Dan Frith

Obviously, there are a number of safety issues with any nursing home. However, here are two simple but important areas not to be overlooked:1. Ask the Director of Nursing or Administrator if the staff receives annual flu shots. Vaccinating employees of nursing homes against influenza helps protect residents, even those…

Most people assume that having bed rails on a nursing home or hospital bed is a good thing. The assumption is that bed rails will prevent the patient from falling out of bed and suffering serious injury. This assumption is wrong – sometimes dead wrong!Bed rails can increase danger in…

The title of today’s article is not boastful – it is accurate and truthful! The National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform (NCCNHR) is the best, most effective advocacy group for nursing home residents in America. NCCNHR was formed because of public concern about substandard care in nursing homes and…

Methadone (also known as Dolophine) has long been prescribed by doctors for patients with intractable and chronic pain. These patients often suffer from traumatic injuries and back pain which proves unresponsive to other pain medications. Now, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to doctors and patients…

Nine employees of the Hollis Park nursing home were arrested after hidden cameras uncovered patient neglect. New York Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer, says one camera inside a resident’s room in the Queens, NY nursing home revealed weeks of neglect. See the developing story here. The use of video cameras in…

We are happy to report the successful resolution of two very important cases against a Roanoke assisted living facility. From January to March of 2005, five female residents of a Roanoke, Virginia assisted living facility became ill with Group A Strep (GAS). GAS is a bacterial infection which can cause…

Maybe you missed it but NBC’s Today Show is running a four day story on plastic or reconstructive surgery beginning today, November 27. Download and watch the video here. The story follows a recent article in Medscape Today which reported that in 2005, there were 10.2 million cosmetic procedures performed…

Illinois State police are investigating the Woodstock Residence, a nursing home located in northern Illinois, and its employees. According to published reports citing unnamed sources, the inquiry focuses on allegations that a former employee at the 115-bed nursing and rehabilitation center in Woodstock gave several residents fatal doses of morphine.…

The average cost for nursing home care in the U.S. increased significantly in 2006, according to the results of a study by New York Life Insurance Co.’s long-term care division. Costs for both private and semiprivate care were 6 percent higher than in 2005. The average cost of a private…

Teleradiology is the practice by hospitals of hiring off-site doctors to view and interpret radiologic studies. It is done via the Internet and cyberspace. Nighthawk Radiology Services is a prime example of this type of service. Teleradiology’s popularity began in the 1990’s in response to a shortage of radiologists and…