Recognizing that staff may lack training in certain areas essential to patient care, many nursing homes have begun to implement training programs at their facilities to help teach proper protocols– and hopefully improve patient care. While the training can be quite effective in terms of improving the satisfaction of patients and prevention of medical errors,… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Ventilator Patients
Subscribe to Ventilator Patients RSS FeedNursing Home With History Of Problems Now Faces Wrongful Death Lawsuit Related To Poor Care of Patient With Tracheostomy Tube
Posted in Ventilator PatientsWe’ve spent a fair amount of time talking about nursing homes on Medicare’s Special Focus Facility (SFF) list, which can be simply referred to as a compilation of the country’s worst nursing homes. As the name implies, nursing homes appointed to the SFF list faced heightened scrutiny with more frequent inspections due to a… Continue Reading
What Good Is Medical Technology When It Is Not Used Properly?
Posted in Ventilator PatientsWith all of the great strides we have seen in the field of medicine, one can only hope that patients in medical facilities are better off today than their peers were in the past. However, as will all types of patient care, technologies have little use when not in the hands of properly trained and… Continue Reading
Nursing Home Spotlight: Galesburg Terrace
Posted in Ventilator PatientsThe August 12, 2010 survey completed by Illinois Department of Health personnel paints a disturbing picture of the care provided to patients at Galesburg Terrace nursing home in Galesburg, IL. In particular, major safety problems were found with patients who require tracheostomy and/or ventilator care. Observation of patients and individual charts revealed a facility teetering… Continue Reading
Nurse Facing Criminal Charges After Intentionally Neglecting Ventilator Patient
Posted in Neglect, Ventilator PatientsPerhaps Abiodun Oke should be shoveling asphalt or a similar occupation where a person’s compassionate side is not necessarily crucial to the job? On the other hand, as a licensed practical nurse (such as Mr. Oke)— or really any profession responsible for caring for the elderly– I would suggest have substantial dose of compassion as… Continue Reading
Illinois Nursing Home Lawsuit: Delay In Care Resulted In Leg Amputation & Eventual Death Of Patient
Posted in Abuse In Chicago Nursing Homes & Other Communities Within Illinois, Ventilator PatientsA nursing home negligence lawsuit was filed by the husband of a patient at Maple Ridge Care Center, following the alleged poor care she received at the facility in 2009. The lawsuit alleges that 63-year-old Carol Harrison was admitted to Maple Ridge for rehabilitation and ventilator care following surgical complications at local hospital. Staff at… Continue Reading
Elderly Patients Are At Higher Risk For Developing Aspiration Pneumonia When Facilities Fail To Account For Patient Needs
Posted in Choking, Ventilator PatientsI’m not sure if it’s matter of inadequate staff training or simply a manifestation of inadequate staffing levels to meet patients needs, but the number if cases involving aspiration pneumonia is on the rise. Aspiration pneumonia occurs when you aspirate foreign matter (usually food or vomit) into your lungs. Elderly adults are particularly susceptible to aspiration… Continue Reading
Health Care Company Rips Off State By Providing Less Skilled Workers To Care For Ventilator Patients
Posted in Economics, Ventilator PatientsCriminal charges have been filed against Barbara Currin, the owner of Ometta Vent Care Services. The criminal charges come after a patient Currin was responsible for caring for, tipped off state officials she was not receiving the medical care that the state was paying for. The tip initiated an investigation by the Minnesota Department… Continue Reading
Staff Must Be Diligent In Order To Avoid Clogged Breathing Tubes Amongst Nursing Home Patients
Posted in Ventilator PatientsIn nursing homes, residents who have trouble breathing on their own (from illness or weakness) might require a breathing tube. A breathing tube, or endotracheal tubes can be used for multiple situations where a patient needs assistance breathing, most nursing home patients who require a breathing tube also require the use of a ventilator. In these patients,… Continue Reading
Nursing Home Fined For Negligent Care Of Resident On Ventilator
Posted in Ventilator PatientsThe California Department of Pubic Health has imposed the maximum fine permitted under the law against Casa Bonita Convalescent Hospital in connection with the death of a ventilator dependent resident. State regulators issued three citations against the facility for the 2007 death of the 90-year-old resident. An investigation in the incident by state authorities determined… Continue Reading
Sputum Color As Indicator Of The Quality Of Nursing Care
Posted in Ventilator PatientsWho really likes to think about sputum or mucus? Well, Thomas Sharon, R.N. at legalnurseconsultanttom.com points out that sputum color is an important factor to look at when evaluating the quality of breathing tube care. Breathing tubes such as tracheostomies and ventilators are a common medical medical conditions for nurisng home and long-term care residents…. Continue Reading