Birth Injury Reduction Earns Award for Texas Medical Network

new jersey philadelphia birth injury attorneys award texas medical networkThe state of Texas has recently awarded Seton Hospitals with the first annual “Quality Award” for their extremely successful push to reduce birth injuries. Seton was the only hospital in the state to receive the award.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission presented Seton with the award after the family of hospitals reported the lowest birth injury rate in the nation. Seton stated that their efforts to reduce birth trauma included limited use of forceps and vacuum extractors, as well as limiting elective inductions before 39 weeks.

In 2003, Seton Hospitals reported 3 birth injuries per 1,000 live births. In 2007, the rate had fallen to .2 birth injuries per 1,000 live births. The commission confirms that Seton’s success continues.

Health and Human Services Commissioner Thomas Suehs (left) commented on Seton and their accomplishment:

“We’re proud to recognize Seton for this accomplishment because it shows how good medicine is also good public policy. This initiative leads to healthier babies, and it also saves money for taxpayers by reducing the number of Medicaid births with complications.”

Of the award, commission spokeswoman Stephanie Goodman said:

“It’s a way for us to highlight best practices that we’d like to see replicated across the state.”

Birth Injury Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your child is a victim of a birth injury that you believe was caused by medical malpractice or delivery room negligence, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. If you have any questions regarding your legal rights, feel free to call (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Bedsore Prevention and Wheelchair Repositioning

As New Jersey and Philadelphia lawyers specializing in nursing home abuse and neglect cases, it is important to remind everyone of a common form of nursing home abuse and neglect, the occurrence of bed sores. To help prevent the painful and dangerous bed sores from forming, certain things are vital in a nursing home patient’s care. One of the most important factors is the proper positioning of the patient.

Repositioning Wheelchair Bound Patients

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers urge repositioning prevent bedsoresFor those patients that are wheelchair bound, there are certain helpful recommendations for proper repositioning. An attempt should be made, by the patient, to move every 15 minutes. Nursing home staff should help assist with larger changes every hour.

To assist in this process, patients can utilize specialized wheelchairs. These pressure-release chairs tilt to redistribute pressure. This helps provide some assistance in repositioning, and thus give pressure relief to help prevent bed sores. Sometimes, appropriate cushions can be helpful. They are generally gel, water, or air filled. These cushions assist in alleviating pressure and ensuring proper positioning while in the wheelchair.

A wheelchair bound patient in a nursing home should have a set care plan to make sure that proper repositioning takes place. A nursing home physical therapist can advise the patient on proper cushion positioning, and can give lifting and upper body movement exercises to help assist those patients that are able to reposition themselves.

When a wheelchair bound patient isn’t properly and regularly repositioned, bed sores are an almost certain outcome. Bed sores are harder to treat than they are to prevent, so it is imperative that nursing home staff take this movement very seriously. Those that do not are truly showing an abusive and neglectful attitude to their patients.

Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is a resident in a nursing home and you fear that their well-being is in jeopardy due to abusive or negligent care, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia. Let the nursing home abuse attorneys at the Mininno Law Office answer any questions you may have regarding your legal rights and your next step.

Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys Stress Repositioning to Prevent Bed Sores

The most important thing to know about bed sores and/or pressure ulcers is that they are much easier to prevent than to treat, which is why prevention of bed sores is the best medicine. Consistent and proper care is the key to bed sore prevention. When a patient is in a nursing home or similar type of long term care facility, it is important that staff members are making sure appropriate care is utilized to prevent pressure ulcers. In fact, a care plan with input from the family would be ideal to help prevent the bed sores from occurring. It can be safely concluded that if a bedsore forms, nursing home abuse or neglect are taking place.

Repositioning is Vital for Bed Sore Prevention

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse attorneys stress repositioning prevent bedsoresFrequent changes in the patient’s positioning is supreme in the prevention of painful and potentially fatal bed sores or pressure ulcers. But repositioning offers no benefits if it’s not done properly. The nursing home caregivers must make sure that repositioning avoids stress on the skin. The nursing home staff must also make sure that vulnerable areas, such as knees, ankles, and hips are carefully placed. It is also important to regularly inspect the skin for the slightest irritation that can lead to a bed sore.

When a patient is in a nursing home with many other patients, it is imperative that family members make sure that abuse and neglect isn’t happening. One sure sign of nursing home abuse and neglect can be the acquirement or improper treatment of a bed sore. As we always indicate in our posts, you must be the advocate for your loved ones care and make sure nursing homes are doing their job with respect to your loved one!

Nursing Home Abuse Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

Is your loved one a resident at a nursing home? Have they acquired a bed sore? Are you fearful that the care they are receiving may be detrimental instead of life-saving? Contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or if you have any questions regarding the legal rights of you and your loved one. You may also call at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Birth Defect Lawyers: Pregnant Women May Need Medical Alternatives

Following its inception and FDA approval, Topamax quickly rose to the top of the food chain. Birth defect attorneys note that the drug quickly became one of the most commonly prescribed pharmaceutical drugs to prevent migraines in the industry. Topamax is most frequently used to treat epilepsy and migraines. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration has categorized Topamax as a drug that can potentially present significant and unnecessary harm to a human fetus, potentially leaving expectant mothers in search of an alternative.

Women are Especially Susceptible

new jersey philadelphia birth defect lawyers pregnant women risk increase topamaxWomen frequently use Topamax because they are much more likely to suffer from severe migraine headaches as opposed to their male counterparts. In fact, women are three times more likely than men to encounter migraines. Women who are looking to become pregnant face an additional risk. In their childbearing years, the likelihood of headaches increases yet again, making women of this age extremely vulnerable. Therefore, it is quite understandable that many women would turn to a well respected product, such as Topamax, to alleviate pain. The problem that has now surfaced is that Topamax has been linked to certain birth defects such as cleft lip or cleft palate. Although Topamax is a proven commodity that deals well with ailments such as epilepsy and migraines, the risk of potential birth defects in pregnant women may lead them to search for alternatives. The FDA and birth defect lawyers both agree, Topamax should not be prescribed for pregnant women in most cases.

Birth Defect Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If you recently had a child who was born with a birth defect and you suspect it may be attributed to your use of Topamax during pregnancy, you may be entitled to compensation. For questions about birth defects or potential legal action, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Nursing Home Abuse Exposé: Manhattan View Nursing Home

Today we’ve located a nursing home in Hudson County that we feel deserves mention due to its overall below average rating by the Medicare Nursing Home Compare. This Hudson County nursing home was given only 2 out of 5 stars. This indicates that, according to Medicare’s rating system, it is a below average nursing home.
As attorneys specializing in cases where nursing home abuse and neglect is an issue, we feel that it is important to point out those nursing homes that are considered average or, in this case, below average.

Manhattan View Nursing Home Has Bad Care Record

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers expose manhattan viewThe Manhattan View Nursing Home in Union City, New Jersey is a below average facility with 127 long term care beds. This is a for profit, corporately owned nursing home as well. Between December 2008 and November 2010, this Hudson County nursing home was routinely inspected 2 times. These inspections are conducted by the New Jersey Division of Health Facilities Evaluation and Licensing. During these inspections, this nursing home was cited for 20 separate deficiencies. Manhattan View failed to store, cook, and give out food in a safe and clean way, failed to offer food within proper time intervals, failed to keep medication errors within 5%, and failed to properly prevent the spread of infection. These are just a few of the 20 deficiencies cited during these routine inspections.

It has been found that proper levels of medication and proper nutrition are very important in preventing the occurrence of bed sores and or pressure ulcers. This nursing home does not appear to have had any bed sore and/or pressure ulcer citations during this time period, but with the types of deficiencies it was cited for, bed sore development is a definite concern. Families must learn the signs of nursing home abuse and neglect that can lead to bed sores and other dangers, and they must remain ever vigilant to protect their loved ones, especially in a nursing home with a below average Medicare rating.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is a resident at a nursing home or long term care facility and you are afraid that the care they are receiving is inadequate or even abusive, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, or call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
Let the nursing home abuse lawyers at the Mininno Law Office earn you the compensation you need and deserve.

Secondhand Smoke a Major Player in Birth Defects and Stillbirths

new jersey philadelphia birth injury attorneys secondhand smoke pergnancyAs reported by TIME.com,University of Nottingham reporters recently published a review paper that highlighted results of a number of previous studies which suggested that exposing nonsmoking pregnant women to secondhand smoke increases the risk of a stillbirth by 23%. Passive smoking increases the risk of congenital birth defects by 13%. The paper, an analysis based on data retrieved from 19 previous studies, is scheduled to appear in the April issue of the medical journal, Pediatrics.

Simultaneously, researchers tried to link secondhand smoke with miscarriage and unexplained infant death, but were not able to find any correlations. They were also unable to determine during which stages of pregnancy secondhand smoke was most dangerous.

Interestingly, the study stated that the source of secondhand smoke in 5 of the 19 studies was the baby’s father. The paper went on to promote quitting during pregnancy:

“These results highlight the importance for smoking prevention and cessation to focus on the father in addition to the mother during the preconception period as well as during pregnancy.”

The paper’s author, Jo Leonardi-Bee, said that more research is necessary to determine whether fetal effects take place because of the mother’s inhalation of smoke, or because smoking effects the father’s sperm. She also states that these results are based on a minimum of 10 cigarettes a day, but that in the best interest of health, quitting is the best option.

Birth Defects Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your child was born with a birth defect, or suffered from any type of birth injury, and you believe it is due to malpractice or negligence, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation, you may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
Let the birth injury lawyers at the Mininno Law Office work to earn you the compensation you need and deserve.

Birth Injury Attorneys Win Large Verdict for New York Family

Recently, a New York jury awarded a family $510,000 after negligence in the delivery room led to birth injury, oxygen deprivation, and brain damage for young Xzavier Hyman.

Doctor Veers from Standard of Care and Causes Permanent Damage

new jersey philadelphia birth injury attorneys large verdict NY familyDr. Paul Heltzer and the Staten Island University Hospital were found responsible for the speech probelms, learning disabilities, and reduced life expectancy that Xzavier now faces due to the extended period of time he went without oxygen on the day of his birth.

Dr. Heltzer broke Xzavier’s mother’s water prematurely, while labor was still progressing quite slowly. He then administered dosages of the drug Pitocin, which is used to induce contractions and help begin labor. The suit claims that Dr. Heltzer kept the mother on Pitocin for far too long, causing excess stress on the baby as a result of relentless contractions. The contractions caused an increase in pressure on the baby’s brain while oxygen and blood flow to the brain slowed, and eventually, Xzavier’s heart stopped.

Xzavier’s mother was in labor for 19 hours, and was on Pitocin for a majority of that time. It was determined that Dr. Heltzer and the Staten Island University Hospital acted negligently in allowing her to remain on the drug for so long. It was also determined that a C-Section should have been executed as opposed to waiting for a vaginal delivery. A lot of the complications Xzavier deals with today could have been avoided had the standard of care been adhered to.

Birth Injury Attorneys in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your child is dealing with complications that stem from a birth injury they received, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may be entitled to compensation for the negligence that caused their injuries. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.
Let the birth injury lawyers at the Mininno Law Office earn you the compensation you need and deserve.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Expose Hudson Manor Health Care Center

As attorneys specializing in nursing home abuse cases in New Jersey and the Philadelphia area, we continue to post on some of the worse nursing homes based on both Medicare Nursing Home Compare ratings and the NJ Division of Health Facilities Evaluation and Licensing inspections. The nursing home we will discuss today is located in Secaucus, New Jersey. The Hudson Manor Health Care Center is a nursing home with 334 long term care beds. It is a for profit partner owned facility and yet it has one of the worst records of deficiencies we have come across.

Hudson Manor Health Care Center Has Awful Record

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers expose hudson manor health care centerThe Hudson Manor Health Care Center had two routine inspections between December 2008 and November 2010. During those two inspections, 67 deficiencies were cited! The types of deficiencies include failure to prevent or properly treat bed sores or pressure ulcers, failures regarding catheters to prevent UTIs, and a pattern of failing to keep the nursing home at a comfortable and safe temperature level.

A number of the deficiencies were cited both in the March 2009 inspection and during the February 2010 inspection. One repeated deficiency was the failure to prevent and/or properly treat bed sores. As we have indicated in previous posts, the failure to prevent or treat bed sores is considered nursing home abuse and neglect. It is an extremely painful ailment and can be extremely dangerous as well. Hudson Manor has been given a well below average rating and when you read the long list of serious deficiencies, it is clear to see why!

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is a resident at a nursing home or long term care facility, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia. Let the experienced team of nursing home abuse lawyers at the Mininno Law Office earn you and your loved one the full and fair compensation you need and deserve.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Expose Faults of Cumberland Manor

In today’s post, we are going to discuss a nursing home in Cumberland County, New Jersey that has been rated as below average by Medicare. As New Jersey and Philadelphia lawyers specializing in nursing home abuse cases, we feel compelled to continue to expose local nursing homes with below average ratings. We believe this service is important to protect families when dealing with placement or abuse and neglect issues that arise in long term facilities. Vigilance by family members is key to protecting loved ones when they become patients in any nursing home. All nursing homes are subject to inspections, and reviewing these inspections can help prevent bed sores, medication errors, and accidents that lead to abuse and neglect causing pain and even death to some patients.

Nursing Home Abuse at Cumberland Manor

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers expose cumberland manorThe nursing home that we will discuss today is the Cumberland Manor nursing home located in Bridgeton, New Jersey. This nursing is a county government owned facility with 196 long term care beds. Medicare’s nursing home compare system gave this facility 2 out of 5 stars. This rating indicates that Cumberland Manor is a below average nursing home.

According to the NJ Division of Health Facilities Evaluation and Licensing, Cumberland Manor was routinely inspected 2 times between December 2008 and November 2010. During these inspections, Cumberland Manor was cited for 26 deficiencies. A few of these included failure to prohibit mistreatment and neglect, food storage and sanitary condition issues, failure to keep the facility free from accidents, and failure to keep medication errors below 5%. A nursing home with these types of deficiencies and this below average rating is the type that can lead to additional injuries, bed sores, and transfers to hospitals for acute care recovery from such issues. As we always indicate, family members must be vigilant and aware to protect their loved ones from nursing home and abuse.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved on is a resident at a nursing home or long term care facility and you feel that the care they are receiving is abusive or negligent, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers Expose Below Average NJ Facility

new jersey philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyers expose delaire convalescent centerContinuing our reports on average to low quality nursing homes in New Jersey, we have located a home in Union County with a well below average rating, according to the Medicare official government website that rates all nursing homes and similar long term care facilities in the US. As attorneys specializing in nursing home abuse cases in the New Jersey and Philadelphia area, we continue to post on nursing homes that provide sub-standard care. The abuse and neglect cases that arise from nursing homes with below average ratings are varied and many. Bed sore issues, accidents, medication errors, the improper use of restraints and a myriad of nutritional issues are just naming a few of the abuse cases we see from sub-standard nursing homes.

Delaire Nursing & Convalescent Center Is a Below Average Facility

Today we are going to focus on the Delaire Nursing & Convalescent Center located in Linden, New Jersey (Union County). This is a for profit, corporately owned nursing home. It has 240 long term beds available for patients, and between December 2008 and November 2010, had two routine inspections. During those two inspections, 27 deficiencies were cited by the NJ Division of Health Facilities Evaluation and Licensing. Among those citations were violations dealing with failure to keep the environment free from accidents and/or hazards, failure to have proper infection control, improper labeling and/ or storage of drugs, failure to keep proper food storage, and failure to meet resident nutritional needs.

During this same time period, the Delaire Nursing & Convalescent Center was complaint inspected 12 additional times with an additional 4 citations, including not making proper notifications of a patient’s status change. These types of deficiencies are what lead to incidences of nursing home abuse and neglect.

Nursing homes with an overall below average rating should be a concern for anyone who finds their loved one in such a facility. As always, knowing the facts and being vigilant is the key to protecting your loved one!

Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in New Jersey and Philadelphia

If your loved one is currently a resident at a nursing home o long term care facility and you believe that the care they are receiving is well below average, contact the Mininno Law Office for a free case evaluation. You may also call for a free consultation at (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey, or (215) 567-2380 in Philadelphia.

Let the nursing home abuse lawyers at the Mininno Law Office earn you the compensation you need and deserve.