Patients in nursing homes sicker than ever

[cougarnurse]

This doesn't suprise me at all: DELAWARE: Nursing homes face more paperwork, sicker patients | delmarvanow.com | The Daily Times

A Dover nursing home administrator says the state's long-term care facilities are being burdened with sicker patients and overregulation.

Ray Quillen, who works at Courtland Manor, says patients are arriving more ill — and more quickly — from hospitals and acute-care facilities.

Nursing consultant Debra Lynch says patients' conditions when they are discharged now include acute and chronic illnesses — unlike 10 years ago.

Lynch says she works to improve care at long-term facilities and also address staff concerns. She says most of the problems in Delaware are related to documentation of patient care.

Quillen said he spends more than a third of his time dealing with regulations, not caring for patients.