Chicago Car Accidents Blog

Biometrics or the use of unique physical identifiers such as facial structure, voice patterns, irises or fingerprints, have been in the news quite a bit recently. The reason so many people are paying attention to biometrics is that there is interest in integrating police body cameras, security cameras and vehicle cameras with biometric systems.

There has also been an increase in public concern about the collection of their biometric information by private companies such as Facebook. With biometrics now allowing everything from access to bank accounts to mobile devices, the potential for the illegal collection, sale or theft of biometric information about individuals is of concern to the public.

Typically, cases of nursing neglect comes to light from the neglected patients or their survivors ... which is why the proactive stance that some registered nurses in Chicago have taken deserves a mention. These dedicated professionals are concerned that short-staffing at the University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC) are a major risk to the patients.

As such, many have filed formal complaints against the facility with both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Illinois Department of Public Health. Their complaints allege that USMC failed to comply with state and federal laws which jeopardized the safety of the patients in the facility.

An investigation is underway at Mercy Hospital & Medical Center this week. Health and safety officials obtained information that two patients had fallen victim to Legionnaire's disease due to exposure that may have occurred at Mercy. Legionnaire's disease is the result of exposure to Legionella bacteria which only occurs when a building's water system is kept in substandard conditions.

Legionnaire's disease is entirely preventable. The conditions that lead to the growth of Legionella bacteria are well-known. When a water system is maintained properly, the bacteria won't grow. However, facilities that fail to maintain proper water safety standards can expose visitors to significant danger. An illness that at first feels like the flu can turn fatal if not treated quickly. 

You know all about the physical challenges that a loved one faces when moving to a nursing home, and perhaps those challenges are the main reason for the move. The person has trouble with mobility and cannot take care of themselves. They need constant care from the staff just to accomplish daily tasks.

However, you need to remember that many residents also face mental and emotional challenges. The staff has to know how to deal with these properly.