Lauren Ellerman

We had a series of cases last year, regarding infection and handwashing. The argument was – “we couldn’t have spread the infection to the patients, we use anti-bacteria hand sanitizer after every patient contact.” My response was – “yah – right.”Well, this morning, my response can be “So what?”Hand gels…

Told you – recalls everywhere!Syringe Recall:FDA has announced a nationwide recall of all lots of heparin and saline pre-filled flush syringes manufactured by AM2 PAT, Inc. under the brand names Sierra Pre-filled, Inc. and B. Braun. Two lots have been found to be contaminated with Serratia marcescens, a bacterium that…

One glance at the Wall Street Journal yesterday – recalls, recalls, recalls.Johnson & Johnson recalls a catheter; Baxter, drug company, recalls their anti-coagulation shot, Heparin over allergic reactions; Merck is denied application to sell their new “Mevacor” over the counter….There is a lesson here. Medicine is not exact. Drugs are…

Yesterday we were deeply saddened when we learned our friend Tom Farrell, was killed. Dan and I are plaintiff lawyers, Tom is a defense lawyer – this combination in Roanoke guarantees you will have cases against one-another, and we did. Tom was always kind, maintained a good sense of humor…

The WallStreet Journal Health Blog has a great point“The presidential candidates are fighting over who would do the most to increase the number of Americans with health insurance and expand access to care, BUT “their plans don’t ensure that there will be enough doctors and nurses will treat all those…

Sadly, we review more than a few pressure ulcer cases each year. A pressure ulcer is essentially a bedsore that can develop because too much pressure is placed on the skin. Often pressure ulcers form on heels, sacrums (buttocks) and other areas that non-walking long term care residents sit for…

If I had money to burn, I would create a public service announcement, based on the Visa “Priceless” adds..It would have some interesting statistics, like these:Cost of maintaining an elderly person in a nursing home – $7,000 a monthMoney the nursing home spends on care givers – $8.00 an hourMoney…

A few years ago in Virginia, a law was proposed to require certain number of staff in nursing home, per number of residents. GREAT IDEA I thought. Well, those for-profit healthcare providers didn’t agree, and so there is no law.An attorney in California filed a lawsuit this week, Sun Mar…

Rumor, or a study in the UK rather, has it that the secret to a longer life is exercise, eating better, moderate drinking and NO SMOKING. Really? Not at all surprised to read that – but the interesting part of the study was that someone doing all of those things,…

Well – I am excited to report, as the Gen. Assembly Session opens today in Richmond, some members of the House are off to a good start!HJ 79 – PROPOSED FOR 2008 by Phillip Hamilton, addresses the issue of pharmaceutical sales:Barring physicians or other health care practitioners from prescribing an…