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Author Archives: Adam Peck

 About Adam Peck

Adam J. Peck, ESQ is a principal with Peck Law Group, APC. In 2008, Mr. Adam Peck received his Juris Doctorate from Whittier Law School where he graduated Cum Laude. His practice is primarily dedicated to representing Elders, Dependent Adults, along with their loved ones and family members, who have suffered horrific personal injuries.
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Bedsores and Pressure Ulcers are injuries to the skin

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Bedsores and Pressure Ulcers are injuries to the skin:

Bedsores or pressure ulcers are injuries to the skin and tissue underneath as a result of constant pressure on the skin. They most often develop on the skin that covers bony areas like the heels, tailbones and hips. People who have a high risk of developing bedsores are those with medical conditions that limit their ability to move and change positions, such as someone on bedrest / bedridden or restrained to a wheelchair. Bedsores develop fairly quickly and are difficult to treat. Several things can be done to help prevent them and assist with healing.

Please see : (Source: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bedsores/basics/definition/con-20030848)
There are four stages of bedsores. One and two usually heal within a few weeks with appropriate care for the wound, while three and four are more difficult to treat. Caregivers can  reduce pressure by repositioning a patient every 15 minutes to an hour for a wheelchair and every two hours when confined to a bed. You can also reduce pressure by using support surfaces like a special cushion to help a person lie in the appropriate position and relieve any pressure on sores. It’s important to clean the wound and apply dressings, regularly changing them to help with the healing process. A doctor may decide to remove the tissue using different methods, including surgery if necessary. Patients may also be prescribed drugs for pain management, or negative pressure therapy may be suggested (applying suction to a clean wound).
Please see: (Source: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bedsores/basics/treatment/con-20030848)

The Selection of a Nursing Home Can Mean the Difference Between Life or Death

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The selection of a nursing home can be critical: 39 percent of facilities have been cited by health inspectors over the past three years for harming a patient or operating in such a way that injuries are likely, government records show.

Acute Care Facilities / Hospitals do not always send a patient to “better” facilities, but seem to push their own facilities over comparable or better alternatives.  Even the worst nursing homes are full because hospitals keep sending patients to them regardless of there history of abuse or neglect.

Lately, some hospitals are now only referring patients to higher-quality nursing homes.  The patient should have the last word, though.  This type of high quality referring, though, is very rare in the industry and is not very commonplace.

The federal government may change this hands-off approach by requiring hospitals to provide guidance and quality data to patients while still respecting a patient’s preferences. The rule would apply to information not only about nursing homes but also about home health agencies, rehabilitation hospitals and other facilities and services that patients may need after their hospital stay.

The government has created other incentives for hospitals to make sure their patient placements are good. For instance, Medicare cuts payments to hospitals when too many discharged patients returned within a month.  Now there will be rewards to hospitals from Medicare that do quality discharges.

Always watch very where they send your loved ones, and seek out the best nursing homes. Let the Hospital know that is where you want your loved one to go.

Call the Peck Law Group, APC toll free at 866-999-9085.  We specialize in Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect, Bedsores, Multiple Falls, Malnutrition, and Dehydration.  We can help your injured love one!!!

What Are Bedsores, Pressure Ulcers and Decubitus Ulcers?

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The Peck Law Group Accident Attorney Los Angeles

First, what are Bedsores, Pressure Ulcers and Decubitus Ulcers?

Bedsores, pressure ulcers, and decubitus ulcers begin as inflammation of the skin from prolonged position, which has prevented normal circulation to that localized area of pressure. The longer the person’s skin remains under pressure to that area, the skin sloughs off because it essentially dies from poor circulation. They begin as reddened areas, which serves as the initial warning to initiate therapy, both physical care and topical creams and if not could lead to serious health issues.

 How are Bedsores, Pressure Ulcers and Decubitus Ulcers prevented?

Elderly patients and those who have suffered paralysis or stroke are particularly vulnerable as are those with immobility since they have difficulty sensing pressure and cannot turn away from the pressure area. The body should be kept off of areas of pressure, especially while in bed. One key prevention method is to seek out specialty mattresses like those with foam padding, and make sure that there is extra padding on chairs and wheelchairs. It is also important for the person to maintain healthy diets with adequate protein and carbohydrates and multi-vitamins to supplement their nutritional intake as the lack of sufficient nutrition helps to speed up skin breakdown.

Why are Bedsores, Pressure Ulcers and Decubitus Ulcers dangerous?

Alarmingly, approximately 60,000 patients die each year from pressure injuries related to a life-threatening infection called sepsis. Usually the bed sore is kept unclean causing an EColi infection, and because of lack of sufficient hygiene, microorganisms can gain access to the blood stream from a pressure wound. Individuals can also suffer some severe deformities from these wounds such as amputations of limbs and huge defects in the body after healing, pressure also can limit mobility, cause severe pain, and can be very foul smelling.

How can Bedsores, Pressure Ulcers and Decubitus Ulcers be prevented?

Assessment of the backside including the buttock’s, taking note if there has been any change or new redness of that area. Photos must be taken on a regular basis to note if there has been any improvement or worsening.

We can help?

The Peck Law Group, APC has over 41 years of experience in the litigation of elder and / or dependent adult cases throughout the State of California and the United States concerning Bedsores, Pressure Ulcers and Decubitus Ulcers.  Call us today for a free case evaluation toll free at (866) 999-9085 or please email us at info@thepecklawgroup.com.

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