State Surveyors Discover Medications Continually Withheld At Conn. Nursing Home
While it is the responsibility of a doctor to prescribe medications for nursing home patients, the daily task of administering the medication falls squarely on the shoulders of the nursing home staff. Nursing home staff have a duty to both administer the proper medication-- at the interval prescribed--- to each patient. Not surprisingly when patients get the wrong medication or it is not timely given the results can be catastrophic. As a nursing home lawyer, I was disturbed to hear of a Connecticut nursing home where the staff withheld medications from a broad cross-section of patients at the large skilled...
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Little Known Ways to Prevent Hypoglycemia Using Fitness Exercises
Regulation of glucose levels is a crucial part of caring for many nursing home patients. In addition to diet, exercise can also help in regulating blood sugar. Here are some great tips from Su Rollins. Thanks Su! What effect does exercise have on glucose levels? When exercising, muscles use glucose for energy. At first, the body uses glucose converted from glycogen in the muscles. Then, glucose is taken from the bloodstream. During prolonged exercise, in order prevent blood glucose levels from becoming too low, glucagon and additional hormones are released. These hormones trigger the breakdown of stored fat into...
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Nursing Homes Not Prepared To Handle Diabetic Residents
The Washington Post had an article on the growing diabetic population in nursing homes. Despite the fact that up to 25% of nursing home residents have diabetes, a study published in Diabetes Care determined many diabetic nursing home residents are not getting appropriate care according to the standards proposed by the American Diabetic Association. The study revealed while 98% of diabetic nursing home residents had their blood glucose monitored, only 38% met their short-term glucose goals. One of the problems facing nursing home residents with diabetes is the lack of specific guidelines set forth to care for elderly people with...
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Never Event #3: Poorly Controlled Blood Sugar, Hyperglycemia & Hypoglycemia
Medicare has determined that complications associated with poorly controlled blood sugar should be included on the 'never list' as they are so easily avoidable that the costs of the treatment should not be permitted to be submitted to CMS for reimbursement. In 2007, there were 14,929 reported cases of poorly controlled blood sugar amongst diabetics in hospitals. Hyperglycemia Hyperglycemia develops when there is too much sugar in the blood (glucose > 180mg/dl). Hyperglycemia may be caused by skipping insulin does, infection or illness. Prolonged hyperglycemia can result in infection, slow-healing cuts and sores, vision problems, nerve damage...
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Insulin Overdose Kills Nursing Home Resident
A nursing home resident in England died after receiving 5 times the normal dosage by a nurse at the nursing home where she resided. The woman who had Parkinson's was unable to communicate her physical needs or her insulin dosage to the nursing home employees. An insulin overdose results in low blood sugar levels, or hypoglycemia. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include: Anxiety Confusion Extreme hunger Fatigue Irritability Sweating or clammy skin Trembling hands If sugar levels continue to fall during an insulin overdose, serious medical complications and even death. Low blood sugar is defined as less than 70 mg/dL. Hypoglycemia is...
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