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Pennsylvania Nursing Home Settles Wrongful Death Suit, Agrees to Pay $800,000

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On December 21, 2017, the Devereux Foundation in Philadelphia, agreed to pay $800,000 to end a wrongful death suit against staff at The Devereux Pocono Center. The suit accused staff at the organization’s residential behavioral health facility in northeast Pennsylvania of failing to recognize symptoms of an infection in a developmentally disabled resident.

Details of the Wrongful Death Suit.

The family of Megan Ramsey, who died in the care of the Devereux Pocono Center in July 2014, asked a Pennsylvania federal judge to sign off on the settlement to end allegations that staff failed to detect symptoms of a perforated bowel and infection. According to court records, the patient had suffered from a rare genetic disorder known as Cornelia de Lange syndrome. Her symptoms included slow growth, small stature, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and issues with behavior and communication.

In July 2014, Ramsey complained of shoulder pain, a symptom of bowel perforation, according to the complaint. She was administered a pain reliever and observed to be uncharacteristically irritable and aggressive and was treated with doses of an anti-anxiety medication, the suit said. Ramsey asked staff members to be taken to the hospital. A residential manager at the facility, however, said only to monitor her closely, offer her fluids, and advise nursing staff of any worsening of her symptoms.

She was found dead the next morning.

The Settlement.

The patient’s family filed a pretrial memorandum in September 2017, in which investigations by state agencies resulted in findings of neglect, intentional or reckless failure to provide treatment, and intentional use of a chemical restraint or isolation.

The settlement of $800,000 includes fees for the plaintiff’s counsel of just under $267,000, the filing said. Click here to read the settlement in full.

To read one of my prior blogs about a similar case involving 14 deaths at a Florida nursing home, click here.

Contact Health Law Attorneys Experienced with Nursing Home Cases.

The Health Law Firm and its attorneys represent nursing homes, nursing home employees, mental health facilities and mental health professionals, including psychologists, social workers and mental health counselors, in a number of different matters including incorporation, preparing contracts, defending the facility against malpractice claims, licensing and regulatory matters, administrative hearings, and routine legal advice.

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

Sources:

Fair, Matt. “Pa. Nursing Home Settles Patient Death Suit.” Law360. (December 21, 2017). Web.

The Meyer Law Firm. “Wrongful Death in Nursing Homes.” NursingHomeAbuseGuide.org. (December 22, 2017). Web.

About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

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Concierge Medical Services Bring Cash With Few Hassles to Physicians

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

What is concierge medical services?

A concierge medical service or practice is a similar to having a primary care provider such as a family practice physician. However, concierge practices are marked by a promise, explicit or implied, that they provide appointments quickly and give a greater degree of personal attention to patients and their problems. The physician works directly with a family, an individual, or a couple to provide most of the medical needs of the patient. These needs include general and specialized care. Having a concierge medical practitioner means there is constantly a doctor one phone call away, same day medial services and a personal relationship with your provider. But it all comes with a price and often does not accept Medicare or health insurance. More advanced technology and access to advanced medical services and resources over the Internet and via telecommunications, has led to larger profits for doctors choosing to start concierge services.

The price range for a concierge doctor varies incredibly. Although it has been criticized as catering to the wealthy, some doctors believe that concierge services should be available to the common person. However, others choose to only accept the wealthy into their services. Some doctors are willing to fly out to visit their clients or to accompany them to a specialized service across the country.

Benefits of Concierge Services.

A major benefit to a concierge practice for the physician is that the doctors tend to have fewer patients and, therefore, can spend much more time with them. Doing so allows for more personalized services at any time of the day or night. Some doctors even choose to call themselves “asset managers of the body.”

Ethical Dilemmas.

Some are concerned that the individuals almost always taking advantage of concierge medical practices are consistently in the upper or the middle class, never the lower class. Lower class individuals struggle the most with quality health care. Some have ethical issues with providing quality care only to the rich.

Contact an Experienced Health Law Attorney with Any and All Health Care Concerns.

The Health Law Firm and its attorneys routinely represent physicians, dentists, orthodontists, medical groups, clinics, pharmacies, assisted living facilities (AFLs), home health care agencies, nursing homes, group homes and other healthcare providers in investigations, audits, recovery actions, and more. Know your rights as a provider who wants to participate in Concierge Services.

If you are a provider who wants to participate in the growing Concierge Services, contact The Health Law Firm.

For more information please visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com or call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001.

Sources:

Luthra, Shefali. “Fueled By Health Law, ‘Concierge Medicine’ Reaches New
Markets.” Kaiser Health News. (27 Mar. 2017). Web.

Schwartz, Nelson D. “The Doctor Is In. Co-Pay? $40,000.” The New York Times. (03 June 2017). Web.

About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

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