Lauren Ellerman

I have preached and preached on this topic. If you have a medical allergy – tell the doctor, tell the nurse, tell the pharmacist – tell everyone. YES, it is their job to write it down, record it and act accordingly. It is also their job not to give you…

I had the misfortune of having to go to the doctor yesterday. A slight case of bronchitis.The woman in line in front of me, was a drug rep. When I was taken back to the exam room, I passed two more drug reps in the hall. One doctor joked “Hey…

Bayer recalls Contour test strips for diabetes – AP Reports Wed Dec 26, 2007WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A unit of Bayer AG recalled diabetes test strips used with its Contour TS Blood Glucose Meter because they may result in 5 to 17 percent higher blood glucose readings, the U.S. Food and…

I was reading the St. Petersburg Times, a Florida Newspaper this morning – and they featured the only local doctor that was a member of http://nofreelunch.org/. The group is dedicated to the practice of medicine without influence of pharm reps. You know, let your doctor prescribe the right medication, and…

Interesting story on the AP before Christnas, about West Virginia nurses:“LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Hundreds of striking nurses from eastern Kentucky and West Virginia voted Saturday night to ratify a new contract with the region’s largest health care provider.More than 600 of the Appalachian Regional Healthcare hospital system’s 750 registered…

Many health care provider contracts now contain language that states if a dispute arises between the health care provider, and the patient, all parties agree to arbitration.Well, that doesn’t sound so bad, does it? In my opinion, it is bad. Here is a brief summary of the differences between arbitration…

You remember Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, don’t you? Access to the justice system is a right we hold dear in the United States. What if you have a dispute with a landlord, credit card company, hospital or nursing home? You go to your local court house to…

Most states require nursing homes and assisted living facilities to do background checks on staff. But what about temporary staff, or those supplied by temp agencies? You call at noon, say we need three CNA’s for the 7a to 7 p shift, think you will have time to do a…

We have family members ask all the time “If I am Mom’s POA, would I have to pay for her nursing home bill if she can’t anymore?” Many of the agreements signed in the admission process, contain language that imposes the duty to make payments on responsible parties, or legal…