Inadequate Nursing Care
Nursing homes are notoriously understaffed or operating with quick rotations that leave nurses, LPNs and other care professionals unable to properly care for patients. Negligence and oversight can result in serious injuries, including wrongful death. At Hance & Srinivasan, P.L.L.C., in Louisville, Kentucky, our attorneys are experienced in the investigation of nursing home injuries and accidents, holding negligent individuals and entities accountable.
Nursing Home Falls
According to the Center for Disease Control, about 1,800 older adults living in nursing homes die each year from fall-related injuries. Those who experience non-fatal falls can suffer injuries, have difficulty getting around and have a reduced quality of life. Environmental hazards in nursing homes cause 16 to 27 percent of falls among residents. Such hazards include wet floors, poor lighting, incorrect bed height, and improperly fitted or maintained wheelchairs. Plus, the use of physical restraints to prevent falls may cause more serious problems for residents.
Medication Errors
The National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention defines a medication error as "any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional, patient, or consumer."
A 2006 study on the prevention of medication errors by the Institute of Medicine found that excluding wrong-time errors, omission of an ordered medication is generally the most common type of drug administration error in nursing homes. Other findings of the study include:
- Preventable ADEs (Adverse Drug Events) run at a rate of 50 per 100-bed nursing home
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The most common medication administration errors are administering an unauthorized drug (44.8 percent), omitting a prescribed drug (41.5 percent), administering the wrong dose (11 percent), administering via the wrong route (2 percent) and administering the wrong form (0.4 percent).
Protecting the Injured From Nursing Home Negligence
The attorneys of Hance & Srinivasan are experienced with a wide range of injuries caused by inadequate nursing care, including falls, dehydration and improper nutrition, over-medication and under-medication, and general neglect or abuse. Reviewing hospital records, consulting with witnesses and working with local medical experts allow us to quickly identify any injuries and aggressively defend your rights to compensation.
If your loved one has experienced adverse conditions or injury as a result of nursing home negligence, contact Hance & Srinivasan locally at 502-473-6025 or toll free at 877-345-7389 to discuss your case in a free consultation.
