In researching an article, I encountered these startling statistics in a text entitled Evidence-Based Nursing Protocols for Best Practice, Capazuti, 3rd Edition,Springer Publishing, 2008: One-third of older adults fall once a year in their own home. There are 2.3 to…
What are risk Factors for Hypertension?
Risk factors for Hypertension (high blood pressure) include: Age, Race (Blacks are at an increased risk), Stress, Obesity, Family history, High salt and / or cholesterol intake, oral contraceptives, cigarette smoking, Excessive alcohol use, history of diabetes, gout or kidney…
What is a Stroke ?
A stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. A stroke is also known as a CVA (Cerebral Vascular Accident). This is caused by a lack of oxygen to a part of the brain resulting in…
What is a TIA?
A TIA is a transient Ischemic Attack. This happens when there is a temporary decrease in the amount of blood flow (oxygen) to a part of the brain. The signs and symptoms may be different, depending on the area of the…
False Death Certificates
In October, 2010, a LPN at a nursing home in Howell, Michigan repeatedly gave diabetic medication to a resident in the facility for short-term rehabilitation who was not a diabetic. This caused the resident to slip into an irreversible diabetic…
Big Business and Big Employers
A new report issued by the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care reports that in New York state, nursing homes employ 141,151 people and generate $21.35 billion in “economic activity.” Nationally 1.7 million people work in the nursing home industry….
Helping Your Family Member Adjust to Nursing Home Living-Tip #20
Care plans, created for the residents living in a nursing home and utilize the nursing process, will be further explained. The overall purpose of the nursing process is to guide the staff in the appropriate care and treatment and to…
Dangers of Home Health Care
Home Health Care in Michigan is totally unregulated, not policed and sometimes fatally dangerous. We are now seeing many cases involving serious injuries suffered in home health care. Great care should be exercised when hiring a home health care worker. A…
Medicare Fraud Is the Problem
The Detroit Free Press recently reported a large-scale arrest in Detroit involving physicians and others who have allegedly defrauded Medicare out of hundreds of millions of dollars. Much of this arises out of flagrantly false billing by physicians and podiatrists who bill…
Medical Malpractice Reform Nonsense
It is a sad day in America when our President, in an effort to “find common ground” with House Republicans starts talking about the need for malpractice reform. This is absurd. The problem with malpractice cases is that are not…