“Every day is difficult. We had my son for 35 years. That’s a long time and a lot of memories, and every day we struggle. Every day,” said Richard Metcalf – Click here to see more

FDA’s MedWatch Safety Alerts: January 2013

Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants: Updated Safety Recommendations

FDA is providing updated safety information and recommendations to patients and health care professionals based on the agency’s current assessment of metal-on-metal hip implants, including:

the benefits and risks
the evaluation of published literature
the results of an FDA advisory panel meeting held in June 2012

Risk: Implant components slide against each other during walking or running, which releases tiny metal particles. These particles may damage bone or soft tissue surrounding the implant and joint. Soft tissue damage could lead to pain, implant loosening, device failure and the need for revision surgery.

Some of the metal ions released will enter the bloodstream and travel to other parts of the body, where they may cause discomfort or illnesses.

Recommendations for People Considering a Metal-on-Metal Hip Implant

Be aware that every hip implant has benefits and risks.
Discuss your options for hip surgery with your orthopedic surgeon.
See a list of questions to ask your orthopedic surgeon.

Recommendations for People With Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants

If you are not having any symptoms and your orthopedic surgeon believes your implant is functioning properly, continue to follow-up routinely with the surgeon every one to two years.
If you develop new or worsening problems, such as pain, swelling, numbness, noise (popping, grinding, clicking or squeaking of your hip) or a change in your ability to walk, contact your orthopedic surgeon right away.
If you experience changes in your general health, including new or worsening symptoms outside your hip, let your doctor or other health care professional know you have a metal-on-metal hip implant.

For More Information

As more and more elderly Americans choose to spend their later years in assisted living facilities, FRONTLINE and ProPublica examine whether this loosely regulated, multi-billion dollar industry is putting seniors at risk? Our film, “Life and Death in Assisted Living” airs on PBS tonight at 10 pm… Read entire article here

Emeritus Senior Living, the country’s largest assisted living company, has crafted detailed plans to respond to PBS Frontline and ProPublica’s investigation of the company and the assisted living industry.

Saying the report could lead to... click here to read the entire article.

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It is a story being talked about throughout the nation.

An employee at a senior living center in California — who identified herself as a “nurse”— refusing a 9-1-1- operator’s instructions to begin CPR on a resident … read more

From Associated Press. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Government investigators have found that Medicare paid billions in taxpayer dollars to nursing homes nationwide that were not meeting basic requirements to look after their…Read more

Consider this scenario: a patient with a bedsore is admitted into a nursing facility. During her stay, she develops three more bedsores. The facility fails to track and treat each wound properly, further complicating and prolonging her healing. Unfortunately, it is not hypothetical – OIG found this and many other examples of substandard care while conducting a recent review of skilled nursing facilities (SNF [pronounced “sniff”]).

Skilled Nursing Facilities Often Fail to Meet Care Planning and Discharge Planning Requirements

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Skilled nursing facilities (SNF) are required to develop a care plan for each beneficiary and provide services in accordance with the care plan, as well as to plan for each beneficiary’s discharge. These requirements are essential to ensuring that beneficiaries receive appropriate care and safely transition from one care setting to another. Several OIG studies and investigations found that SNFs had deficiencies in quality of care, did not develop appropriate care plans, and failed to provide adequate care to beneficiaries. In fiscal year 2012, Medicare paid $32.2 billion for SNF services. This study is part of a larger body of work about SNF payments and quality of care.

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