How will changes in nursing home regulations in Pennsylvania affect patients in Philadelphia?
While nursing homes in the United States seem to be chronically understaffed, a number of politicians seem to feel that more lenient requirements for those who want to work in these homes is the answer to the labor shortage. Some recently changed regulations in Pennsylvania may sound good in theory, but it remains to be seen how they will affect the quality of care in homes throughout the keystone state. They may be subjecting themselves to the possibility of more mistakes and legal trouble.
Regulators in Pennsylvania make it easier for nursing home administrators to remain compliant
Pennsylvania has over 700 nursing homes and almost a third of the state’s residents are over the age of 55. There are only a few states in the country that have more total homes. These statistics mean that the state has a strong interest in issues related to the elderly and the kind of care that senior citizens receive in nursing homes.
The Pennsylvania Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators has approved new measures that reduce the number of continuing education hours required for nursing home administrations. While many advocacy groups for the elderly and even the nursing home industry itself widely opposed this change, proponents are looking to decrease barriers to entry in a field that experiences chronic staff shortages and high employee turnover. There is much more demand for the services provided in nursing homes than there are workers available to provide care. It is believed that by focusing less on the bureaucracy associated with nursing homes and more on actual care and adequate staffing that industry improvements should follow.
What will happen after these changes?
This is ultimately a complex issue and it remains to be seen if the state of Pennsylvania will experience more benefits or problems related to the loosening of nursing home regulations for administrators. Staff members should be trained properly before being entrusted with the health and safety of the elderly, yet it seems that high barriers to entry also discourage workers from entering certain fields. Ideally, reforms over time will be able to strike a balance between high quality care, sufficient employee training and labor availability, and strict, yet reasonable administrative regulations.
There is also a very real possibility for additional problems during these changes. If nursing homes are allowing less skilled or trained individuals to make decisions regarding various forms of assistance, treatment, and medical care, they may ultimately expose themselves to greater liability. This is simply due to the fact that less experienced employees are more likely to make mistakes. Nursing homes are already under great scrutiny for providing low quality care in many facilities in the state and the entire country, and easing requirements in an industry that already has problems with staff turnover may make the situation even worse.
Keeping nursing homes responsible for low quality care
Whatever happens within the regulatory landscape, nursing homes will still be held accountable when people are neglected, mistreated, or abused while under their care. Administrators or other employees have a duty to maintain a safe environment within their facilities where patients receive proper care. Any deviation from this duty that results in medical problems, injuries, or financial loss can result in lawsuits.
A Philadelphia nursing home abuse lawyer can talk with you
If you have been neglected, hurt, or mistreated in a nursing home in the Philadelphia area, there is legal help available. Metzger and Kleiner Attorneys at Law have offices in Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley. They specialize in helping people who have sustained various kinds of injuries and those who were harmed in accidents.
