Lauren Ellerman

Today I read about an Oklahoma Nursing Home who received a new resident from the state penal system when he was found incompetent to stand trial. Not a joke, a younger man charged with 4 homicides is now living on the Alzheimer’s unit of a nursing home facility with someone’s…

What is a restraint? Well, I am certainly not going to try to define what a restraint is as facilities and health care providers may disagree on a clinical definition – but, I can tell you the purpose of a restraint in a skilled care setting like a Nursing Home…

Pressure ulcer / bed sore / decubitus ulcer – all names for the same painful and life threatening “injury.” Why do I hesitate to call them injuries, because their cause is so unique. When pressure is placed on the skin, in a non active person for long enough, the lack…

I am by definition, a “trial lawyer.”… but I really should be called a “settlement lawyer” or “mediation lawyer.” The reason being, very few clients want to take their case to trial. And I can’t blame them – stress, nervousness, it can be overwhelming. Well, today I read about a…

It would be a lie for me to write that I am thinking about legal medical issues right now – my thoughts, and prayers, as well as the thoughts and prayers of my entire office, are in Blacksburg. God bless you Hokies, wherever you are!

There is a wonderful essay in today’s New York Times, about the balance between a patient’s request, and doctor’s policy. What if the two are in conflict – who wins?http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/03/health/03essa.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1175629105-k+zaPwO4G3Y1M1sUNwOAWgWe see it often in Nursing Homes. Families will request a test, or treatment, the physician says is not necessary. On…

Planning on a visit to the Nursing Home this EASTER or PASSOVER? Taking your grandparent out on Mother’s Day in May or Father’s Day in June? This is a great opportunity to pay attention to their progress / health concerns or needs. How are they feeling? Getting better, or worse?…

Everyone is talking about – national and local news, radio, tv…. The American Cancer Society has published new guidelines that require a select group of women, to get mammorgrams and MRIs for early breast cancer detection. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/27/AR2007032702326.html.What women should fall into this select group? Women at high risk because of…

NEW FLASH TODAY –SAN FRANCISCO- Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center has received the state’s most severe citation and fine after the California Department of Health Services determined that the poor care of an 82-year-old resident led to her death.State Public Health Officer Dr. Mark Horton announced Monday that the…

Have you seen you tube? Are you worried you will end up on it someday? Well here is a new one, you may end up on your physician’s blog. YES, you read it right, many physicians acrosss the country have started blogging about patients, situations, etc. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/16/AR2007031602097.html What kind of…