Two studies were recently released by the American Medical Directors Association and the Journal of Nursing Administration that looked at the relationship between higher nursing home staff turnover and the quality of care being provided to residents. Not surprisingly, both studies found an adverse relationship, meaning the higher the turnover in the nursing home, the lower the quality of care being provided to residents. A recent article by Nurse.com outlines the findings of both reports.
The first study, entitled ““Are Nursing Home Survey Deficiencies Higher in Facilities with Greater Staff Turnover,” was published by the American Medical Directors Association and found that “turnover for both licensed nurses and certified nursing assistants was associated with quality problems as measured by deficiencies considered to be closely related to nursing care.”
The second study, “Turnover Staffing, Skill Mix, and Resident Outcomes in a National Sample of U.S. Nursing Homes,” published by the Journal of Nursing Administration, looked at adverse patient effects, such as bedsores and pain, and tried to see if there was a tie to a higher staff turnover rate. After controlling for a number of factors, the study did find that, as nursing home staff turnover rates increase, especially in the certified nurse assistant position, adverse patient experiences increase.
Nursing Home Care in Maryland
In Maryland, like everywhere else, nursing home care can be hit or miss. While nursing homes and care facilities are not known for their high quality of care, there are some in the state that do a good job caring for our aging population.
However, there also are many nursing homes that routinely have problems with patients, whether the problem is reports of excessive pain in nursing home residents, premature patient death, medication error, negligence, or even abuse.
The nursing homes that fall below the required level of care can be held liable in a Maryland court of law if a patient suffers injuries due to the deficiencies in the care provided. In many cases, patients that should enjoy a higher quality of life suffer as a result of inadequate care. If this sounds like your loved one’s experience, you should speak with an experienced Maryland nursing home attorney to see if pursuing recovery may be an option for you.
Has Your Loved One Been Provided Inadequate Care By a Maryland Nursing Home?
If you believe that your loved one is in a Maryland nursing home that is providing inadequate care, or is abusing your loved one in any way, you should do everything you can to ensure that your loved one is safe by removing them from the environment. After you have ensured their safety, speaking to a dedicated Maryland nursing home attorney is a good option to see what claims you or your loved one may have against the nursing home. The Maryland personal injury law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers has a team of dedicated nursing home attorneys ready to speak with you about your case. Click here, or call 410-654-3600 to schedule a free initial consultation today.
See More Blog Posts:
New Legislation in Florida Changes the Landscape of Nursing Home Injury Cases, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published May 6, 2014.
Seventeen Employees of Michigan Nursing Home Facing Charges for Patient Abuse, Maryland Nursing Home Lawyer Blog, published May 13, 2014.