A recent study shows that African American patients have a higher risk of developing bed sores in comparison to their white counterparts. Bed sore attorneys warn that this serious condition has the potential to significantly increase a patient’s cost of care as well as cause potential illness or even death. Bed sores, although very dangerous, can almost always be avoided through proper care and medical attention. Bed sore attorneys believe this disparity may lie in the differences between the nursing homes that house mostly black patients compared to white patients. Data shows that nursing facilities with higher concentrations of African American patients tend to have lower numbers of staff members who are registered nurses and certified nursing assistants.
The Bed Sore Numbers Don’t Lie
The data for this study, which appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association, examined data gathered between 2003 and 2008: 2.1 million white nursing home residents and 346,808 black nursing home residents were studied. Although the overall number of bed sores has decreased in recent years, black patients still consistently maintained higher rates than white patients. White nursing home residents saw their total rate of bed sores decrease from 11.4 percent to around 9.6 percent in 2008. On the other hand, black nursing home residents saw their bed sore rate drop from 16.8 percent in 2003 to 14.6 percent in 2008, still significantly higher than their white counterparts. Bed sore attorneys say that the highest rates of bed sores in recent years come from black residents who live in nursing homes that have the highest concentrations of African American patients. They say that conversely, the lowest rate was among white nursing home patients who resided in homes with few or no black patients. Bed sores are a major problem in our country today and blacks and whites alike need to be aware of the potential danger that they present.
Bed Sore Attorneys of New Jersey and Philadelphia
If your loved one has recently suffered from a bed sore, you may have questions regarding your legal rights for our professionals. In cases where you suspect that neglect or mistreatment played a factor in the development of the bed sore, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation in New Jersey at (856) 833-0600, or in Philadelphia at (215) 567-2380.