol pulled in 2001 for muscle damage.
More recently, the diabetes blockbuster Avandia was linked to heart risks last year, getting a strict new warning label."
Scary stuff - read more at www.ap.com
And please, remember, no medication is without complication.
Hardly a week goes by without new research reflecting certain medications have unknown, serious side effects...At least three major drugs have been pulled from pharmacy shelves in the last four years (Vioxx, Baycol, amd Rexulin) because of unsafe side effects. And what do they all have in common?
According to the AP reports, "Looking at drugs yanked off the market, Harvard researchers found a disturbing pattern: Medicines approved right on deadline by the Food and Drug Administration are more likely to cause safety problems later than those cleared with more time to spare."
"The Harvard analysis of decades of drug approvals, published in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine, provides the first scientific evidence supporting some of those complaints.
The FDA challenged the findings with its own statistics. Still, the study sparked calls to re-examine the balance between speed and safety.
"The article is a wake-up call," said Dr. Steven Nissen, the Cleveland Clinic's influential cardiology chief who helped sound the alarm on the risks of some of those ultimately doomed drugs
"It puts the FDA in a very difficult situation when they're trying to make complex decisions under these very, very tight deadlines," he added. "We've got to reevaluate now whether that's good public policy."
"Amid concern about risky drugs, Harvard professor Daniel Carpenter took a closer look at the impact. First, he found approval is 3.4 times as likely in the two months leading up to the user-fee deadline as at any other time.
Drugs approved in that just-before-deadline period had a four- to five-fold higher rate of later being withdrawn or requiring serious safety warnings, compared with drugs approved faster - presumably slam-dunks - or those that miss the deadline, Carpenter concluded.
The FDA argued the findings weren't accurate, rushing out its own statistics that showed somewhat more withdrawals among drugs approved just before the deadline but not enough to be statistically significant.
"FDA won't approve a drug if we are not ready," said drug chief Dr. Janet Woodcock. "And we have the option of denying approval altogether if there is any question about safety."
But the Harvard researchers in turn rechecked their statistics, which had passed review by the medical journal, and informed FDA they were standing by the findings.
Among on-the-brink approvals that later caused problems: The painkiller Vioxx, pulled off the market in 2004 for increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes; its competitor Bextra, gone in 2005; the diabetes drug Rezulin, withdrawn in 2000 for liver problems; and cholesterol-lowering Baycol pulled in 2001 for muscle damage.
More recently, the diabetes blockbuster Avandia was linked to heart risks last year, getting a strict new warning label."
Scary stuff - read more at www.ap.com
And please, remember, no medication is without complication.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
What a great law - it allows access for all, to public records. Now why would I write about FOIA on a blog regarding Nursing Home and Medical Malpractice? Because FOIA can be your friend. If you have a few weeks to consider which nursing home or hospital is best - Call the Department of Health for your state, and find out how to make a Freedom of Information Request - you can get all sorts of useful information: Number of beds, recent state inspections, whether they had staffing problems, who owns the nursing home, etc. They may charge you for copying costs, but it is well worth the investment. We hear families say frequently, "If I had only known more about the facility, I never would have let Aunt Bea go there!" Now, you don't have an excuse. For more info, look up the nursing homes on http://www.medicare.gov/
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
START A FAMILY COUNCIL AT YOUR NURSING HOME
How does one person or one family get the attention of the nursing home Administrator or Director of Nursing to deal with poor care in the facility? Remember – the squeaky wheel gets the oil….and the bigger the squeak the more the oil!
Just what are we talking about? We are talking about forming a Family Council at your local nursing home. A Family Council can be two or more families who are concerned enough about the care provided to their loved ones that they want to be heard by the decision makers at the facility. Family Councils can play a crucial role in voicing concerns, requesting improvements, supporting new family members and residents, and supporting facility efforts to make care and life in the facility the best it can be. Join and support the family council at your loved one's facility! If no family council exists, join with other family members to form one.
Take a look at the National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform’s (NCCNHR) web site for ideas about how to start a Family Council.
Just what are we talking about? We are talking about forming a Family Council at your local nursing home. A Family Council can be two or more families who are concerned enough about the care provided to their loved ones that they want to be heard by the decision makers at the facility. Family Councils can play a crucial role in voicing concerns, requesting improvements, supporting new family members and residents, and supporting facility efforts to make care and life in the facility the best it can be. Join and support the family council at your loved one's facility! If no family council exists, join with other family members to form one.
Take a look at the National Citizens’ Coalition for Nursing Home Reform’s (NCCNHR) web site for ideas about how to start a Family Council.
Monday, March 24, 2008
HOSPITAL HEALTHLINE OPERATORS
You have seen the bill boards haven’t you? You know…the ones which read “Need a Doctor and Don’t Know Who to Call”…or “Need a Medical Specialist, We Can Help?” These bill boards are put up by your local hospitals and, while trying to give the appearance of helping the consumers of medical care, are really just advertising for the hospital and its medical staff.
My question is just how good are the operators of the phone lines when you call in with an emergency problem? A recent study published in the medical journal, Stroke, provides an answer!
Twenty-two percent (22%) of healthline operators in a recent study offered incorrect advice when presented with a patient scenario of typical stroke symptoms. The incorrect answer was to recommend to the caller that they see their family doctor or primary care physician rather than call 911 for emergency help. Most informed doctors will tell you that it is crucial for stroke victims to get to an emergency room as soon as possible in order to reduce the risks of permanent brain damage or paralysis.
Keep the results of this study in mind the next time you call the medical helpline at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Lewis-Gale Hospital, Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County, Danville Regional Medical Center, Stonewall Jackson Hospital, Carilion New River Valley Hospital, Montgomery Regional Hospital, Wellmont Bristol Regional Hospital, Carilion Giles Memorial Hospital, Alleghany Regional Hospital, Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital, and Tazewell Community Hospital.
My question is just how good are the operators of the phone lines when you call in with an emergency problem? A recent study published in the medical journal, Stroke, provides an answer!
Twenty-two percent (22%) of healthline operators in a recent study offered incorrect advice when presented with a patient scenario of typical stroke symptoms. The incorrect answer was to recommend to the caller that they see their family doctor or primary care physician rather than call 911 for emergency help. Most informed doctors will tell you that it is crucial for stroke victims to get to an emergency room as soon as possible in order to reduce the risks of permanent brain damage or paralysis.
Keep the results of this study in mind the next time you call the medical helpline at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Lewis-Gale Hospital, Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County, Danville Regional Medical Center, Stonewall Jackson Hospital, Carilion New River Valley Hospital, Montgomery Regional Hospital, Wellmont Bristol Regional Hospital, Carilion Giles Memorial Hospital, Alleghany Regional Hospital, Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital, and Tazewell Community Hospital.
PLEASE DON'T WAIT TO PLAN
Most families have to make nursing home decisions when something tragic has already occurred - a fall, a stroke, dementia diagnosis, etc.
What if all the 65 years olds in Virginia (1) made a will; (2) appointed a health care power of attorney; (3) consulted with a financial planner re: how to pay for long term care; (4) toured different "retirement communities" and (5) planned their own funeral and (6) drafted end of life documents like a DNR...
Think that would alleviate some of the stress your family would experience making these decisions without time to plan?
Concerned about the nursing home taking your assets leaving nothing for your kids? Eldercare attorneys can help! Please take the time to consult with a professional while you have the time, and the means... It could be a a great financial blessing for your family in the long run, as well as a huge help!
What if all the 65 years olds in Virginia (1) made a will; (2) appointed a health care power of attorney; (3) consulted with a financial planner re: how to pay for long term care; (4) toured different "retirement communities" and (5) planned their own funeral and (6) drafted end of life documents like a DNR...
Think that would alleviate some of the stress your family would experience making these decisions without time to plan?
Concerned about the nursing home taking your assets leaving nothing for your kids? Eldercare attorneys can help! Please take the time to consult with a professional while you have the time, and the means... It could be a a great financial blessing for your family in the long run, as well as a huge help!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Article in today's Washington Post
Sunrise Chief to Step Down as Chairman
Sunrise Senior Living chief executive Paul J. Klaassen is stepping down as chairman, one of several governance changes announced yesterday, two years after the company disclosed accounting irregularities and came under fire for management practices.
Sunrise, of McLean, also said it risked being delisted from the New York Stock Exchange after missing a Monday deadline to file its annual report for 2006. As recently as two weeks ago, Sunrise said it would make the deadline. Its shares fell more than 14 percent, to $19.59, a 52-week low.
The changes are in response to a series of setbacks for Sunrise, the nation's largest senior-living provider. In May 2006, it announced an earnings restatement that could lower profit by more than $130 million. Management has since faced sharp criticism from activist shareholders, as well as Securities and Exchange Commission inquiries.
Sunrise announced in December that three senior executives left after a board committee investigating the restatement discovered "inappropriate accounting" practices. The committee, however, cleared top executives of allegations of insider trading and improper backdating of stock options.
The allegations were made by a $1.7 billion pension fund associated with the Service Employees International Union, which has criticized Sunrise's board as insular.
Lynn Krominga, a lawyer who joined Sunrise's board in September at the urging of a major shareholder, is taking over as non-executive chairman. She said in a statement that the board was "disappointed that the filing deadline was not met" but reaffirmed the board's "commitment to building long-term value for stockholders."
She said the governance changes were "designed to rigorously protect the interests of our stockholders, team members and residents."
Sunrise also said Klaassen agreed to pay back his bonuses from 2003 to 2005. He also agreed not to accept bonuses for the past two years. Klaassen will remain on the board, along with his wife, Teresa, with whom he founded Sunrise with a single facility in Oakton in 1981.
The board directed management to revamp its ethics code and hire a chief compliance officer, among other steps. It also added two slots for independent directors and agreed to put the entire board up for election each year. In the past, the company had resisted such changes, with Klaassen saying they could interfere with "board stability."
Nell Minow, editor of the Corporate Library, which provides research and analysis on corporate governance, praised the moves.
"What impressed me the most here is that . . . they were very, very specific in enumerating a focus of their efforts, and they made a commitment to adding two new independent directors," Minow said.
Missing the NYSE deadline does not mean the company will be delisted. According to exchange regulations, Sunrise still has about seven weeks to file its 2006 annual report before being dropped. If it is delisted, its shares will trade over the counter.
"In a way, it was reassuring that they missed the filing deadline," Minow said. "It shows how thorough their remedial actions are."
Stephen Abrecht, the executive director of the SEIU pension fund and Sunrise's leading critic, said he was appalled that the company missed the NYSE deadline and risked being delisted. "The company belatedly implemented certain of the governance changes that we and other shareholders have long been advocating, but the changes come too late to protect shareholders' interests," he said.
Klaassen said in a statement that throughout the company's troubles, its business has continued to grow. "[O]ur development pipeline is active and we expect to continue to build senior living communities in domestic and international markets with favorable demographics and market demand," he said.
But Ryan Daniels, an analyst with the firm William Blair, warned that even if the company has taken steps to improve its governance, it may face other challenges. In particular, Sunrise had begun to explore "strategic alternatives," including putting itself up for sale, but that possibility may be diminished by current economic conditions
"[T]he housing, credit, and senior-living markets have experienced significant turmoil over the last several quarters -- likely making a transaction harder to complete," Daniels wrote in a research note yesterday. "This uncertainty -- combined with a continued lack of progress in filing financial statements and now the pending delisting of the stock -- makes us cautious on the shares."
Sunrise Chief to Step Down as Chairman
Sunrise Senior Living chief executive Paul J. Klaassen is stepping down as chairman, one of several governance changes announced yesterday, two years after the company disclosed accounting irregularities and came under fire for management practices.
Sunrise, of McLean, also said it risked being delisted from the New York Stock Exchange after missing a Monday deadline to file its annual report for 2006. As recently as two weeks ago, Sunrise said it would make the deadline. Its shares fell more than 14 percent, to $19.59, a 52-week low.
The changes are in response to a series of setbacks for Sunrise, the nation's largest senior-living provider. In May 2006, it announced an earnings restatement that could lower profit by more than $130 million. Management has since faced sharp criticism from activist shareholders, as well as Securities and Exchange Commission inquiries.
Sunrise announced in December that three senior executives left after a board committee investigating the restatement discovered "inappropriate accounting" practices. The committee, however, cleared top executives of allegations of insider trading and improper backdating of stock options.
The allegations were made by a $1.7 billion pension fund associated with the Service Employees International Union, which has criticized Sunrise's board as insular.
Lynn Krominga, a lawyer who joined Sunrise's board in September at the urging of a major shareholder, is taking over as non-executive chairman. She said in a statement that the board was "disappointed that the filing deadline was not met" but reaffirmed the board's "commitment to building long-term value for stockholders."
She said the governance changes were "designed to rigorously protect the interests of our stockholders, team members and residents."
Sunrise also said Klaassen agreed to pay back his bonuses from 2003 to 2005. He also agreed not to accept bonuses for the past two years. Klaassen will remain on the board, along with his wife, Teresa, with whom he founded Sunrise with a single facility in Oakton in 1981.
The board directed management to revamp its ethics code and hire a chief compliance officer, among other steps. It also added two slots for independent directors and agreed to put the entire board up for election each year. In the past, the company had resisted such changes, with Klaassen saying they could interfere with "board stability."
Nell Minow, editor of the Corporate Library, which provides research and analysis on corporate governance, praised the moves.
"What impressed me the most here is that . . . they were very, very specific in enumerating a focus of their efforts, and they made a commitment to adding two new independent directors," Minow said.
Missing the NYSE deadline does not mean the company will be delisted. According to exchange regulations, Sunrise still has about seven weeks to file its 2006 annual report before being dropped. If it is delisted, its shares will trade over the counter.
"In a way, it was reassuring that they missed the filing deadline," Minow said. "It shows how thorough their remedial actions are."
Stephen Abrecht, the executive director of the SEIU pension fund and Sunrise's leading critic, said he was appalled that the company missed the NYSE deadline and risked being delisted. "The company belatedly implemented certain of the governance changes that we and other shareholders have long been advocating, but the changes come too late to protect shareholders' interests," he said.
Klaassen said in a statement that throughout the company's troubles, its business has continued to grow. "[O]ur development pipeline is active and we expect to continue to build senior living communities in domestic and international markets with favorable demographics and market demand," he said.
But Ryan Daniels, an analyst with the firm William Blair, warned that even if the company has taken steps to improve its governance, it may face other challenges. In particular, Sunrise had begun to explore "strategic alternatives," including putting itself up for sale, but that possibility may be diminished by current economic conditions
"[T]he housing, credit, and senior-living markets have experienced significant turmoil over the last several quarters -- likely making a transaction harder to complete," Daniels wrote in a research note yesterday. "This uncertainty -- combined with a continued lack of progress in filing financial statements and now the pending delisting of the stock -- makes us cautious on the shares."
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
One-Third of Seniors Have Mental Decline
Article in Today's Washington Post: By Rob Stein, reports on a new study published today in Annals of Internal Medicine, that "More than 5 million elderly people have a hard time remembering things, sorting through daily decisions and even sometimes knowing what day it is, according to the first national estimate of how commonly the minds of aging Americans are starting to fade."
Using detailed evaluations of a nationally representative sample of 856 people ages 71 and older, the federally sponsored study concluded that 22 percent have begun to see their mental faculties decline, which translates into 5.4 million people.
"It's a huge number," said Brenda L. Plassman, a psychiatrist at Duke University Medical Center who led the study being published today in the Annals of Internal Medicine. "This is the first time we have an estimate of the number of Americans who have this condition," she said, noting that the findings show that mild cognitive problems are as common as diabetes in this age group."
That means 5 million people may need assistance at an Assisted Living Facility or Nursing Home. 5 million families will have to decide whether to seek outside care. 5 million families will have to find the money for care... no wonder corporations that own nursing homes are sprouting up all over the United States - people see this as big business! What a shame too - wish it could be profitable to provide better care, rather than simply profitable to care for more people.
Using detailed evaluations of a nationally representative sample of 856 people ages 71 and older, the federally sponsored study concluded that 22 percent have begun to see their mental faculties decline, which translates into 5.4 million people.
"It's a huge number," said Brenda L. Plassman, a psychiatrist at Duke University Medical Center who led the study being published today in the Annals of Internal Medicine. "This is the first time we have an estimate of the number of Americans who have this condition," she said, noting that the findings show that mild cognitive problems are as common as diabetes in this age group."
That means 5 million people may need assistance at an Assisted Living Facility or Nursing Home. 5 million families will have to decide whether to seek outside care. 5 million families will have to find the money for care... no wonder corporations that own nursing homes are sprouting up all over the United States - people see this as big business! What a shame too - wish it could be profitable to provide better care, rather than simply profitable to care for more people.
HOW DO WE CARE FOR OUR ELDERLY?
The answer to this question tells us much about our society. Do we recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by our parents and grandparents by providing the best possible care? Or, do we just barely provide the basics and “let the chips fall where they may”?
My local newspaper, The Roanoke Times, is writing a series of articles on the challenges presented by our fast-growing elderly population. The series, entitled “Age of Uncertainty” is written by reporter Beth Macy. The first two articles appeared in the March 15 and 16 editions of the Roanoke Times.
I urge you to follow the series and you may even wish to contribute to your “story” by emailing Beth Macy at beth.macy@roanoke.com.
My local newspaper, The Roanoke Times, is writing a series of articles on the challenges presented by our fast-growing elderly population. The series, entitled “Age of Uncertainty” is written by reporter Beth Macy. The first two articles appeared in the March 15 and 16 editions of the Roanoke Times.
I urge you to follow the series and you may even wish to contribute to your “story” by emailing Beth Macy at beth.macy@roanoke.com.
Monday, March 17, 2008
ELDER-CARE - GROWING BUSINESS
Our local paper, the Roanoke Times, is doing a series of articles, interviews on our local aging population - services needed, how families cope etc.
One cause for concern, is that our aging population is much higher than most other Virginia Cities - equal (in percentage) to Miami or St. Pete Fla. I have enjoyed the articles, interviews and appreciate the professional take the paper is doing - but one point I fear our paper will not make, is that aging populations are looked at by some, as great business opportunities.
Retirement homes, assisted living, long term care insurance, home care... Great ideas, right? What if the goal is profit, not health care? What if a Nursing Home costs $5000 a month and your long term care insurance will pay up to $100 a day - who pays for the rest? What do families who have money do, to get care for someone with severe dementia or Alzheimer's? Can you find out which facilities are not for profit?
By highlighting those services available, the paper will be performing a great service, but without giving the full picture of who is performing these services, I fear some valuable information will be missed.
One cause for concern, is that our aging population is much higher than most other Virginia Cities - equal (in percentage) to Miami or St. Pete Fla. I have enjoyed the articles, interviews and appreciate the professional take the paper is doing - but one point I fear our paper will not make, is that aging populations are looked at by some, as great business opportunities.
Retirement homes, assisted living, long term care insurance, home care... Great ideas, right? What if the goal is profit, not health care? What if a Nursing Home costs $5000 a month and your long term care insurance will pay up to $100 a day - who pays for the rest? What do families who have money do, to get care for someone with severe dementia or Alzheimer's? Can you find out which facilities are not for profit?
By highlighting those services available, the paper will be performing a great service, but without giving the full picture of who is performing these services, I fear some valuable information will be missed.
DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS AT OHIO NURSING HOME
Can you believe this report from Cincinnati, Ohio? Police Capt. Kimberly Frey found “fleas, flies and filth” at the nursing home and fellow officers agreed the conditions were worse than any crack house they had ever seen.
Officials served an administrative search warrant at the Westside Health Care Nursing Home and the Terrace Independent & Assisted Living last week and inspected the premises and interviewed residents. Between 50 and 70 people reside in the two facilities that occupy the same two-story brick building.
In addition to the filth, the findings included a fire door tied shut, the apparent accumulation of vomit in an entryway, smoking being permitted in areas where oxygen tanks were in use, a defective sprinkler system, defective downspouts, a cracked foundation, and missing railings on exterior stairs.
The owners of this facility should spend some time in jail!
Officials served an administrative search warrant at the Westside Health Care Nursing Home and the Terrace Independent & Assisted Living last week and inspected the premises and interviewed residents. Between 50 and 70 people reside in the two facilities that occupy the same two-story brick building.
In addition to the filth, the findings included a fire door tied shut, the apparent accumulation of vomit in an entryway, smoking being permitted in areas where oxygen tanks were in use, a defective sprinkler system, defective downspouts, a cracked foundation, and missing railings on exterior stairs.
The owners of this facility should spend some time in jail!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
AWARENESS DURING SURGERY
More than 21 million patients in North America receive general anesthesia each year, and thanks to increasing knowledge and sophisticated technology, the vast majority of anesthetic procedures are uneventful. However, a rare but serious adverse event is the explicit recall of sensory perceptions during general anesthesia, termed "awareness" or "intraoperative awareness."
The New England Journal of Medicine reports the incidence of awareness may be as high as 1 or 2 for every 1000 patients, possibly higher among children. Do the math and you should be shocked to learn that about 20,000 to 30,000 operative patients each year experience wakefulness during their surgery! Awareness occurs more frequently among patients who have received neuromuscular-blocking drugs, who cannot signal to the medical team that they are conscious.
I don’t know the answer but these numbers are too high to be acceptable! I cannot imagine the pain and anxiety a surgery patient must experience when he/she is awake during surgery and experiencing every cut and pull but is unable to alert the surgeon to the pain.
The New England Journal of Medicine reports the incidence of awareness may be as high as 1 or 2 for every 1000 patients, possibly higher among children. Do the math and you should be shocked to learn that about 20,000 to 30,000 operative patients each year experience wakefulness during their surgery! Awareness occurs more frequently among patients who have received neuromuscular-blocking drugs, who cannot signal to the medical team that they are conscious.
I don’t know the answer but these numbers are too high to be acceptable! I cannot imagine the pain and anxiety a surgery patient must experience when he/she is awake during surgery and experiencing every cut and pull but is unable to alert the surgeon to the pain.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
LAWSUITS IMPROVE NURSING HOME CARE
Okay, you first reaction is sure…the title is just more “spin” by a plaintiff’s medical malpractice and nursing home abuse lawyer. You are half right! I am a trial lawyer who represents the victims of medical malpractice and nursing home abuse and neglect…but the title to today’s blog comes from a nurse who works for nursing homes!
Tamara L. Hill, RN, lives in Jackson, Tennessee. As a former nursing-home nurse working in administration, there were multiple instances in which she had to beg corporate for things needed to provide basic patient care ... soap, shampoo, gloves, bandages, dressings, towels, sheets, equipment and, of course, the staff to actually provide the care. She was often told that it wasn't in the budget.
Sometimes the ONLY way she could get what was needed for the residents was to say "OK, but if I can't get what I need for my staff to take care of them, then you are just buying a lawsuit." Then, suddenly, someone "found" money in the budget to get the things the patient needed. If there were caps, then it would become a cost-benefit risk analysis, weighing a known cost (about 75 percent of the cap) and the savings (benefit) by not providing the staff, supplies and care vs. the risk that someone would take the lawsuit with caps in place.
Read Ms. Hill’s article published in The Tennessean here.
Tamara L. Hill, RN, lives in Jackson, Tennessee. As a former nursing-home nurse working in administration, there were multiple instances in which she had to beg corporate for things needed to provide basic patient care ... soap, shampoo, gloves, bandages, dressings, towels, sheets, equipment and, of course, the staff to actually provide the care. She was often told that it wasn't in the budget.
Sometimes the ONLY way she could get what was needed for the residents was to say "OK, but if I can't get what I need for my staff to take care of them, then you are just buying a lawsuit." Then, suddenly, someone "found" money in the budget to get the things the patient needed. If there were caps, then it would become a cost-benefit risk analysis, weighing a known cost (about 75 percent of the cap) and the savings (benefit) by not providing the staff, supplies and care vs. the risk that someone would take the lawsuit with caps in place.
Read Ms. Hill’s article published in The Tennessean here.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Grieved Parents turn to activism
In Sunday's Paper, an article appeared about a young couple in Gainesville Florida, who lost their son due to medical negligence.
The Ferrero family took their precious 3-year-old son Sebastian in for a medical exam last October - tragically, two days later he was dead, killed by a series of medical errors that began with a massive drug overdose.
After receiving $850,000 settlement from the hospital, Shands Healthcare at the University of Florida, they have started a foundation to prevent medical errors from occuring in the future.
""We never thought there was a risk involved," said Horst, 33. "This was something preventable and this was something simple. This was a routine test."
The Ferreros hope to build a $300 million, 125-bed standalone children's hospital in Gainesville within five years. They estimate they must raise about 10 percent of the money _ $30 million _ with the remainder coming from bonds.
Want to help them? www.sebastianferrors.org
I admire their efforts - their conviction, and am so sorry for their pain. I wish I could say it won't happen again.... but sadly, I know better..
The Ferrero family took their precious 3-year-old son Sebastian in for a medical exam last October - tragically, two days later he was dead, killed by a series of medical errors that began with a massive drug overdose.
After receiving $850,000 settlement from the hospital, Shands Healthcare at the University of Florida, they have started a foundation to prevent medical errors from occuring in the future.
""We never thought there was a risk involved," said Horst, 33. "This was something preventable and this was something simple. This was a routine test."
The Ferreros hope to build a $300 million, 125-bed standalone children's hospital in Gainesville within five years. They estimate they must raise about 10 percent of the money _ $30 million _ with the remainder coming from bonds.
Want to help them? www.sebastianferrors.org
I admire their efforts - their conviction, and am so sorry for their pain. I wish I could say it won't happen again.... but sadly, I know better..
Friday, March 07, 2008
GREAT NEWS - NURSING HOME EARNS $450 MILLION In 2007
I wish this were a joke...
Nursing Home Operator Sun Beats Expectations
By Vita Reed
Orange County Business Journal Staff
Nursing home and medical staffing company Sun Healthcare Group Inc. of Irvine California reported a fourth-quarter profit from continuing operations that beat analysts’ expectations.
The Irvine-based health services company, which has nursing home, rehabilitation, hospice and medical staffing arms, posted a profit of $8.8 million, up 38% from a year earlier.
Wall Street expected Sun to make $8.2 million.
With charges, Sun made $6.5 million in the quarter.
Revenue was up 74% to $450.5 million. Analysts expected Sun to do $445.1 million in the quarter.
WOW- that is great news. $8.8 Million in profits - instead of cashing it out in dividends, the Nursing Home Chain could do the following:
Nursing Home Operator Sun Beats Expectations
By Vita Reed
Orange County Business Journal Staff
Nursing home and medical staffing company Sun Healthcare Group Inc. of Irvine California reported a fourth-quarter profit from continuing operations that beat analysts’ expectations.
The Irvine-based health services company, which has nursing home, rehabilitation, hospice and medical staffing arms, posted a profit of $8.8 million, up 38% from a year earlier.
Wall Street expected Sun to make $8.2 million.
With charges, Sun made $6.5 million in the quarter.
Revenue was up 74% to $450.5 million. Analysts expected Sun to do $445.1 million in the quarter.
WOW- that is great news. $8.8 Million in profits - instead of cashing it out in dividends, the Nursing Home Chain could do the following:
- Hire 117 More Directors of Nursing (RNs) making $74,000 a year
- Hire 440 More Certified Nursing Assistants making $10 an hour
or
- 44,000 hours of legal defense work at $200 an hour (for when their facilities get sued for providing bad care, becuase they scrimpted on staff, to make money for their shareholders)...
Thursday, March 06, 2008
VA BIRTH INJURY SYSTEM
Yes, Doctors make mistakes. So many mistakes are made during child birth, that Virginia has a seperate system defining how one would seek compensation for mistakes made by a physician, during the birth of a child. The Virginia Birth Injury act, was established so OBGYNs wouldn't go out of business with extreme insurance premiums or malpractice cases... but now, the unique pay in system, may be out of money.
Washington Post follows a Manassas family:
"Twice in the past two months, Cathy Pell drove from Manassas to the state capital to lobby lawmakers to continue giving her the money she needs to care for Abby, the youngest of her five children.
Abby, a giggly, dark-haired 3-year-old, was deprived of oxygen at birth. She can't talk or eat solid food, and she has trouble seeing and walking. Her parents enrolled her in a little-known state program that pays her medical expenses for life if they agree not to sue the doctors or hospital for malpractice.
But the Virginia birth injury program, the first of its kind in the nation, is running out of money, and the state is scrambling for a way to raise millions of dollars for more than 100 disabled children. A proposal to bolster funding for the program cleared the General Assembly last week after a contentious and emotional debate that took place largely behind closed doors. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) signed the bill into law yesterday.
"I was worried benefits would be taken away,'' said Pell, 40, a stay-at-home mother. "The whole thing was just to protect my child's future. We've been awarded something. Don't take it away."
For years, lawmakers have struggled with the issue of where to get money for the program as it has become obvious that children with serious brain injuries are living longer than doctors could have predicted when the program was created two decades ago.
Lawmakers have considered a variety of solutions, including cutting benefits to families and closing the program to additional children. But these proposals were quickly dismissed after angry families met with doctors, hospital officials and insurance companies.
"We can't abandon them," said Del. Harvey B. Morgan (R-Gloucester), who introduced one of this year's bills. "They are far better off being in this program."
Bills that won House and Senate approval with bipartisan support will increase fees paid by doctors who deliver babies in Virginia and by the hospitals where they are born, raising about $750,000 a year. The additional money will extend the life of the program but will not come close to solving its problems.
"The bills are a good step in the right direction,'' said Katharine Webb, senior vice president of the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association. "But at some point, we have to come back."
The Virginia Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Program was designed in the late 1980s during a statewide malpractice crisis. Obstetricians had difficulty obtaining insurance. Lawsuits were plentiful. Insurance costs soared.
In the 1970s, the legislature capped awards in medical malpractice lawsuits at $1 million. The cap has slowly increased because of inflation and will reach $2 million this year. "
I think most doctors like the system - and pay into it - so I wonder what their efforts will be in the future?
Washington Post follows a Manassas family:
"Twice in the past two months, Cathy Pell drove from Manassas to the state capital to lobby lawmakers to continue giving her the money she needs to care for Abby, the youngest of her five children.
Abby, a giggly, dark-haired 3-year-old, was deprived of oxygen at birth. She can't talk or eat solid food, and she has trouble seeing and walking. Her parents enrolled her in a little-known state program that pays her medical expenses for life if they agree not to sue the doctors or hospital for malpractice.
But the Virginia birth injury program, the first of its kind in the nation, is running out of money, and the state is scrambling for a way to raise millions of dollars for more than 100 disabled children. A proposal to bolster funding for the program cleared the General Assembly last week after a contentious and emotional debate that took place largely behind closed doors. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) signed the bill into law yesterday.
"I was worried benefits would be taken away,'' said Pell, 40, a stay-at-home mother. "The whole thing was just to protect my child's future. We've been awarded something. Don't take it away."
For years, lawmakers have struggled with the issue of where to get money for the program as it has become obvious that children with serious brain injuries are living longer than doctors could have predicted when the program was created two decades ago.
Lawmakers have considered a variety of solutions, including cutting benefits to families and closing the program to additional children. But these proposals were quickly dismissed after angry families met with doctors, hospital officials and insurance companies.
"We can't abandon them," said Del. Harvey B. Morgan (R-Gloucester), who introduced one of this year's bills. "They are far better off being in this program."
Bills that won House and Senate approval with bipartisan support will increase fees paid by doctors who deliver babies in Virginia and by the hospitals where they are born, raising about $750,000 a year. The additional money will extend the life of the program but will not come close to solving its problems.
"The bills are a good step in the right direction,'' said Katharine Webb, senior vice president of the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association. "But at some point, we have to come back."
The Virginia Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Program was designed in the late 1980s during a statewide malpractice crisis. Obstetricians had difficulty obtaining insurance. Lawsuits were plentiful. Insurance costs soared.
In the 1970s, the legislature capped awards in medical malpractice lawsuits at $1 million. The cap has slowly increased because of inflation and will reach $2 million this year. "
I think most doctors like the system - and pay into it - so I wonder what their efforts will be in the future?
DIABETES AND NURSING HOME RESIDENTS
Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease in which the pancreas produces too little or no insulin, impairing the body's ability to turn sugar into usable energy. Diabetes is "enormously prevalent" in nursing homes. One out of every four residents over the age of 65 is diagnosed with the disease, according to a new report from the Institute for the Future of Aging Services.
Researchers analyzed the 2004 National Nursing Home Survey, which includes data representing 1.32 million nursing home residents over age 65. Among the findings: Non-white residents were twice as likely to have diabetes as white residents; diabetic residents were younger than their non-diabetic counterparts; and the prevalence of diabetes in U.S. nursing homes was higher in 2004 compared to previous years.
What do these numbers mean for the nursing home industry? It means you better have enough staff to take care of these diabetic residents who are at risk for other health problems and complications. It means you better regularly check their blood sugars as ordered by their treating doctors. It means you better watch out for pressure sores and wounds as they will not heal as quickly in a diabetic resident, posing an increased risk of infection.
Researchers analyzed the 2004 National Nursing Home Survey, which includes data representing 1.32 million nursing home residents over age 65. Among the findings: Non-white residents were twice as likely to have diabetes as white residents; diabetic residents were younger than their non-diabetic counterparts; and the prevalence of diabetes in U.S. nursing homes was higher in 2004 compared to previous years.
What do these numbers mean for the nursing home industry? It means you better have enough staff to take care of these diabetic residents who are at risk for other health problems and complications. It means you better regularly check their blood sugars as ordered by their treating doctors. It means you better watch out for pressure sores and wounds as they will not heal as quickly in a diabetic resident, posing an increased risk of infection.
WORKERS AND FAMILIES UNITE AGAINST ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY
I received an email today - with the following News Alert:
"Workers, residents’ family members confront Lazard execs over concerns at Atria Senior Living, protest outside investor meeting; demand better care, wages
Workers and family members of elderly residents at Atria Senior Living centers confronted private equity owner Lazard’s executives outside their annual meeting of buyout fund investors today, demanding better care and wages at hundreds of facilities across the country.
Atria—the third-largest assisted living provider in the United States and largest provider in New York—has come under fire recently for skyrocketing rent increases, reprimands from government agencies for poor health and labor practices, and a series of troubling incidents at facilities across the country. The protesters blamed Atria’s bad performance on Lazard’s greed—putting multi-million-dollar profits ahead of the needs of elderly residents and workers who have been under-trained and over-worked.
"Before my mother moved in, Atria promised the best food and plenty of caregiving staff. We had high expectations, but I feel like we’ve been deceived every step of the way," said Robin Berson, whose mother lives at Atria Senior Living in Riverdale, New York. More."
Good job families - we think your presence at corporate meeting is a great idea! Once again, profits take priority over people....
"Workers, residents’ family members confront Lazard execs over concerns at Atria Senior Living, protest outside investor meeting; demand better care, wages
Workers and family members of elderly residents at Atria Senior Living centers confronted private equity owner Lazard’s executives outside their annual meeting of buyout fund investors today, demanding better care and wages at hundreds of facilities across the country.
Atria—the third-largest assisted living provider in the United States and largest provider in New York—has come under fire recently for skyrocketing rent increases, reprimands from government agencies for poor health and labor practices, and a series of troubling incidents at facilities across the country. The protesters blamed Atria’s bad performance on Lazard’s greed—putting multi-million-dollar profits ahead of the needs of elderly residents and workers who have been under-trained and over-worked.
"Before my mother moved in, Atria promised the best food and plenty of caregiving staff. We had high expectations, but I feel like we’ve been deceived every step of the way," said Robin Berson, whose mother lives at Atria Senior Living in Riverdale, New York. More."
Good job families - we think your presence at corporate meeting is a great idea! Once again, profits take priority over people....
Monday, March 03, 2008
ANTI-PSYCH0TIC DRUGS OVER-USED IN NURSING HOMES
This report comes to us from Connecticut but could be from any of our 50 states. Newsday reports that nursing homes in Connecticut have dispensed anti-psychotic drugs to residents who do not have psychotic disorders at one of the highest rates in the country in the past two years.
Why you may ask would nursing homes dispense unnecessary anti-psychotic medications? The first half of the answer is that the drugs turn the residents into zombie’s, which require little in the way of attention and care. The second half of the answer is that over-medicating residents with anti-psychotics is cheaper than hiring enough nurses to properly care for and attend to the need of residents. You see….its all about the money!
Read more about how over-medicating residents with anti-psychotics is just another form of elder abuse.
Why you may ask would nursing homes dispense unnecessary anti-psychotic medications? The first half of the answer is that the drugs turn the residents into zombie’s, which require little in the way of attention and care. The second half of the answer is that over-medicating residents with anti-psychotics is cheaper than hiring enough nurses to properly care for and attend to the need of residents. You see….its all about the money!
Read more about how over-medicating residents with anti-psychotics is just another form of elder abuse.
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