WANT TO KNOW THE BEST AND WORST NURSING HOMES WITHIN 50 MILES OF WAYNESBORO, VIRGINIA?

The information might be important if you are trying to decide where to place a loved one who can no longer care for himself/herself at home. But how can you determine which nursing home is the best? If this issue is important to you, you job just got a lot easier.

The answer is provided by a new "5-Star Quality Rating System" provided by Medicare. The Five-Star System was created to help consumers, their families, and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily and help identify areas about which you may want to ask questions.

The nursing homes receiving the best ratings include:

Summitt Square - Waynesboro, VA

Augusta Medical Center Skilled Care - Fishersville, VA

Bridgewater Home - Bridgewater, VA

Our Lady of Peace - Charlottesville, VA

Mountain View Nursing Home - Aorda, VA


The nursing homes receiving the worst ratings include:

Avante at Waynesboro - Waynesboro, VA

Envoy of Staunton - Staunton, VA

King's Daughters Community Health and Rehab - Staunton, VA

Lovingston Health Care Center - Lovingston, VA

Golden Livingcenter/The Cedars - Charlottesville, VA

The Laurels of Charlottesville - Charlottesville, VA

Avante at Harrisionburg - Harrisonburg, VA

Harrisonburg Health and Rehabilitation Center - Harrisonburg, VA

Evergreene Nursing Care Center - Standardsville, VA

My Take: Be an informed consumer of health care and do your loved one a favor....check out the nursing home BEFORE you decide what is best for a family member.

VIRGINIA NURSING HOME MEDICAL DIRECTOR IN THE NEWS

....and it is not in a good way! A woman whose mother was a resident at Heritage Hall nursing home in Front Royal, Virginia has serious issues with the facility's medical director, Dr. Lewis A. Rogatnick. According to the Board of Medicine of the Department of Health Professions of Virginia, Rogatnick gave false information when applying for a medical license in Virginia in October 1998. His license was suspended, but stayed based on the payment of a $3,000 fine.

The Board of Medicine says that Rogatnick said he had not ever voluntarily surrendered his clinical privileges when he had. On Nov. 12, 1996, "the Executive Committee of the Medical Staff at Jennings American Legion Hospital, Jennings Louisiana, summarily suspended his privileges for, among other things, his 'disruptive and abusive behavior towards nurses, staff and other employees of the hospital ... [was] ... detrimental to patient care and functioning of the hospital ... [and] proper care for your patients ... [was] ... believed to be impaired.'"

Dr. Rogatnick, 49, said he is the medical director at Evergreen Health and Rehabilitation nursing home in Winchester and an attending physician at Golden Living Center-Rose Hill in Berryville.

My Question: Why didn't the owners of Heritage Hall investigate Dr. Rogatnick's background BEFORE they placed him in charge of the health and well-being of elderly patients?

WANT TO KNOW THE BEST AND WORST NURSING HOMES WITHIN 50 MILES OF RADFORD, VIRGINIA?

The information might be important if you are trying to decide where to place a loved one who can no longer care for himself/herself at home. But how can you determine which nursing home is the best? If this issue is important to you, you job just got a lot easier.

The answer is provided by a new "5-Star Quality Rating System" provided by Medicare. The Five-Star System was created to help consumers, their families, and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily and help identify areas about which you may want to ask questions.

The nursing homes receiving the best ratings include:

Highland Ridge Rehab Center - Dublin, VA

Kroontje Health Care Center - Blacksburg, VA

Pulaski Community Hospital - Pulaski, VA

Skyline Nursing and Rehabilitation Center - Floyd, VA

Trinity Mission Health and Rehab - Hillsville, VA

Heritage Hall of Laurel Meadows - Laurel Fork, VA

Snyder Nursing Home - Salem, VA

Brandon Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center - Roanoke, VA

South Roanoke Nursing Home - Roanoke, VA

Waddell Nursing and Rehab Center - Galax, VA


The nursing home which received the worst ratings include:

Heritage Hall/Blacksburg - Blacksburg, VA

Riverview Nursing Home - Rich Creek, VA

Salem Health and Rehabilitation Center - Salem, VA

Carrington Place at Wytheville/Birdmont Center - Wytheville, VA

Virginia Veterans Care Center - Salem, VA

Pheasant Ridge Nursing and Rehab Center - Roanoke, VA

Raleigh Court Health Care Center - Roanoke, VA

Edgemont Center - Wytheville, VA

Avante at Roanoke - Roanoke, VA

Golden Livingcenter of Blue Ridge - Galax, VA

Friendship Health and Rehab Center - Roanoke, VA

Franklin Health and Rehabilitation Center - Rocky Mount, VA

Berkshire Health and Rehabilitation Center - Vinton, VA


My Take: Be an informed consumer of health care and do your loved one a favor....check out the nursing home BEFORE you decide what is best for a family member.

EYEBALL PUNCTURED DURING CATARACT SURGERY

OUCH!

A 57-year-old Virginia woman was scheduled for cataract removal surgery on her right eye on Feb. 26, 2005. Just prior to the surgery, a nurse anesthetist (CRNA) punctured her eyeball twice while inserting the needle for the superotemporal (ST) anesthetic injection.

On the first post-operative day, plaintiff’s ophthalmologist and retinal specialists diagnosed a vitreous hemorrhage and then a double perforation.

This means the woman suffered a permanent scar rendering her “legally blind.” The injury is permanent and cannot be repaired or improved with surgery.

After 28 minutes, the Jury returned a $450,000 verdict for the woman ! (WAY TO GO JURY)

Congratulations to Plaintiff’s Attorney Stephanie E. Grana, Richmond.
You did a great job for your client.

Frith Law Firm in Roanoke also accepts Malpractice cases arising from eye surgery. Lasik, cataract surgery etc. Please call our firm today if you have a malpractice question regarding eye surgery. 1-866-985-0098.

MEDICATION ERRORS AND THE ELDERLY

The toxic effects of medications and drug-related problems can have profound safety consequences for older adults. One source estimates that 30% of hospital admissions in elderly patients may be linked to drug-related problems or drug toxic effects. A 1997 study of adverse drug events (ADE) found that 35% of ambulatory older adults experienced and ADE and 29% required health care services including medical care in an emergency room or hospitalization.

If medication-related problems were ranked as a disease by cause of death, it would be the 5th leading cause of death in the United States according to the publication, Long Term Living.

Will someone in the health care industry explain why this occurs?

WANT TO KNOW THE BEST AND WORST NURSING HOMES WITHIN 50 MILES OF LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA?

The information might be important if you are trying to decide where to place a loved one who can no longer care for himself/herself at home. But how can you determine which nursing home is the best? If this issue is important to you, you job just got a lot easier.

The answer is provided by a new "5-Star Quality Rating System" provided by Medicare. The Five-Star System was created to help consumers, their families, and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily and help identify areas about which you may want to ask questions.

The nursing homes receiving the best ratings include:

Summitt Health and Rehabilitation - Lynchburg, VA

Westminster-Canterbury - Lynchburg, VA

Fairmont Crossing - Amherst, VA

Bedford County Nursing Home - Bedford, VA

Autumn Care of Altavista - Altavista, VA

Benjamin Borden Health Center - Lexington, VA


The nursing homes receiving the worst ratings include:

Grace Lodge - Lynchburg, VA

The Carrington - Lynchburg, VA

Medical Care Center - Lynchburg, VA

Lynchburg Health and Rehabilitation - Lynchburg, VA

Golden Livingcenter of Shenandoah Valley - Buena Vista, VA

Lovingston Healthcare Center - Lovingston, VA

Heritage Hall Lexington - Lexington, VA

Gretna Health and Rehabilitation - Gretna, VA

My Take: Be an informed consumer of health care and do your loved one a favor....check out the nursing home BEFORE you decide what is best for a family member.

WANT TO KNOW THE BEST AND WORST NURSING HOMES WITHIN 50 MILES OF BEDFORD, VIRGINIA?

The information might be important if you are trying to decide where to place a loved one who can no longer care for himself/herself at home. But how can you determine which nursing home is the best? If this issue is important to you, you job just got a lot easier.

The answer is provided by a new "5-Star Quality Rating System" provided by Medicare. The Five-Star System was created to help consumers, their families, and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily and help identify areas about which you may want to ask questions.

The nursing homes receiving the best ratings include:

Bedford County Nursing Home - Bedford, VA

Summitt Health and Rehabilitation Center - Lynchburg, VA

Westminister-Canterbury - Lynchburg, VA

Autumn Care of Altavista - Altavista, VA

South Roanoke Nursing Home - Roanoke, VA

Brandon Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center - Roanoke, VA

Snyder Nursing Home - Salem, VA

Benjamin Borden Health Center - Lexington, VA


The nursing homes receiving the worst ratings include:

Lynchburg Health and Rehabilitation Center - Lynchburg, VA

Virginia Baptist Hospital - Lynchburg, VA

The Carrington - Lynchburg, VA

Medical Care Center - Lynchburg, VA

Berkshire Health and Rehabilitation Center - Vinton, VA

Grace Lodge - Lynchburg, VA

Carrington Place at Botetourt Commons - Daleville, VA

Friendship Health and Rehabilitation Center - Roanoke, VA

Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation Center - Fincastle, VA

Avante at Roanoke - Roanoke, VA

Raleigh Court Healthcare Center - Roanoke, VA

Pheasant Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center - Roanoke, VA

Virginia Veterans Care Center - Salem, VA

Gretna Health and Rehabilitation Center - Gretna, VA

Salem Health and Rehabilitation Center - Salem, VA

Golden Livingcenter Shenandoah Valley - Buena Vista, VA

Brian Center Nursing Care/Alleghany - Low Moor, VA

My Take: Be an informed consumer of health care and do your loved one a favor....check out the nursing home BEFORE you decide what is best for a family member.

WANT TO KNOW THE BEST AND WORST NURSING HOMES WITHIN 50 MILES OF DANVILLE, VIRGINIA?

The information might be important if you are trying to decide where to place a loved one who can no longer care for himself/herself at home. But how can you determine which nursing home is the best? If this issue is important to you, you job just got a lot easier.

The answer is provided by a new "5-Star Quality Rating System" provided by Medicare. The Five-Star System was created to help consumers, their families, and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily and help identify areas about which you may want to ask questions.

The nursing homes receiving the best ratings include:

King's Grant Retirement Community - Martinsville, VA

The Woodview - South Boston, VA

Autumn Care of Altavista - Altavista, VA

The nursing homes receiving the worst ratings include:

Piney Forest Health Care Center - Danville, VA

Roman Eagle Memorial Home - Danville, VA

Blue Ridge Rehab Center - Martinsville, VA

Gretna Health and Rehabilitation Center - Gretna, VA

South Boston Manor - South Boston, VA

Franklin Health and Rehabilitation Center - Rocky Mount, VA

My Take: Be an informed consumer of health care and do your loved one a favor....check out the nursing home BEFORE you decide what is best for a family member.

WANT TO KNOW THE BEST AND WORST NURSING HOMES IN MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA?

The information might be important if you are trying to decide where to place a loved one who can no longer care for himself/herself at home. But how can you determine which nursing home is the best? If this issue is important to you, you job just got a lot easier.

The answer is provided by a new "5-Star Quality Rating System" provided by Medicare. The Five-Star System was created to help consumers, their families, and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily and help identify areas about which you may want to ask questions.

The nursing homes receiving the best ratings include:

King's Grant Retirement Community

Golden Livingcenter - Martinsville


The nursing home receiving the worst rating:

Blue Ridge Rehab Center

My Take: Be an informed consumer of health care and do your loved one a favor....check out the nursing home BEFORE you decide what is best for a family member.

WANT TO KNOW THE BEST AND WORST NURSING HOMES WITHIN 50 MILES OF ABINGDON, VIRGINIA?

The answer is provided by a new "5-Star Quality Rating System" provided by Medicare. The Five-Star System was created to help consumers, their families, and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily and help identify areas about which you may want to ask questions.

The nursing homes receiving the best ratings include:

Clinch Valley Medical Center - Richlands, Virginia

Heritage Hall - Wise, Virginia


What about the worst rated nursing homes? According to Medicare the list includes:

Grace Healthcare of Abingdon

NHC Healthcare - Bristol, Virginia

Francis Marion Manor - Marion, Virginia

Brain Center Health and Rehabilitation - Weber City, Virginia

Heritage Hall - Tazewell, Virginia

My Take: Be an informed consumer of health care and do your loved one a favor....check out the nursing home BEFORE you decide what is best for a family member.

WANT TO KNOW THE BEST AND WORST NURSING HOMES WITHIN 50 MILES OF COVINGTON, VIRGINIA?

The information might be important if you are trying to decide where to place a loved one who can no longer care for himself/herself at home. But how can you determine which nursing home is the best? If this issue is important to you, you job just got a lot easier.

The answer is provided by a new "5-Star Quality Rating System" provided by Medicare. The Five-Star System was created to help consumers, their families, and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily and help identify areas about which you may want to ask questions.

The nursing homes receiving the best ratings include:

The Woodlands - Clifton Forge, Virginia

Pocahontas Center - Marlington, West Virginia


The nursing homes receiving some of the worst ratings include:

Brian Center Nursing Care - Low Moor, Virginia

White Sulphur Springs Center - White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia

The Springs Nursing Center - Hot Springs, Virginia

Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation - Fincastle, Virginia

Greenbrier Manor - Lewisburg, West Virginia

The Brier - Ronceverte, West Virginia

Carrington Place at Botetourt Commons - Daleville, Virginia

Heritage Hall - Lexington, Virginia

Salem Health and Rehabilitation - Salem, Virginia

Berkshire Health and Rehabilitation Center - Vinton, Virginia

Avante at Roanoke - Roanoke, Virginia

Pheasant Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center - Roanoke, Virginia

My Take: Be an informed consumer of health care and do your loved one a favor....check out the nursing home BEFORE you decide what is best for a family member.

WANT TO KNOW THE BEST AND WORST NURSING HOMES WITHIN 25 MILES OF ROANOKE, VIRGINIA?

The information might be important if you are trying to decide where to place a loved one who can no longer care for himself/herself at home. But how can you determine which nursing home is the best? If this issue is important to you, you job just got a lot easier.

The answer is provided by a new "5-Star Quality Rating System" provided by Medicare. The Five-Star System was created to help consumers, their families, and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily and help identify areas about which you may want to ask questions.

The nursing homes receiving the best ratings include:

South Roanoke Nursing Home (Roanoke, VA)

Brandon Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (Roanoke, VA)

Snyder Nursing Home (Salem, VA)


The nursing homes receiving the worst ratings include:

Avante at Roanoke

Raleigh Court Health Care Center (Roanoke, VA)

Berkshire Health and Rehabilitation Center (Roanoke, VA)

Friendship Health and Rehabilitation Center (Roanoke, VA)

Pheasant Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (Roanoke, VA)

Virginia Veterans Care Center (Salem, VA)

Salem Health and Rehabilitation Center (Salem, VA)

Brian Center Health and Rehabilitation, (Fincastle, VA)

My Question: Why do we have almost three times as many bad nursing home as good nursing homes?

BED BUG LAWYER

In the last week, I have received numerous calls regarding bed bug infestations in Motels along Virginia's I-81 corridor. Not one call - but two calls in 1 week. I wish I were kidding about this, but there are bed bugs waiting in the sheets of a Motels off I-81. They are waiting for you to turn off the lights, and climb in.


Once under the covers, these bugs will suck blood from your skin - while feeding, they inject a tiny amount of their saliva into the skin.

They range in size from recently hatched, to large well fed bugs (about the size of corn kernel or tick).

If you are like me, the very thought of it can make your skin crawl. So what can these bugs do:

1. Bites can cause itching, welts, rashes, inflammation of the skin.
2. Bites can evoke allergic responses.
3. Scratching bites can lead to secondary infections.
4. Bites can also cause emotional distress and anxiety.
5. Loss of sleep (due to concern there are bed bugs biting you.
6. Damage to property (you may need to throw out suitcases, etc. that have been exposed).

These little critters are serious - and scary. Frith Law Firm is available to assist anyone who has recently been bitten by Bed Bugs in a motel or hotel in Virginia. Such infestations ARE preventable.

In addition to calling your doctor (right away), if you have been bitten by bed bugs in Virginia, call me today. Lauren Ellerman, 1-866-985-0098.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT NURSING HOME ABUSE OR NEGLECT

Did you loved one tell you that he had been verbally abused at the nursing home?
Was your grandmother dropped from a lift?
Did your uncle tell you he fell from a Wheelchair?

My experience is that no matter what some one's mental state, they are probably NOT inventing stories of abuse or neglect. I believe most of these comments are based on actual events.

So what if you do suspect abuse or neglect in a nursing home?

1. ALWAYS KEEP NOTES - of who you talk to, what day, who was on shift, what you told the Administrator etc. Also - find out who the staff person is who was involved.

2. ALWAYS FOLLOW UP - if the DON tells you she will look into it, be sure to ask what she found out? Ask in a letter, reminding her that she promised to speak to staff etc.

3. COMMUNICATION MUST BE IN WRITING - it is fine to complain to staff in the hallways, but if you don't document the complaints, and their follow up action, no one will remember and your complaints will be unanswered (most often).

4. ASK FOR RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES - if someone suspects staff abuse, ask the Administrator for a copy of the facility's policies on staff abuse. Then make sure the facility does what the policy says they should do.

5. REPORT THE ABUSE to the local Adult protective services (if the person is still in the facility)

6. REPORT NEGLECT to Department of Health in Richmond.

In many circumstances, these incidents do NOT give rise to a lawsuit, but the most important thing is to protect your loved one. This means making sure they get the best care and you can help that process, by being deligent and organized.

DOCTOR OPERATES ON WRONG SIDE OF PATIENT'S MOUTH

No...I am not making up this story.

Officials at a Providence, Rhode Island hospital have reported an oral surgeon began operating on the wrong part of a patient's mouth this week before discovering the error. It's the fifth wrong-site surgery in the last two years in the Lifespan hospital chain. This time the "mistake" occurred at Hasbro Children's Hospital.

Why does wrong site surgery happen so frequently? It is the responsibility of the operating room nurses, technicians, and the surgeon to all make sure they have the correct patient...getting the correct operative procedure....at the correct site.

How can 3 (at a minimum) different individuals miss this important piece of information? Unfortunately, we have seen wrong-site surgery on numerous times right here in Southwest Virginia.

VIRGINIA DOCTOR IN THE NEWS...FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS

Physicains are well-educated, well-trained professionals with high standards...correct? Well, someone forgot to tell Dr. Gomez in Richlands, Virginia.

You see, Dr. Roy Gomez pleaded guilty last week to obtaining controlled substances by misrepresentation, making false statements on tax returns, and failing to file reports of his foreign bank accounts. As a result of his plea agreement Dr. Gomez will forfeit $600,000 to the federal government (wonder where the money came from?). The doctor also faces up to 17 years in prison and a fine up to a maximum of $1 million when he is sentenced on July 20.

My Take: I know doctors are only human but Dr. Gomez's conduct must have been ongoing and undetected for years. Just how well is the Virgina Board of Medicine policing its members?

RESIDENT RIGHTS IN THE NURSING HOME

Lauren wrote a great blog yesterday about the legal rights of the elderly in nursing homes.

In regard to legal rights, one of the frequent questions we hear is, " Can they kick my dad out of his nursing home?" In Virginia, there is a specific law which answers the questions. Basically, a resident can ONLY by discharged or transferred out of the nursing home for one of the following reasons:

1. Nonpayment of charges.

2. If the nursing home cannot meet the resident's medical needs.

3. If the resident is a danger to himself/herself or other residents.

4. With informed and voluntary consent of the resident or his/her legal representative.

GUESS WHAT? THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY LIED

Medical associations have been telling state legislators (and the public in general) that unless America curbs the right of patients to file medical malpractice cases, all of the doctors are just going to pack up their medical bags and stethoscopes and quit.

I have always felt this was "baloney" as I do not see doctors either quitting their medical practice or moving to states with restrictive damage caps. Now I've got some evidence.

The American Medical Association's(AMA) recently released “Physician Characteristics and Distribution” report provides the following interesting findings:

1. The number of physicians in the United States grew steadily during the decade between 1998 and 2007, from 765,922 to 941,304.

2. The increase was evident in every state and doubled the number of doctors per capita since the 1960s.

3. The specialties with the highest liability risk actually attracted more practitioners in recent years. The numbers of neurosurgeons, obstetricians/gynecologists, and emergency department doctors all increased nationally over the past five years.

This AMA report reinforces research from The Commonwealth Fund and the American College of Emergency Physicians, which found health-care quality and patient safety are far worse in states that have eliminated accountability through tort reform measures.

My Take: The insurance industry (primarily the malpractice liability insurance carriers) is the source of all the tales about doctors closing shop due to fears over liability. Why? To justify outrageous premiums and to push state legislatures into limiting permissible damages to those seriously injured by medical negligence...and thereby increasing the insurance company's profits/

HELPING THE ELDERLY EXERCISE THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS

As I was driving to work this morning I heard a news story on the rights of elderly persons in Virginia Nursing Homes. A Virginia attorney, Kathy Pryor, was explaining that you have a legal right to appeal a decision to be removed from a facility.

Truth is, I have only heard of a few people being removed - but I agree with her that in a bad economy, we may see more people being "kicked out" of Virginia Nursing Homes for non-payment.

Ms. Pryor has a great website with resources for Virginia families who want to know more about their rights in nursing homes.
Please take a minute to read about the Elder Law Project: - http://www.vplc.org/elder.html

If you have questions about the care your loved one is getting at a Virginia Nursing Home, please call our office. Mr. Frith and I can assist you in investigating the care, contacting the Virginia Department of Health to file a formal complaint, contacting local agencies on aging, revoke arbitration agreements signed with the nursing home, etc.

Please do not hesitate to call today. After all, there is no reason not to ask for the best care possible for your loved one.

NEW RIVER VALLEY MALPRACTICE ATTORNEY

Do you live in Radford? Christiansburg? Blacksburg? Shawsville? Dublin? and need a medical malpractice attorney to evaluate your case?

Living in a small community is both a blessing and a curse. Your local attorney may not want to take a malpractice case against your family doctor, if he goes there too. So often you may need to go "out of town" to have an attorney evaluate your medical malpractice case in the New River Valley.

Please do not hesitate to contact Frith Law Firm - our website www.frithlawfirm.com has a great deal of information on the process of reviewing a case.

We have taken cases all over the New River Valley - from Pulaski to Catwaba. Mr. Frith was born and raised in Blacksburg and knows the legal community well.

We would be honored to help. Please call our office, 540-985-0098 today.

VA HOSPITALS FAIL TO CLEAN TUBING

As I was driving home last night, I heard another radio news piece on VA hospitals in Florida, and their failure to clean tubing used for patients during colonoscopies.

A physician who was speaking on behalf of the VA, Dr. Bagian, stated that hundreds of Veterans had received letters regarding possible contamination. Although they are "not sure," the incorrect cleaning procedures could have caused fluids from one patient, to be transferred to another. This could potentially cause spread of blood and fluid born diseases, such as HIV, Hepatitis etc.

When the journalist asked what the VA was doing about it, the physician stated they were "treating patients." I was grateful to hear her press the physician to explain whether the VA was compensating patients, the physician simply said their were legal avenues that patients had access to.

Friends, if you have received this letter from the VA - it is important for you know you must speak to an attorney who is familiar with the Federal Tort Claims Act, as soon as possible. You will have to provide written notice before suit can be filed, and that is often within a year of the incident (because then the VA has 6 months to respond and you must still file suit in accordance with state statute of limitation laws).

Please - find out if you have contracted any new illness, and call an attorney with experience on malpractice claims against the VA. Frith Law Firm has been dealing with the VA for the last year - get someone who is experienced!

I would encourage you to listen to the story - this is scary, and again, I am embarrassed that we treat our veterans this way.

PATIENT ARMBANDS IN HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES

A state agency and a hospital industry group are considering whether Kentucky should use color coded armbands to alert staff to patient wishes and medical conditions. The Lexington Herald-Leader reported Jefferson Manor nursing home in Louisville was cited in March after employees attempted to resuscitate a 95-year-old resident, despite a "do not resuscitate" order for her.



Not a bad idea really.



What about it Virginia? Wouldn't the use of armbands by nursing homes and hospitals help prevent screwups with medications, diet, and resuscitating a resident who didn't want resuscitation efforts?

REPORT: SEXUAL ASSAULT IN NURSING HOME

This is a disturbing report from a nursing home in Florida, but it just as easily be from Virginia or any other state. A 72-year-old man was arrested Monday in St. Petersburg, Fla. and charged with molesting a a 54-year-old woman with the mental capacity of a 5-year-old. Both lived in the same nursing home.

Does anyone believe the nursing home was unaware of the background or criminal tendencies of the molester? I don't.

DANVILLE REGIONAL HOSPITAL HIRES HOSPITALISTS

I know its confusing...my title looks like a screw up...its not.

Hospitalists are doctors whose primary professional focus is hospital medicine, in other words a hospitalist is a physician whose practice emphasizes providing care for hospitalized patients. Sounds good but there is another side to the story.

Lets say you want your long-time doctor to take care of you when you are hospitalized for pneumonia at your local hospital. The hospital may not allow your doctor to care for you as they may assign a staff hospitalist to provide your care...someone you don't know and didn't select. Why are hospitals hiring hospitalists? Money, what else. By hiring hospitalists the hospital can make a profit off the labor of the hospitalist doctor. How? By paying the doctor $150,000 per year but billing $300,000 per year for the doctor's services.

I just read a report that Danvillle Regional Hospital has added four hospitalists to its staff, bringing the total number of hospitalist at that facility to seven. The report, in the Danville Register & Bee, indicated that the seven hospitalist provide about 60% of the patient care at the hospital.

ADVANCING EXCELLENCE IN AMERICA'S NURSING HOMES

Is affordable (and good)nursing home possible? The national average cost of a nursing home is $203 a day, according to the latest survey by Genworth Financial. Few Americans think of $74,000 a year as affordable.

Some nursing homes even cost considerably more than that. But does their higher cost mean they provide better care? Maybe so...maybe not.

Want to learn more about the cost vs. quality debate? A new report by an industry-government-consumer-think-tank coalition called Advancing Excellence in America's Nursing Homes may help. The group signs up nursing homes that agree to pursue specific quality goals, such as reducing the incidence of bedsores and the percentage of residents in physical restraints, and then tracks their progress using data submitted to the federal government. Slightly below half of all nursing homes have joined the campaign.

My Question: How many of the nursing homes in western Virginia have signed up?

MEDICAL SPAS: WHAT ARE THEY?

The term “medical spa,” “med-spa,” or “medi-spa” describes a business that offers massages and facials along with medical services such as laser hair removal, facial rejuvenation, Botox and dermal filler injections, and chemical peels.

Growth in the spa industry has been a boon to the manufacturers and distributors of devices and drugs used for cosmetic procedures; physicians who order, use, and dispense these products; and spa owners who have joined with health care providers to profit from these services. Virginia Business Magazine reports there are more than 1,250 medical spas in the U.S. today, up 50 percent from a year ago, and about 24 of them are located in Virginia.

The FDA has reported two deaths related to the misuse of topical anesthetics in connection with laser hair removal procedures, and it recently issued a Public Health Advisory statement for these medications. Laser and intense pulsed light (IPL) procedures can cause permanent scarring, skin discoloration, burns, and the unintentional removal of cancerous lesions before they can be diagnosed and treated.

My Take: Do you homework if you plan to visit a medical spa. Ask the physician about the risks of each procedure and make sure the spa has a plan for emergency situations and that you can get to a hospital emergency room quickly if needed.