Every once in a while, we like to share resources with you that can help in a time of need. In this blog post, I’m going to talk about a great resource for helping aging parents in need. It’s called “Aging Answers,” and it’s for adult children who are helping aging parents in need.

What is “Aging Answers”?

“Aging Answers” is a free book that you can read or download here. The book, written by Valerie VanBooven, offers “secrets to successful long-term care planning, care giving and crisis management.” It’s dedicated to adults who are caring for aging relatives to give them hope and guidance in a most challenging time.

Whether you’ve been helping a parent in need for years or a loved one has recently fallen ill, this book covers 11 issues that you’ll face if you haven’t already. The book is split into two parts: The first part talks about planning for long-term care while the second part discusses caring for an aging family member. Valerie VanBooven does a thorough job of covering a complex issue. She answers common questions that adult children have when caring for a loved one. Plus, she reminds us that we’ll need our loved ones to care for us as we grow old. We’ll want to know who will care for us, how we’ll pay for care and how we can guarantee quality care.

If I’m helping a parent in need, what other resources can I use?

At the end of the book, there’s a great, useful compilation called the “Aging Answers Rolodex.” The rolodex is a list of agencies and websites that provide more information and more resources beyond what the “Aging Answers” book offers.

Do you have questions or answers about helping parents in need?

The “Aging Answers” book is just one resource. I encourage you to download it and share it with your friends and family. You have had experience and can probably help someone else that’s in a similar situation. Tell us all about what you’re going through, what’s working and what’s not. Share your story. At the Mininno Law Office, we have experienced NJ trial attorneys who have dealt with these cases all too often. We’d be happy to answer any questions you have or offer any help you need. Call (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey or (215) 567-2380 in Pennsylvania.

Sometimes the simplest solutions are “right under our nose.”
The risk of infection is one of the most common and well-known risks associated with any surgery. For years, doctors and hospitals have cooked up various ways to lessen infection risk and eradicate the bacteria and bugs that seem to thrive in hospitals and operating rooms.

Until now, these efforts have only marginally reduced the rate of infections following surgery. The staph bacterium has been particularly troublesome.

How can the risk of infection be reduced?

Research shows that the staff bacterium is the most common cause of infections following surgery. Now, researchers have discovered a safe and easy method to dramatically reduce surgical site infections by 40 to 60 percent.
These findings, published in the January 7, 2010 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine reveal that bathing patients with an antiseptic followed by squirting a medicated ointment up a patient’s noses can dramatically cut the rate of dangerous staph infections following surgery.

Can we really lessen infection risk?

At last, we have a simple solution for this difficult problem. Please remember, patients should be their own “patient safety advocate”. Speak up for your health. The next time you or a loved one requires surgery, ask your surgeon for the nose spray and bath. Your risk of infection will be reduced dramatically.

If your surgeon won’t agree with your request, you may want to find a new surgeon. That’s your right. Better yet, print out this blog and the article from the New England Journal of Medicine and give it to your surgeon. Chances are, you’ll get the bath and the nose spray.

What if the worst should happen?

We hope your surgery is a success and infection free. But, if something does go wrong during or following a surgery, call a New Jersey medical malpractice attorney who can answer your questions on surgical errors and complications.
You and your loved ones deserve safety and proper care. Our experienced civil trial lawyers are always available to help. Call (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey or (215) 567-2380 in Pennsylvania.

All parents are their kids’ biggest fans. We watch, cheer and root for their teams. We worry about them getting hurt, but rarely do we even consider that they could suffer a long-term injury. Until now. With all the recent media attention, it is now beyond dispute: A kid’s concussion can be a lifelong injury.

Athletes are at a high risk simply because of the competitive, physical nature of the sports they play. It’s the reason many athletes have short careers and an unfortunate cause of brain problems later in life.

With concussions in kids, the danger is even bigger. A child’s brain is more fragile than an adult’s, and in the current day and age, youngsters are more competitive and daring. The stakes are higher.
In a three-day series by the New Jersey Star-Ledger, staff writers raised the issue of concussions in kids. The series took a thorough look at a serious problem. Here’s a breakdown.

Kids and Concussions: Part One

In the first part of the series, Mr. Matthew Stanmyre and Ms. Jackie Friedman of the New Jersey Star-Ledger tackled the impact of head injuries on young athletes, what’s being done to protect them and what else can be done to protect them.
Fact: More than 400,000 concussions occurred in high schools nationwide during the 2008-09 academic year.

Why does this happen? Some reasons might be coaches lacking medical experience, athletes playing through pain and parents rushing their children back onto the field too soon after an injury. If your child were injured, how soon would you bring him or her back into play?

Kids and Concussions: Part Two

In the second part, Mr. Stanmyre and Ms. Friedman looked at the dangers of competitive cheerleading. Do you think cheerleading is safe? Think again. It may seem like the safest kind of physical competition, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe.
Cheerleaders undergo a tremendous amount of training to be able to lift each other in the air and land safely, but accidents can happen.

Kids and Concussions: Part Three

In the third article, we learn the answer to the most important question: What is being done to protect our children, especially at the local level? The answer is that doctors and trainers are working endlessly on just that. The article points to a Rutgers S.A.F.E.T.Y. course that gives coaches basic teaching and safety knowledge.
In high schools, a neuropsychological exam called “ImPACT Testing” is given to athletes after a head injury.

Do you have questions? We can help

Although some head injuries are more serious than others, there is no such thing as a “little head injury.” The effects of even a small head injury can be severe, such as memory loss or depression. In some cases, head injuries can even lead to a wrongful death.

New Jersey lawyers can answer your questions about personal injuries and a number of other topics. At the Mininno Law Office, we have experienced NJ trial attorneys who have dealt with these cases all too often.
We’d be happy to answer any questions you have or offer any help you need. Call (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey or (215) 567-2380 in Pennsylvania.

We have all heard the term, “burnout.” It means exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration. It applies to teachers, pilots, coaches, lawyers and doctors.
When it comes to surgeons, burnout is a clear cause of surgical errors and mistakes. That shouldn’t surprise anyone.

A recent study acknowledges what we already know: As a group, surgeons work as hard as any other profession. What’s worse, the hours are often worked under very stressful situations. It’s natural for any human being to be tired from working grueling hours in stressful situations.
Therefore, it’s important for anyone working in those conditions to get the proper rest so they can perform at the highest level they possibly can.

We know burnout and surgical errors are linked, so what’s new?

Since 1885, the Annals of Surgery journal has been doing monthly reviews of medical issues like burnout and surgical errors. The objective of a surgery on burnout and surgical errors conducted by the Annals of Surgery was simple: figure out how burnout and surgical errors are linked.
Sounds pretty simple, right? There were 7,905 participating surgeons in the study to make sure there was a big enough sample size.

Here are the results on burnout and surgical errors: Nearly 9 percent of the survey’s participants said they had made a serious medical mistake during the previous three months. That’s 700 surgeons, and that’s scary.
More than 70 percent of surgeons attributed their mistake to something they personally did wrong or failed to do correctly. In other words, these surgeons took the blame for their own mistakes.

What did we learn about burnout and surgical errors?

If a surgeon is “burned out,” how more likely is it that he or she will make an error? Since the problem is known to exist, the next step is to find a solution.
What is the best way to reduce surgeon distress? Unfortunately, if a patient needs care, cutting back hours may not be the answer, but all options should be considered.

With that said, we’d like to hear from you. How do you think “burnout” should be reduced?

Do you have questions or answers about burnout and surgical errors?

Add a comment to our blog. New Jersey lawyers can answer your questions about surgical errors and complications.
At the Mininno Law Office, we have experienced NJ trial attorneys who have dealt with these cases all too often. We’d be happy to answer any questions you have or offer any help you need. Call (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey or (215) 567-2380 in Pennsylvania.

Happy Holidays!

As we spend time with loved ones, we look back on the past year and look ahead to the next. This past year has been challenging, there’s no doubt about it. The struggling economy and nationwide recession brought us job losses and companies going out of business. It seems that things got harder for many people.

Looking back

While we spend time with loved ones, we think about families who have been through hard times. For families who have lost loved ones or who have faced their own illness, disability or injury because of medical negligence, 2009 has been a very difficult year. We have heard from hundreds of people this year who have suffered some kind of injury, illness or death from medical malpractice or nursing home neglect.
To those families, we again extend our sympathies. I am sure many in our community are glad to see the year end. Many people are looking forward to a new year and an opportunity to start over.

Moving forward

As we spend time with loved ones, we realize how much we still have. Despite everything we’ve been through, it’s important not to lose hope. No matter what we’ve been through in 2009, we can still look to 2010 to bring us happiness, prosperity and success.

Spend time with loved ones

The people we love the most never really leave us. They’re always in our hearts. But whether it’s your parents, your children, your brothers and sisters, or your best friends, take the time to tell people how much you care. Life is too short. It is in this time of giving and holiday cheer that we send this message to you. We hope you can share the holidays with someone special. If you have questions, we can help.

No matter what you’re going through, there are resources and people out there who can help you get through it. I can be one source of guidance. If you’re dealing with a wrongful death or a personal injury case, I know how hard it can be.

At the Mininno Law Office, our number one priority is our clients. Our New Jersey lawyers would be happy to answer any questions you have or offer any help they can give you. Call (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey or (215) 567-2380 in Pennsylvania.

Patient rights protection might not be the first thing you think about when you or a loved one has to go to a hospital. You may not always need it, but when you do, you’re sure glad it’s there.

Why is patient rights protection important?

To explain why patient rights protection is important, let me share what may be a shocking statistic. Fact: Research shows that each year, 98,000 lives will be lost to preventable medical errors. Do you know what the keyword is in that sentence? It’s “preventable” and it means that these medical errors that cause wrongful death can be avoided. These are errors that should not happen and these deaths should not happen.
If we can improve patient rights protection, we can do two things. We can both improve health care and decrease the number of deaths from preventable medical errors.

Is anyone fighting for patient rights protection?

Yes, certified civil trial lawyers are fighting for patient rights protection. The American Association for Justice, formerly called the Association of Trial Lawyers in America, has recently spent its own resources to advocate and fight for patient rights protection. The goal? Make health care more affordable for everyone.

In order to make a difference, 30 public service “billboards” that will be displayed at Union Station Metro in Washington, D.C. during the entire month of December. The campaign has already gotten a ton of positive press coverage. You can read about the effort on Politico and on NationalJournal.com.
Each ad will tell a story of someone who was hurt by medical negligence. This is an investment of $100,000, but it shows how important health care is to medical malpractice attorneys. New Jersey attorneys see cases with surgical errors and medical mistakes all too often. In addition to fighting for their clients, they’re fighting for all Americans to get better health care.

What about tort reform? Will it help with patient rights protection?

Tort reform will not help with patient rights protection. Think about who’s pushing tort reform — insurance lobbyists and corporate nursing homes. Why? They’re trying to make more money. Tort reform takes away rights, it doesn’t support them. It won’t help improve health care; it will just make things worse.

What if I’m not being protected?

Talk to a medical malpractice attorney. At the Mininno Law Office, we have experienced New Jersey attorneys who have dealt with these cases all too often. We’d be happy to answer any questions you have or offer any help you need. Call (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey or (215) 567-2380 in Pennsylvania.

Best medical care: How can you find it?

Finding the best medical care is not easy. Why? Because how do you ever know whether you are or are not getting the “best.” Is “best” the most likeable, the most experienced, the best trained? How can you even begin to find the “best” medical care. As a trial lawyer, I have had the experience of seeing and learning about “poor” medical care from the people who call me every day with a potential medical malpractice case.
Usually, I only learn about what “great” medical care should be after I retain a well qualified expert to evaluate a potential medical malpractice case.

But, now there is a great resource that I want to share with you, a book on the best medical care is one great resource. It’s called “The Life You Save: Nine Steps to Finding the Best Medical Care and Avoiding the Worst.”Written by Patrick Malone, this book should be one of the primary resources to help you find the “best” medical care.
This book, written by one of the country’s great trial lawyer is one first reference books of its kind. In 296 pages, Malone answers the basic questions: what, when, where, why, and how. What questions should you ask your doctor? When do you have symptoms that need immediate attention? Where can you find the most experienced surgeons and safest hospitals? Malone answers all of these questions and more. Find out more about the book or purchase it by clicking here.

Another great guide is here. The site’s patient section covers all of the ways you can use the Internet to get the help you need. The guide covers search engines, online doctors, chat sessions, newsgroups, mailing lists and more.

If I don’t find the best medical care, what could happen?

That’s simple. You could become the victim of medical malpractice. The quality of medical care increases with the quality of the doctor or hospital giving that care. The risk of a bad outcome increases with the degree of inexperience of a doctor. So, the consequences of not having the most experienced doctor or the highest quality attention can be very severe.
A surgical error, for example, could lead to personal injury or death. There’s nothing more important than your health and the health of your loved ones, so getting the help you need isn’t an option. It’s a necessity.

What if I’ve been a victim of medical malpractice?

Talk to a medical malpractice attorney. At the Mininno Law Office, we have experienced New Jersey lawyers who have dealt with these cases all too often. We’d be happy to answer any questions you have or offer any help you need. Call (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey or (215) 567-2380 in Pennsylvania.

Did you know that medical malpractice data about your local hospitals and doctors is being hidden from you? We’re not talking about a few little facts. We’re talking about 20 years worth of medical malpractice data, including 460,000 records of medical malpractice lawsuits.
This is data that the public SHOULD have access to but doesn’t. It doesn’t sound fair, does it? You’re right of course — it’s not fair.

Why is medical malpractice data being hidden from the public?

It may sound obvious to you, but medical malpractice data is being hidden because there are some people who don’t want you to see it. The American Medical Association is probably the biggest culprit here. Reported by Tulsa World, the AMA is telling us that the information in the database is inaccurate and unreliable. Do you believe that?

Let’s go back to the question at hand. This medical malpractice data contains information about doctors’ mistakes. Now can you see why an organization like the AMA would not want this information to get out? This data could hurt doctors’ reputation because if people found out that their particular doctors frequently made mistakes, they might just switch doctors.

Why is it important to publish medical malpractice data?

Medical malpractice data is incredibly important for any patient. If you knew which doctors have made mistakes and which haven’t, you would have an easier time picking a doctor for an operation, treatment or whatever your need may be.

Also, this data would help other doctors explain the risks and benefits of medical treatment. A doctor and a patient could each do their own research and make better, more informed decisions.

Finally, if a doctor knows that his or her mistakes will be on a public record, perhaps that doctor will be just a little more careful with a patient. We have all seen examples of how public scrutiny changes behavior and acts as a check and balance system on irresponsible conduct.

More than anything else, don’t you have the right to know? We pay for medical treatment. We are the customers. You deserve proper medical attention and care, and if your physician’s mistakes are being hidden, you do not have all of the information needed to make important medical decisions.
The best way to get information is to just ask questions. Ask your doctor, ask your friends. Do some research. Sooner or later, you’ll find what you’re looking for. If for some reason you can’t get the information you want on your doctor, it may be time to look for a new doctor. You should always know the quality of care you can expect to receive.

What if I’m not getting my questions answered?

Talk to a medical malpractice attorney. At the Mininno Law Office, we have experienced New Jersey lawyers who have dealt with these cases all too often. We’d be happy to answer any questions you have or offer any help you need.
Call (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey or (215) 567-2380 in Pennsylvania.

Visiting a nursing home is not an easy thing to do. The truth is, one visit can have huge implications for someone you love. You can learn so much just by spending a little time at a home, talking with staff and absorbing the atmosphere.

When visiting a nursing home, you should have a sharp eye and be very observant for anything that stands out — good or bad.

When visiting a nursing home, what should I look for?

When you’re visiting a nursing home, you want to gauge the morale of residents and staff, but most importantly, you want to know about one word: care. How are residents cared for? What’s the quality of care? Do employees truly care about the residents or are they just doing their job? This is really the best way to help you choose.
Let’s face it. It is difficult to care for our own loved ones, who may have enormous needs and medical problems. It takes a special person to be able to care for the elderly on a daily basis. Look at staff members. Do they seem like they really care about the patients; or are they just collecting a paycheck and doing a job?

These are all important questions to ask yourself during your visit. It may help to bring a pen and a pad. Ideally, you’ll gather tons of information that you can’t possibly remember, so write everything down so you don’t forget. A checklist is one way to approach note-taking. We suggest you go to Medicare.gov, which has a great nursing home checklist.

What else should I do when visiting a nursing home?

We’ve discussed observing the care that residents get when you’re visiting a nursing home. Observing is just step one. Step two? Talk. Communicate. Talk to the employees. But most importantly, LISTEN to what they say. Do they refer to the residents by name, or call them “clients and patients.” Spend time with residents as well. Ask employees to introduce you to residents.

Here’s an even better idea: Talk to other visitors — families who have residents there. Call in advance to find out when visitors are most likely to be there, and then talk to them. Exchange e-mail addresses and get the real scoop. Ask them what they think of the place. Ask them about the care their relatives are getting.

Although this may be tough, you should bring your loved one if possible. They may be reluctant to interact or even go to the home, but you can learn by watching how the staff treats them on the visit to the nursing home. If possible, let your loved one engage with other residents. Watch staff interact with him or her. See what happens.
This step is crucial. Many nursing homes are businesses that want your Medicaid and Medicare dollars, so if you don’t look carefully and find the right home, your may increase the chances of your loved one becoming a victim of nursing home abuse, neglect or exploitation.
If such a case should arise, though we hope it never does, please contact a nursing home abuse lawyer immediately. At the Mininno Law Office, our certified civil trial lawyers are experienced with these cases and would be happy to help you. Call (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey or (215) 567-2380 in Pennsylvania.

Are nursing homes safe?

If you have to decide whether to move a loved one to a nursing home, you should ask yourself, this question: “Are nursing homes safe?” The answer is yes and no: We would like to believe that all nursing homes offer proper attention and care, but sadly, our experience and the statistics show that this is not true for every case. Some nursing homes are safer than others — but no place is truly safe because you are entrusting your loved ones to the care of the strangers who staff these nursing homes.

According to the American Psychological Association’s Office on Aging, “every year an estimated 2.1 million older Americans are victims of physical, psychological, or other forms of abuse and neglect. For every case of elder abuse and neglect that is reported to authorities, experts estimate that there may be as many as five cases that have not been reported”. This is a brutal statistic.

Why are some nursing homes unsafe?

Some nursing homes are unsafe because of elder exploitation, abuse and neglect. Why does this happen? First, remember that nursing homes are mostly profit-driven entities. The less they can pay staff, the more they can pay the shareholders. I’d like you to think about staff in particular. Here are five reasons for abuse:

1. Not enough employees — one less staff member means more profits
2. Under-qualified employees — the less experienced, the lower the pay, the greater the profits
3. Overworked employees — when staff have to do more with less, they become less caring
4. Underpaid employees — when a staff member is making minimum wage, the caring incentive is decreased
5. Stressed and/or frustrated employees — the above factors adversely affect even the most dedicated and caring nursing home workers

A nursing home corporation is driven by economics. The corporate profits are increased by every dollar that can be saved on the number and quality of staff members. These are just some answers for the question, are nursing homes safe? Can you think of any other answers?

What should I do if I suspect abuse?

Contact a nursing home abuse lawyer right away.
At the Mininno Law Office, we have New Jersey certified civil trial lawyers available to help you. Our NJ nursing home abuse lawyers are experienced in nursing home neglect and abuse cases. They can assist you with anything you need. Call (856) 833-0600 in New Jersey or (215) 567-2380 in Pennsylvania.