With a sizable percentage of nursing home patients diagnosed with diabetes, we have been contacted by a number of current and former clients regarding a product recall involving Medtronic’s MiniMed Paradigm insulin pumps. The medical device recall was initiated in July, 2009 after defects were discovered in a particular lot of the infusion sets. Infusion… Continue Reading
Tag Archives: diabetes
Diabetic Ketoacidosis Is An Under-Appreciated Danger Facing Many Nursing Home Patients
Posted in Diabetic Ketoacidosis, National Nursing Home IssuesDiabetes is a serious illness affecting many nursing home residents. Diabetics face an increased risk for a variety of health problems and complications, including ketoacidosis. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a dangerous complication of diabetes that occurs when you don’t have enough insulin in your body. This serious complication is more common in people who have type… Continue Reading
Nursing Homes Must Be Prepared To Handle Diabetic Patients
Posted in National Nursing Home IssuesNursing home residents suffering from diabetes face increased risk for a variety of health problems and complications, requiring additional caution and care. However, there are no specific guidelines for providing proper care for nursing home residents suffering from diabetes. Therefore, each facility must carefully determine the unique needs of each patient are successfully accommedated. As… Continue Reading
Young, Middle Aged & Seniors. Nursing Homes Struggle To Care For An Increasingly Diverse Group Of Residents
Posted in National Nursing Home IssuesThe Enquirer-Herald had a really interesting article regarding younger people in nursing homes. Increasingly, nursing home are becoming a place for people of all ages. Over the past 20 years, the number of residents at nursing homes has surged. Today, people under 65 comprise almost 10% of the nursing home population. At Orchards Rehabilitation and Care… Continue Reading
Nursing Homes Not Prepared To Handle Diabetic Residents
Posted in National Nursing Home IssuesThe 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… Continue Reading
Have You Suffered An Injury After Taking Avandia?
Posted in Dangerous DrugsWhat is Avandia? Avandia is the most commonly prescribed diabetes drug in the United States. Avandia (rosiglitazone) is used to treat type 2, non-insulin dependent diabetes by increasing the bodies sensitivity to insulin. Avandia is manufactured by pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline and has been on the market since 1999. If you have type 2, diabetes there… Continue Reading
Never Event #3: Poorly Controlled Blood Sugar, Hyperglycemia & Hypoglycemia
Posted in Medical MalpracticeMedicare 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… Continue Reading
Packing On The Pounds Won’t Kill You–Only Makes Elderly’s Lives Less Enjoyable
Posted in National Nursing Home IssuesAn article published in the Journal of American Geriatric Society says that although seniors may inceasing in size, they continue to have increasing longevity. After analyzing data from 4,000 senior citizens in England, the analysis determines that amongst the elderly there is not a corelation between obestiy and mortality rates. The mortality rates increase only… Continue Reading
Failure To Provide Medication Is A Common Error In Nursing Homes
Posted in Medication ErrorsFailure to provide medication is a common problem facing nursing home residents. Many situations involving failure to provide medication result from problems with the transition of a resident’s medical charts from a hospital or facility where they were prior to their admission to the nursing home. Nonetheless, nursing homes have a responsibility to provide quality… Continue Reading
Study Shows Errors In Timing Of Administration Of Medication In Assisted Living Facilties
Posted in Medication ErrorsAccording to a new study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, the likelihood of a medication error is low. The authors of the study looked at 12 long-term care facilities in 3 states. The results of the study are surprising considering that many long-term care facilities use aides who no formal training… Continue Reading