Articles Posted in Events and Conferences

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coronavirus hospital concerns

Illinois Hospitals and Coronavirus Disease Concerns

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) continues to closely monitor an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus (named COVID-19) that was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China that has since infected thousands of people in several international locations. Some scientific research has provided estimates that each infected person could spread the virus to as many as 3.5 people without effective containment measures. With new warnings from the CDC alarming Americans to brace for the likelihood that the coronavirus will spread to U.S. communities like Chicago, it is critical hospitals and local health departments are prepared.

As of February 24, 2020, two coronavirus cases have been detected and treated in the state of Illinois. CBS Chicago reported that a husband and wife couple in their 60s were being treated for the virus at St. Alexius Hospital in Hoffman Estates. The woman had recently returned from Wuhan. Her husband, who had not been in China, was also diagnosed with the virus. This was the first known case of human-to-human transmission of coronavirus in the U.S. In Illinois, 68 individuals have been tested for the virus, with the elderly couple being the only two positive cases reported at this time.

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medicare children

Delays in Treatment and Missing Medication Follow New Health Care Plan for Illinois Foster Kids on Medicaid

On February 1, 2020, nearly 2,500 children and young adults provided care through the Illinois foster care system lost their healthcare coverage due to what a Department of Healthcare and Family Services spokeswoman for the agency that runs the state Medicaid program, described as a “glitch” in a computer program. Although the state started transitioning its Medicaid program in 2011 from a traditional fee-for-service model to managed care, the move has remained troublesome for more an estimated 19,000 former foster children and approximately 17,000 more. The sensitive population in need of medical care through physician visits, therapies, and medication includes children who are victims of abuse and neglect, many of whom have highly complex physical, mental and behavioral health issues, but also those born with cognitive and physical disabilities.

According to several Illinois news reports:

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Next month the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) will present a seminar entitled “Advanced Evidentiary Issues At Trial.” The day-long event will take place on January 25th and be held at the UBS Tower & Conference Center.

One of the founding partners at our firm, Steve Levin, is a presenter at the seminar. Attorney Levin is scheduled to speak about complex evidentiary issues as they relate to various wrongful death cases. That includes a discussion about Illinois’s “Dead Man’s Act.”

The law is somewhat confusing, but it has significant implications on many cases where a party is deceased. Many cases have not made it to trial or were unsuccessful at trial because of adverse complications as a result of the restrictions of the Act. It is critical that all litigators understand understand how the statute may affect future cases.

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On November 17, 2010 the Consumes Union’s Safe Patient Project (formerly Stop Hospital Infections) is holding a forum, “To Err is Human, To Delay Is Deadly,” in Washington DC. You may watch a free live webcast on the day of the event. The forum will mark the 10th Anniversary of the IOM study on medical errors. It will raise concerns about the lack of progress over the past decade in preventing medical harm. The Safe Patient Project campaign released a report about the medical errors earlier this year. The campaign will cover: hospital-acquired infections, medical errors and other medical harm including physician accountability and drug safety. To find out more information about the webcast, please click the link.

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The American Association for Justice (AAJ) will host its Winter Convention in New Orleans from February 7-11, 2009. This is a great opportunity for medical malpractice attorneys, personal injury attorneys, and nursing home abuse attorneys to network and participate in business group practice meetings.

For more information.

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The American Association for Justice (AAJ) will host a trial strategy seminar entitled “Weekend with the Stars: Justice Counts Seminar” for medical malpractice attorneys. The seminar will take place from December 13-14, 2008 in New York City. Highlights include insights into trial strategy and approaches to cases that are proven to work.

For more information.

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A new report found that one of six liability claims against health care entities is associated with infections, injuries and other conditions acquired at the hospital. The 2008 Hospital Professional Liability Analysis found that hospital-acquired infections, hospital-acquired injuries, objects left in the body after surgery and pressure ulcers represent more than 12% of hospital liability costs. After Oct. 10, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will no longer reimburse providers for 10 categories of hospital-acquired conditions and medical errors because they are considered preventable and should never happen. To read the full story, click here.

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Joint ventures between store-based health clinics and pharmacy chains have been touted as providing convenient and affording health care, but the American Medical Association has expressed concerns over possible conflicts of interest. Retailers have been using the joint ventures as a way to increase in-store sales of prescription as well as non-health related items. The AMA has announced that it will begin calling for states to begin looking into these types of arrangements. Their concern was spurned by informal reports stating that these clnic members earn more money or get promotions based on the number of prescriptions that they write. While the AMA believes that most of the store-based health clinics will improve patients’ access to health care overall, the call for state oversight aims to ensure that any potential conflicts of interest get resolved in the patients’ favor.

Click here for the full article.
Click here for the AMA press release

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Since 2003, the American Medical Association has been pushing for the creation of specialty courts that would hear only medical malpractice cases. These alternative courts proposed by the AMA would consist of judges with special training in medical standards. In addition, the health courts proposed by the AMA would cap non-economic damages according to a predetermined schedule, following the model of the caps on non-economic damages in California. The AMA’s report states that medical liability insurance premiums have remained low in California and touts the state’s recovery caps as a success. However, the report does not indicate whether patients in California are receiving a level of care equivalent to other states that do not have statutory caps.

Click here for the full article Click here for the AMA report

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Boulevard Healthcare will be hosting its annual Medical Directors meeting on May 22nd. Steven M. Levin of Levin & Perconti will be delivering the keynote address. Mr. Levin will be addressed Litigation in Long Term Care: The Emerging Storm.

For more information.

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