Connecticut Hospital Negligence: New Guidelines for Suicide Prevention
by Gerard McEneryJanuary 2nd, 2018
The Joint Commission has released guidelines for healthcare facilities on how to better identify patients who are at risk for self-harm. Each year 460,000 hospital visits result from those who attempt self-harm, and of those who are treated, they are six times more likely to attempt self-harm in the future. In 2016, the Joint Commission … Keep reading…
Nurses In Poor Health Make 71% More Medical Errors
by Gayle Sullivan, RN, JDDecember 30th, 2017
Much research over the years has shown that the registered nursing population suffers from depression more than any other profession. New research indicates that these levels of depression directly correlate with patient medical errors, which may be considered Connecticut medical malpractice. Fifty-four percent of nurses reported poor medical health. One-third had some degree of depression, … Keep reading…
Connecticut MOLST Law Now In Effect
by Charles B. Price, Jr.December 27th, 2017
Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy signed into law on June 2017 a Senate bill that adopts the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH)’s Medical Orders For Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) Law. Connecticut’s MOLST law was developed from the National Physicians Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST). MOLST are medical orders from a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant … Keep reading…
Fall 2017 Hospital Ranking: How Did Connecticut Do?
by Robert Messey, MD, JDDecember 24th, 2017
The Leapfrog Group released its hospital rankings focused on transparency, quality and safety in the U.S. healthcare system. The scores were based on how well each hospital kept its patients safe from infections, injuries, errors and accidents. In the spring, Connecticut hospitals ranked 36 nationally. This ranking period we are up six spots to number … Keep reading…
New Connecticut Law Provides Comfort Dogs to Testifying Witnesses
by Gerard McEneryDecember 21st, 2017
The Connecticut legislature enacted a new law on July 1, 2017 that protects the right for a testifying witness to have a comfort dog with them during testimony. This act came after the 2016 court case State of Connecticut vs. Devon. A child in the case was testifying against her father in a sexual assault … Keep reading…
Connecticut Auto Accident: Avoiding a Collision With Deer
by Gayle Sullivan, RN, JDDecember 19th, 2017
Depending on where you live and work in Connecticut, you may have seen wildlife along the roadways. Whether it is a larger animal like a deer, or a smaller animal like a raccoon or squirrel, Connecticut auto accidents can happen when trying to avoid a wild animal. There are a few things Connecticut motorists can … Keep reading…