Lauren Ellerman

A study conducted by a Johns Hopkins University researcher found that uninsured patients often pay much higher prices for hospital care. According to the study, uninsured patients are billed 2.5 times more than their counterparts under healthcare plans. Hospitals have faced criticism and lawsuits for alleged price gouging and aggressive…

Prisoners assigned to a nursing home…. and they escape. What if it was worse? What it they had assaulted residents, taken their things – or left with residents?http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=6466959&nav=menu183_2_4I am in favor of prison work sites – but would anyone say a nursing home is an appropriate location?

We get calls often “I live in Texas, my Mom is in a nursing home in Florida, but my sister knows your firm” “What are the laws in Texas?”Well, I am neither licensed in any state other than Va and West Va., nor am I able to answer questions on…

There I go again – reading the Washington Post… and what did I find? An article about a topic I am very interested in. Drug Companies and their relationships with physicians. Read here:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/28/AR2007042800896.htmlThe author, Christopher Lee, writes about a recently published study in the New England Journal of Medicine, which…

A new report from the Alzheimer’s Association says there are more than 5 million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer’s disease today. That is a substantial increase, from the estimated 4.5 million people with Alzheimers in 2002. (see http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthnews.php?newsid=65701).Researchers estimate that number will climb to 14 million…

I know, not a topic you want to research, hear about or blog about… but it happens, and more than you think. Sadly, with elderly patients there is a very low level of reporting and subsequently, few criminal charges filed. Why is that, you may ask? If the individual has…

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…