Monday, October 5, 2009

Nurses at Illinois-VA Tried to Administer medication to Patient who was Allergic to that Medication

Full article at: Healthcare Inspection Alleged Nursing Quality of Care Issues Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital Hines, Illinois

Report Number 09-02449-01, 10/2/2009

This purpose of the review was to determine the merit of allegations concerning nursing quality of care involving one nursing unit at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital. Specifically the complainant alleged that: On two occasions, nurses attempted to administer a medication to a patient who was allergic to the medication. A nurse failed to remove a tourniquet from a patient who was diagnosed with dementia. A patient with large wounds on the buttocks was left lying in feces because the nurse called to the bedside said the next shift should clean the patient. We substantiated that nurses attempted to administer a medication to a patient who was allergic to the medication and that a nurse failed to remove a tourniquet from a patient with dementia after drawing blood for testing. We did not substantiate that a nurse left a patient lying in feces or that the nurse told the patient that the next shift should clean the patient. Although we substantiated two of the allegations, we concluded that clinical managers took appropriate administrative actions prior to our review; therefore, we made no recommendations.

25,000 Veteran Students Apply for Emergency Funds

Some 25,000 Veterans showed up or applied online for emergency GI Bill funds. That seems like a small percentage of all the backlogged claims, which has been said to be something like 244,000.

Full Article at: Post-9/11 GI Bill payments hit another snag
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Oct 5, 2009 13:32:37 ED

"More than 14,300 veterans showed up at VA regional offices on Friday and Saturday to take advantage of an unprecedented offer from VA to provide up to $3,000 in emergency funds while students wait for their GI Bill claims to be processed. Another 10,600 people applied online for checks that will be arriving in the mail."

"VA officials are asking banks to help veterans by cashing the emergency checks as quickly as possible, and have set up a toll-free number for banks or other financial institutions to call so they can verify a check. The number is 800-827-2166."