Lauren Ellerman

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…

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…