What’s in the news recently:::

Oregon nursing home could lose it’s license:

The state of Oregon is threatening to close an east Portland nursing home if the facility doesn’t get its act together. Citing three bad inspection reports in the last two years as well as several complaints that were found to be valid, the state on Jan. 18 informed St. Jude Specialty Care on Southeast 136th Avenue that it’s prepared to strip the home of its license. Such notices are very unusual and “a very big step for us to take, quite frankly,” said Elaine Young, nursing program director for the state Department of Human Services.

Brockton MA nursing home probed:

BROCKTON —The state Department of Public Health and local police are investigating allegations that a worker at a local nursing home abused a patient earlier this month. The DPH launched an investigation into St. Joseph Manor, a Brockton nursing home, after getting a complaint about the facility Feb. 4. Brockton police were called Wednesday to investigate the allegations. Anne Teri, chief executive officer at St. Joseph Manor, confirmed the state was investigating the Thatcher Street nursing home but declined to detail the allegations. “I can’t really comment about the investigation,” she said. “We take any allegations seriously.”

FL nursing home shut down after it failed FIRE safety drill:

PALM HARBOR – Dozens of elderly people are being forced from their homes, but state officials say it’s ultimately not a bad thing. Officials with the state Attorney General’s Office shut down the Long Shadow Inn, an adult living facility in Palm Harbor, because managers there failed a surprise emergency drill Thursday. During the drill, officials said, some residents were left unattended, several were trapped in wheelchairs on the second floor of the building, and at least four residents were never even evacuated.

Man found dead three days after leaving facility:

Searchers found the body of a missing Indiana man in a creek Monday, three days after he wandered from a nearby Rockville health care facility, authorities said. Robert E. Didelot, 62, was discovered just west of Lee Alan Bryant Health Care Facilities Inc., where he lived, said Parke County Sheriff Charles Bollinger. The facility, which includes a nursing home and residential facility, is about 2 1/2 miles east of Rockville. “It appears [he] was trying to cross a log jam and fell off into the water,” near Sanatorium Bridge, Bollinger said. Didelot was up to his neck in water, the sheriff said. An autopsy is scheduled today in Terre Haute Regional Hospital.

British Nurse under investigation:

A nurse alleged to have carried out “unprofessional” practical jokes in hospital put a patient’s glass eye in a cup of Coca-Cola, a disciplinary panel heard today. The accusations came at the start of an inquiry into 12 allegations of misconduct against Christine Mitchelson, including allegations of assault, racism and tasteless practical jokes. The 53-year-old nurse, from Newcastle upon Tyne, has denied all the charges, which are being examined by the conduct and competence committee of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) in London. She is not attending the hearing, citing ill health. The allegations cover the period between late 2001 and early 2004, when Ms Mitchelson was working at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. Her colleagues – including staff she was supervising – brought the complaints against her.