Wisconsin To Ease Nursing Home Penalties
When it comes to ensuring that nursing homes are compliant with regulations to protect patients, the enforcement of such provisions falls primarily on agencies within the state. When violations are discovered agencies have several options available to them in their arsenal including issuing a written citation that could become part of the facilities permanent record--- and issuing fines. Theoretically, imposing these sanctions would provide enough encouragement for poorly performing facilities to clean up their act. That is, unless the nursing home is located in Wisconsin. A new bill (Assembly Bill 302) that has been passed by the Wisconsin Assembly and...
More
Will Proposal Notifying Coroner Following Nursing Home Deaths Help Deter Abuse?
The Lexington Herald Leader is reporting about proposed legislation that would require Kentucky nursing homes to notify coroners following the death of nursing home patients at the facility or shortly after their discharge. The proposal is intended to assist families and prosecutors to identify and pursue situations involving suspected nursing home abuse and neglect. Currently, Kentucky-- like many states has loose guidelines regarding the notification of coroners following the death of a nursing home patient. Under the current laws in Kentucky, nursing homes are given broad discretion when to notify authorities as to a death that is believed to related...
More
Medication Aides In Nursing Homes: A Push To Save Money Or Improve Patient Care?
A bill in the Tennessee Legislature would create a new 'medication aide' position in nursing homes. The bill would allow medication aides to administer medication under the supervision of licensed nurses as opposed to a registered nurse- a more advanced position. Applicants for the new position would need a high school diploma, one year experience as a nurses aide in a nursing home and passage of a standardized exam. An improvement to patient care or simply cutting corners? Proponents of the bill claim the creation of a new group of medication aides will free up more experienced nurses to work...
More
Nursing Home Bill Could End Bonuses For Poorly Performing Facilities
The Des Moines Register reported on a new bill proposed by Senator Tom Coburn (R- Oklahoma) that would end the practice of paying poorly performing nursing homes a bonus. Under the current system, nursing homes across the country are paid hundreds of millions of dollars in bonuses by taxpayers regardless of their record of health and safety violations at their facilities. The Register looked at eight programs in seven states where regulatory violations don't disqualify a nursing home from receiving a bonus and determined the eight programs alone cost taxpayers $312 million per year. "We paid out in excess of...
More
Nursing-Home-Gate: Olbermann Rant On New Bush Legislation
I was forwarded this clip by several people following my post on new legislation that restricts the publics right to access nursing home inspections. This law throws another hurdle at those who are victims of nursing home abuse and neglect. Well said Keith! ...
More
A Call To Abolish Arbitration Clauses
Mother Jones, the independent, non-profit, investigative authority recently addressed arbitration clauses in nursing home contracts. The blog entry addresses how nursing homes take advantage of unsuspecting elderly in order for them to 'sign away' their right to a jury trial. The article details Ken Conner, congressional testimony regarding arbitration clauses. Mr. Conner testified: "All too often, the story is the same: avoidable pressure ulcers (bed sores) penetrating to the bone; wounds with dirty bandages that are infected and foul smelling; patients languishing in urine and feces for hours on end; hollow-eyed residents suffering from avoidable malnutrition, unable to ask...
More
Page:
1
