Check out this new post by the New York Times Technology division that shows insight into the updated edition of Esko exoskeleton. This is why I love life care planning. I enjoy seeing the advances in technology that give those catastrophically injured a new lease on life. Our rapidly changing technologies help to provide some much needed function to these individuals. I am also very proud of my son; the engineer student, who desires to create things just like this. [read more]
Here are the latest FDA errors by those who apparently have trouble connecting tube A to port B. Scary stuff! Some of the ones reported that they illustrate: Feeding Tube Erroneously Connected to Trach Tube Epidural tubing erroneously connected to IV tubing IV tubing erroneously connected to trach cuff IV tubing erroneously connected to nebulizer Oxygen tubing erroneously connected to a needleless IV port Blood pressure tubing erroneously connected to IV catheter IV tubing erroneously connected to nasal cannula Syringe [read more]
Falls are a prime area of litigation. Check out these interesting statistics About one third of those over the age of 65 fall each year, and the risk of falls increases proportionately with age. At 80 years, over half of seniors fall annually. Those who fall are two to three times more likely to fall again. About half (53%) of the older adults who are discharged for fall-related hip fractures will experience another fall within six months. Many falls do [read more]
As a Nurse Life Care Planner, I am often deposed regarding my opinions and work product for the attorneys who ask me to consult on catastrophic injury cases. One of the questions I am hit with most often deals with diagnoses. While I am not a doctor, I can make a diagnosis…a nursing diagnosis. A nursing diagnosis, however, is not a medical diagnosis. Assigning a medical diagnosis is outside of my scope of practice. A popular Medscape article addressed this [read more]
A woman has been awarded $144 million by a jury in a lawsuit filed against a Michigan hospital and doctors over permanent brain injuries her daughter suffered at birth 15 years ago. The lawsuit claimed doctors forced the 10-pound baby through the birthing canal instead of doing a Caesarean section, and the child suffered “a fractured clavicle, hemorrhaging and severe brain trauma.” The jury verdict will be enough to provide medical care for the girl for the rest of her [read more]
If you went into the hospital for a heart valve repair and came out months later missing all your fingers, all the toes on your right foot and your left leg was amputated above the knee, would $250,000 be enough to compensate? As a Nurse Life Care Planner with a specialty in amputee life care plans, I can tell you the answer is an emphatic “No!”—and in this post I am only referring to dollars, not the emotional toll on [read more]
I previously mentioned a new life care planning course by FIG Services. I personally have not participated in this particular course though I have attended other educational offerings from Shelene Giles. That being said, the course is apparently a big hit. Here are some recent testimonials from those who have attended. “Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to participate in FIG Services Nurse Life Care Plan Course. This was the onsite legal section of the 120 hour course. The group [read more]
DID YOU KNOW… The majority of Life Care Planners are nurses in independent practice. Nurses typically choose nurse life care planning as a career enhancement. Nurse Life Care Planners earn an average of $150/hour. Studies show several Nurse Life Care Planners will retire within the next 5-10 years, which leaves the door wide open for opportunities…Are you ready? FIG is a nationally recognized educational provider and announces the launching of Nurse Life Care Planning – Through the Ages, an educational [read more]
