Why do some nursing homes continue to use physical restraints?
One indicator of poor quality of care in nursing homes is the use of physical restraints on residents. A newly released study finds that about 5 percent of nursing homes continue to be cited for restraint use. Nursing homes cited for use of physical restraints tend to be those with greater than average patient-to-staff ratios, proportions of residents who are Medicaid recipients, and Activities of Daily Living levels. (Posted 10/02.) Prenatal substance exposure guidelines should be tightened. A new study by RAND researchers finds that hospital prenatal substance exposure guidelines tend to be incomplete and poorly written, often lacking basic information such as whether specific maternal consent is required for a maternal or a newborn toxicology screen. The development of such guidelines requires greater attention, because it is these guidelines that form the basis of treatment protocols. (Posted 10/02.) Team-based quality improvement for depression care. Team-based efforts to improve
