Virginia Medical Malpractice Blog - Williamson & Lavecchia, L.C.

Deficiencies at 90% of Nursing Homes

Nursing home inspectors find deficiencies at over 90% of U.S. nursing homes.  The rate goes up to 94% at for-profit nursing homes.  Federal Medicare and Medicaid regulations require nursing homes to meet certain minimal standards.  For example, patients who are admitted without pressure sores should not develop pressure sores unless they are unavoidable.  Patients should not suffer malnutrition, dehydration, or be illegally restrained.  Yet, nursing homes continue to commit malpractice that injuries or causes patient deaths.  

The fact that there is a higher rate of deficiencies at for-profit verse non-profit nursing homes shows that many nursing homes are placing profits over patient safety.  We believe that holding nursing homes accountable for malpractice will force them to provide better care to all of their patients.

As alarming as these statistics may be, they only reflect the violations that inspectors catch.  In our experience, most violations of nursing home regulations go undetected.  In other words, we are filing lawsuits against nursing homes where the inspectors missed the violations.  That is not meant as a criticism of the inspectors, but as a reflection of the reality that there are no enough inspectors to catch all the violations of the nursing home regulations. 

On our Elder Abuse Website you can learn more about the rights of nursing home and assisted living facility patients.  Our website contains links that will allow you check the record of any Virginia nursing home or read the Federal and Virginia Nursing Home Regulations.

At Williamson & Lavecchia, L.C. we are experienced at handling cases involving pressure sores, illegal restraints, falls, medication errors, malnutrition, dehydration, infection, and abuse.  We represent victims in Richmond and throughout Virginia including Petersburg, Fredericksburg, Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, Charlottesville, northern Virginia, and Hampton Roads.

If you would like to discuss your legal rights please call us at (804) 288-1661 or click here to contact us by email for a free consultation.

Josh Silverman

Labels: dehydration, Josh Silverman, malnutrition,, medical malpractice, Medication error, Nursing home abuse and neglect, nursing home malpractice, pressure sore, Virginia, Williamson & Lavecchia, wrongful death,