When an aging family member requires care in a nursing home, many know to ask about staffing, but sometimes it is difficult to understand what exactly a typical resident needs. It is an important consideration because understaffed nursing homes can be dangerous to residents.
Staffing metrics are often broken down as time per patient per day. So, if for example, a nursing home has one nurse working a 10 hour day with 10 patients, the staffing time can be interpreted as one hour per resident per day. If that same nurse has 20 patients, the staffing time goes down to 30 minutes per patient per day. How much is enough? A federal study estimates that the clinical needs of nursing home patient can be met with anywhere between .55 to .75 registered nurse hours combined with just over 4 hours of direct care from others such as orderlies, nursing assistants, techs or staff members. How does the U.S. measure up to this reasonable standard of care? Not so well it turns out. A 2017 study reveals that 70 percent of nursing homes have staffing levels at 30 minutes per resident per day or less, with some as low as zero minutes per resident per day. Direct care levels from others were also deficient, with 30 percent of nursing homes providing less than 3 hours of care instead of the 4 or more hours needed to care for residents properly. When looking for nursing home care for a family member, ensuring that the home has adequate and competent staffing is one of the most important considerations. Unfortunately, many nursing homes around the country function at frighteningly low levels of staff putting your loved one at risk for injury or premature death so it is critical to ask questions before signing on. Understaffed Nursing Homes Can Be Dangerous to Residents Contact an Experienced Iowa Nursing Home Injury Lawyer If your family member has been injured in an Iowa nursing home, it may very well be due to an unacceptable shortage of staff or staff who lack proper training. In the event your family member is hurt, it is important to seek the help of an experienced Iowa nursing home attorney not only to hold the facility accountable but also pursue compensation for your family member’s injuries. Contact the Des Moines nursing home lawyers of John T. Hemminger for immediate assistance today at 515-283-2116.
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In many states the workers’ compensation system allows employees to see their regular doctor, however in Iowa, the employer has the right to choose the medical provider for employees who are injured or become ill at work.
Although you may not be able to see your regular doctor for a work related illness and injury under Iowa workers’ compensation, your employer does have a duty to provide prompt, reasonable care without causing you any major inconvenience. Furthermore, all medical expenses for your work injury or illness provided by the employer approved doctor will be covered. Of course there are situations where a worker can change or choose their doctor. This option typically arises when the employer approved care is not appropriate or sufficient, you have concerns that you have been misdiagnosed or treated, and in situations where the provider is at too great a distance from your home. Depending on the situation, you may want to request a different provider altogether or at least get a second opinion if you have any concerns about a diagnosis or suggested treatment. Your health and the health of a family member is important and receiving the best care can make all the difference following a workplace injury. If you are considering a change in providers following a work injury or illness, it is best to work with an experienced workers’ compensation lawyer to help you prepare and present your case for alternative care. The Des Moines workers’ compensation attorneys of John T. Hemminger have helped many clients navigate the workers’ compensation system successfully to improve their overall care and the benefits they receive. Contact our offices today for a free consultation of your case at 515-283-2116. Bike accidents are down since designated bikes lanes have been marked on Grand Avenue and Ingersoll Avenue in Des Moines. According the officials behind the project, bicyclists and pedestrians are safer with the addition of bike lanes to the heavily traveled corridor.
The Iowa Department of Transportation agrees, reporting that there has been a 2 percent drop in vehicle crashes and a 58 percent reduction in injury accidents since the bike lanes were installed. By all accounts, everything is running according to plan to make the downtown streets easier for bicyclists and pedestrians to navigate. However, as many drivers in the area will tell you, it is sometimes difficult to see bicyclists in the lane as they travel alongside traffic so it is still important to remind bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists that there are risks involved. Many injury accidents occur when pedestrians use bike paths and are struck by bicyclists. Other accidents may involve bicyclists on bicyclists who sometimes collide along the narrow pathways. When cars are added to the mix, some say that motorists may be even less aware of bicyclists in a bicycle lanes than those who share the road, so bicyclists should always drive defensively. Common Accidents in a Bike Lane – Des Moines Bicycle Accident Lawyer
Although, so far, the bike lane program in Des Moines is off to a good start, it is important to remember that bicycle lanes and bike path accidents happen and can result in significant injuries, including traumatic brain injury (TBI). People on bikes or on foot are simply no match for a motor vehicle with an inattentive driver behind the wheel. If You Are Injured In A Bike Lane Accident Contact an Experienced Team of Iowa Personal Injury AttorneysIf you are injured while walking, jogging or riding in a bike lane or pedestrian path, you may have a right to file suit against the person responsible for the accident to compensate you for your medical bills, missed work and also the pain and suffering that resulted from your injury. It is important to discuss your circumstances with an experienced personal injury lawyer who can tell you what options are available to you. Contact the Des Moines bicycle and pedestrian accident personal injury attorneys of John T. Hemminger for help today if you or a family member has been injured in a bike lane or pedestrian path accident. A post trending on social media showing two intact car seats in a heap of tangled metal underscores just how important using child car seats can be.
The mom of two unharmed boys involved in the accident says it is not the first time she’s seen a child properly buckled into a properly installed car seat come away from a crash with no injuries, which should encourage all parents to use them. While many parents may understand the importance of securing kids in car seats, sometimes improper use can cause problems. To ensure a safer journey parents should take note to avoid common mistakes: Do not transition from rear facing – to front facing – to booster – to seat belt, too soon. Do your homework by reading manufacturers’ recommendations based on a child’s weight and height before making changes to your child’s restraint mechanism. It has to be the right fit for maximum protection in an accident. Do not neglect to anchor the tether strap to the vehicle. All cars manufactured since 2000 have places to secure the tether which is designed to reduce head injuries, a common injury in car accident. Just like a loose bike helmet will do little to protect a child on a bicycle, a loose car seat restraint will not keep a child safe in a car accident. It is important to make sure the car seat is snug to the car and that a child is snug in the harness. Make sure you buckle up too. All occupants of a car should buckle up not only to stay safe and set a good example, but to avoid striking other occupants in an accident. Those who have survived a serious car accident can attest to the importance of wearing seat belts to save lives. For kids, having the right seat restraint can reduce their chance of being injured too. If you or a family member is injured in an Iowa car accident contact the Des Moines car accident Law Offices of John T. Hemminger for help today. Source: ABCNews.com, “Car Accident Reminds Parents to Use Car Seats”, accessed July 20, 2018 Many U.S. nursing homes have serious quality problems, in part, because of inadequate staffing levels. By not providing the appropriate amount of staff, residents are at a higher risk of death, infections, complications, falls, failure-to-rescue rates and admission to the hospital.
New federal data reveals that nursing homes have for years fudged their numbers when reporting how many staff they have on hand to care for their residents. Daily payroll records analyzed by Kaiser Health News tell the tale of nursing homes gaming the system by self-reporting more staff on hand to the government, sometimes translating into a higher score on the government’s five star rating program many use to find reliable nursing homes. Results of the analysis show particularly thin staffing in nursing homes during the weekend, leading one resident to say “it’s almost like a ghost town”. A spokesman for the American Health Care Association chalks up the poorly staffed weekends to the fact there are fewer programs during the weekend and some residents have family members to assist them. However, nothing can replace trained nursing home staff when residents need help. Without adequate staffing every day of the week, seniors in pain can go without medication, meals may not get delivered, essential medical tasks such as repositioning patients to prevent bedsores are overlooked – all of which could lead to avoidable hospitalizations for vulnerable residents. The exaggerated claims by nursing homes across the country come as no surprise to many families who have had loved ones suffer an injury due to negligence or abuse in a nursing home. A simple lack of enough caregivers at any given time can spell real trouble for elderly residents who depend on nursing homes to deliver the care they need, when they need it. Contact a Des Moines Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer If your family member has been injured or abused in an Iowa nursing home, contact Des Moines nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers of John T. Hemminger Law for help today. In fifteen years, the percentage of the population 65 and older will more than double in the U.S. requiring a tenfold increase in care workers. A tall order, considering that the care industry sector is steadily shrinking, which may very well open up a market for robots to fill the void of caring for the elderly in the near future.
While many acknowledge robots are far from ready to even touch or handle a human being, some foresee a time not so far off when robots will play a supporting role in many nursing home or other care facilities. As digital companions or animatronic pets, these robots are designed to entertain, listen and console, leaving the heavy lifting of moving patients or administering meds to their human counterparts. What seems oddly futuristic to some, is seen as an opportunity to increase productivity, profit and efficiency to others. However, the plan assumes that human interactions or bonding is not a big part of why someone goes into the care industry in the first place. By relegating human care workers to the mundane tasks of changing bedpans and giving shots while the robots have all the fun, the exodus of care workers may just be getting started. And what of the elderly? Will a metal hand of a robot suffice? The research is out on whether displacing social and physical contact onto machines is psychologically sound so it’s anyone’s guess, but the collective gut says no. The coming demographic crisis is real and many baby boomers will need care in the absence of extended family or other caregivers sooner rather than later, so something has to give. If not the robot, then who? We’ve already seen how nursing home negligence and abuse can occur when nursing homes are understaffed, so perhaps the time has come to provide better pay and respect to attract care workers to the industry along with needed training and support to ensure the most vulnerable in our population are cared for. If you or a family member has suffered neglect or abuse in an Iowa nursing home, contact the personal injury law offices of John T. Hemminger for help at 515-283-2116. Iowa nursing home residents “need more protection, not less”, a sentiment expressed by the Iowa Attorney General and shared by a coalition of 17 attorneys general around the nation in response to the proposed lifting of federal regulations that protect elders from abuse, neglect and exploitation in nursing homes.
In 2016, CMS long term care reforms sought not only protect against abuse, neglect and exploitation, but also moved to prevent nursing home infections, improve training to nursing home staff and ban arbitration agreements that keep family members from suing nursing homes when residents are injured. Unfortunately, many of the changes, set to roll out in 2017, are instead up for a second look as some fear the requirements would be too burdensome for facilities. In a letter to HHS, attorneys generals around to nation expressed grave concerns that the actions to dial down protections will only threaten the mental and physical security of seniors in nursing homes. Nursing Home Residents Need More Protection – If You Suspect Elder Abuse or Neglect Contact Iowa Nursing Home Negligence Lawyer John T. Hemminger For Help If your family member is injured, exploited or abused in an Iowa nursing home, it is important to enlist the help of an experienced nursing home lawyer to hold the nursing home facility accountable for their actions. Contact Iowa Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Lawyer John T. Hemminger for immediate assistance today at 515-283-2116. Source: iowaattorneygeneral.gov, “Miller, 17 attorneys general oppose rolling back protections for nursing home residents”, accessed June 12, 2018. If you or a family member is involved in an injury accident with a commercial vehicle, filing a personal injury claim may involve more than one liable party. Determining who may bear responsibility for your injuries starts by seeking the answers to a number of questions.
Is the commercial vehicle driver an employee of a shipping or other private company, or is he or she an independent contractor? If the driver is employed with a larger company, a claim will likely include the parent company and their insurer. If the driver is an independent contractor, compensation may instead fall to the driver’s individual insurer. It is important to determine the driver’s employment status in an accident to seek compensation from all responsible parties. Did a mechanical problem or maintenance issue contribute to the accident? A percentage of truck accidents are caused by mechanical issues, problems with brakes, wheels and tires. Not only can the trucking company be held responsible for not properly maintaining vehicles, but also service and repair companies entrusted to make trucks safe for the road. Was your injury caused as the result of an improperly loaded truck? Perhaps the loading company bears some responsibility to pay compensation for your injuries. Improperly loaded semis and tractor trailers are a dangerous problem. Loads may shift during transit, causing the driver to lose control or even dump their load in the path of other motorists resulting in an accident. Where did the accident occur? Sometimes accidents happen near construction zones along the highways that lack proper signage to alert motorists to hazards. In this case, the construction company may also be partially at fault for causing the accident that lead to your injuries. If you are involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle, there may be many responsible parties involved in liability. All possible defendants should receive attention in order for you to get the maximum compensation for recovery and financial losses. It is important to secure the help of an experienced commercial vehicle truck accident attorney to help you determine who may be responsible for your injuries so you can recover all your losses to the fullest extent possible. Contact the Des Moines Law Offices of John T. Hemminger for immediate assistance today if you have been hurt in a car accident involving a commercial vehicle. Tree trimming and tree removal can be a dangerous occupation with hundreds of tree workers killed or injured every year. According to the Tree Care Industry Association, tree worker injury accidents data spanning several years suggests that tree worker injuries and fatalities are more of a result of complacency rather than ignorance.
In support of this claim, the association notes that the typical fall victim was unsecured, the typical struck-by victim remained in the drop zone, and the typical electrocution victim violated minimum approach distance (MAD) and made contact with an electrified power source through a tool, a boom, a vehicle or other object. The consistently high number of incidents in tree care industry in the last few years has caught The United States Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) attention. OSHA seeks to raise awareness of tree trimming and removal safety hazards to which tree trimmers and tree care industry workers are exposed to on a daily basis in order to reduce the number of avoidable injuries and to reduce tree worker fatal injury accidents. Employers have been put on notice to properly assess work sites to identify potential hazards such as live power lines, clearly demarcate drop zones to prevent struck by injuries, and require employees to wear full safety protection regardless of whether the workers are on the ground only or climb or they are lifted in aerial lifts and buckets. Furthermore, tree workers should be aware of safety hazards and receive ongoing safety training to promote safe practices to reduce preventable tree worker injuries. Tree Worker Injury Accidents Lawyers If you were injured in tree worker injury accident and your employer’s work comp insurance company denied your claim for work comp benefits or your work comp benefits do not fully cover your recovery, then your employee rights may have been violated. It is important to seek the assistance of an experienced Iowa workers’ compensation benefits attorney to secure the income and reimbursement you need to fully recover from your work injury. Call 515-283-2116 to schedule a free initial consultation with John T. Hemminger. In a nursing home setting, many residents may develop skin conditions, some of which can become deadly if not treated promptly and effectively. Cellulitis and infected ulcers are the most commonly encountered cutaneous infections in the elderly with strains of staphylococcus and streptococci representing the most common causative organisms. Prompt diagnosis and treatment is crucial in preventing morbidity and mortality when cutaneous infections develop, particularly among nursing home residents.
Cellulitis occurs when bacteria enters the deep layers of skin through a wound or sore. Bacteria, which often lay harmless on the surface of the skin, may enter the body through scratches, cuts, grazes or bites and develop into harmful infections that can spread if untreated. Risk factors of developing a life threatening infections increase with a reduced immune response, obesity, lack of mobility and inattention to the signs of a developing infection and a failure to treat. Nursing Home Bed Sores – Pressure Ulcers Pressure ulcers (also known as bed sores) among the elderly are prevalent and can cause significant morbidity and mortality due to the development of infections. Pressure ulcers are areas of necrosis caused by compression between a bony prominence of the body such as heels, ankles, hips and tailbone and external surfaces. Persons admitted to nursing homes have a 13% risk factor of developing a pressure ulcer bed sore within the first year of being admitted, 21% will develop a pressure ulcer in the second year. Limited mobility and poor nutrition are strong predictors of the formation of pressure ulcers so nursing home staff must be particular attentive to prevent onset. Unfortunately, in cases of serious nursing home neglect, some patients suffering from pressure ulcers may go unattended until it is too late. Nursing Home Neglect – Bed Sores & Pressure Ulcers Lawyers When families decide to trust the care of a loved one to a nursing home, they expect that their family member will receive competent, professional care. In cases of nursing home abuse and neglect, families often do not know where to turn to hold a nursing home responsible. If your family member has bed sores, pressure ulcers or other injuries while being cared for in an Iowa nursing home, it is important to contact an experienced nursing home neglect and abuse attorney who can help you understand your nursing home resident rights. Call nursing home neglect and abuse attorney John T. Hemminger for immediate assistance today at 515-283-2116. |
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