Macon, Georgia Nursing Home Reform Act & Basic Resident Rights Lawyer

Nursing Home Reform Act & Basic Resident Rights

Thirty years ago, a study by the Institute of Medicine concluded that residents of nursing homes were being subjected to neglect, abuse, and inadequate care. Many of the subsequent reforms that were proposed were included in the Nursing Home Reform Act, which became law in 1987. The Act was intended to help nursing home patients receive quality care so that they could achieve or maintain their "highest practicable physical, mental, and psychosocial well-being.” Fundamentally, this means that residents should not experience a decline in their health as a result of the way they were provided treatment. With the majority of nursing home care paid for with federal funds, compliance with the Act was fostered by making it a prerequisite for rec...

Macon, Georgia Cameras in Nursing Homes: Privacy and Protection Lawyer

Cameras in Nursing Homes: Privacy and Protection

Most of us remember a time when taking a picture meant capturing an image to a film cartridge that we had to drop off at a drug store to be developed, the anticipation mounting for days before we could find out just exactly what we managed to photograph. Similarly, personal video cameras used to involve rummaging for blank tapes, making recordings that were cumbersome to edit and to view. Both of those technologies have now been digitalized and are accessible at the touch of a button on the ubiquitous smartphones owned by almost three-quarters of all Americans. Even closed-circuit television cameras have evolved, now replaced by high-definition cameras available for private use. Paired with a wireless Internet connection that can be monito...

Macon, Georgia CNA Registry to Include In-Home Abuse Complaints Lawyer

CNA Registry to Include In-Home Abuse Complaints

Aging is one of those universal truths, an equalizer of gender, race, class, religion, etc. It happens to us all, though its effects vary widely. Current average life expectancy is 78.8 years, but that quantity of time is no reflection of quality. Some of us develop few health problems, while others are burdened with serious afflictions. Of those who find they can no longer manage alone, most want to stay out of nursing homes as long as possible; to continue to live independently, the solution is often a certified nurse aide/assistant (CNA). CNAs can work in a variety of healthcare settings and have corresponding duties, but those who work in personal homes are generally the gatherers of vital information about the patient's medical condit...

Macon, Georgia Top Ten Most Frequently Cited OSHA Violations: 2015 Lawyer

Top Ten Most Frequently Cited OSHA Violations: 2015

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was created by Congress “to assure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training, outreach, education and assistance.” OSHA covers most private sector employers and their workers as well as some public ones. Among other things, employees have the right to working conditions that do not pose a risk of serious harm, and employers are obligated to locate and fix safety and health hazards. When employers fail to do so, they can be held responsible for resulting injuries and fatalities. Depending on the circumstances, there may be grounds for a legal cause of action. Most injuries and deaths in the workplac...

Macon, Georgia Common Workplace Accidents Lawyer

Common Workplace Accidents

Many of us get up each day, head off to work, come home in the evening, and repeat five days a week. The routine can get a little monotonous day after day, but we rarely consider that on average in this country, 13 people a day never return home from work. More than 4,600 workers died on the job in 2014, and more than three million others suffered serious, non-fatal injuries at work. Everyone deserves to come home at the end of their shift, alive and uninjured. Employees can join with employers to identify potential safety risks and develop a plan of action to prevent some of the most common injuries. Bodily Reaction – No-contact injuries, such as bending, reaching, climbing, or standing or sitting for prolonged periods as well as trau...

Macon, Georgia Most Common Workplace Injuries Lawyer

Most Common Workplace Injuries

We've got a lot of hard-working people in Georgia, people who go to their jobs every day, giving their best effort to do good work and support their families. Unfortunately, many of these workers fall victim to injuries in the workplace and find themselves struggling to provide financial security for their loved ones because of an accident that happened on the job. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 105,000 occupational injuries or illnesses in the state of Georgia in 2014. Of these, 148 were fatal injuries. In fact, the number of work-related fatalities in Georgia rose by 31 over the year before. Fatal occupational injuries in the state have ranged from a high of 249 in 1994 to a low of 101 in 2012.  According ...

Macon, Georgia Cancer Malpractice Lawyer

Cancer Malpractice

One of the most dreaded words in the English language, “cancer” is the reason that more than half a million Americans lose their lives every year. Although the overall cancer death rate has continued to drop annually for the last decade, there is still progress to be made. For example, an estimated 1,685,210 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year. The National Cancer Institute estimates that the most widespread forms in 2016 will be breast cancer, lung and bronchus cancer, prostate cancer, colon and rectum cancer, bladder cancer, melanoma of the skin, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, thyroid cancer, kidney and renal pelvis cancer, leukemia, endometrial cancer, and pancreatic cancer. The Institute projects that almost...

Macon, Georgia What Happens When You’re in an Accident in the Company Car Lawyer

What Happens When You’re in an Accident in the Company Car

Being furnished with a company car is often among the benefits listed in a typical job description. Jobs from a wide range of industries may require employees to travel, including salespeople, cab drivers, tour guides, home health care workers and delivery drivers. Anyone who uses a vehicle for work is subject to the same challenges faced by all drivers – and accidents happen. There are many factors that have to be considered in determining responsibility to employees and for employees who are involved in a wreck while driving a company-owned vehicle. The general rule in Georgia is that employers are liable for mistakes made by employees under a legal theory known as “respondeat superior.” Employers can be held vicariously liable for...

Macon, Georgia Kidney Stone Malpractice Lawyer

Kidney Stone Malpractice

Symptoms of kidney stones include severe lower back pain, stomachache, blood in the urine, nausea, vomiting, fever, and chills. Kidney stones are very common, with one in ten people estimated to have one in their lifetime. Having one puts you at a 50 percent chance of developing another one within five to seven years, making the treatment of kidney stones big business. In fact, more than half a million people go to the emergency room for kidney stone problems every year. But not all healthcare experiences are positive ones. Just like rocks found in nature, kidney stones come in a range of shapes, sizes, and colors. There are 4 main types of kidney stones:  Calcium Oxalate Stones Uric Acid Stones Struvite Stones Cystine Ston...

Macon, Georgia Watch Your Step: Safety on Icy Sidewalks and Stairs Lawyer

Watch Your Step: Safety on Icy Sidewalks and Stairs

Here in Georgia, we may not see the accumulations of snow that they get up North, but we certainly have to deal with the cold temperatures that are responsible for turning precipitation into ice. Slick, icy conditions turn roads treacherous and cause countless motor vehicle accidents every winter. But it’s not just drivers that need to be careful. Anyone walking outside is in danger of slipping and falling, which can result in serious injuries such as muscle strains, fractures, and concussions. From sidewalks to steps, walkways to parking lots, it’s important to exercise caution when the temperature drops. Ice can lurk under snow, and pavement that looks dark or wet may be covered in black ice. This virtually invisible hazard forms in ...

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8 Laws Georgia Drivers Should Know

It can be hard to remember every single driving law that exists, especially if it’s been many years since you attended your driver’s education class. Georgia periodically updates its laws,  which means there’s a good chance that some of the state’s...