CA nurse assistant in vegetative state denied care after being attacked at hospital

I am truly disgusted. We she each write a letter to her employer & Blue Cross and send a copy to the newspaper that published the story.

Shame on all of them.

I had a coworker (CNA) a couple years ago who was in a similar situation -though not as severe. She injured her wrist at work, though she had sprained it before, so workmans comp considered it a 'preexisting condition.' She needed surgery but it was delayed and she was out of work forced to use her vacation time while the health ins co and workmans comp fought over who would pay.

Too many hands in the pot. IMHO.

She is not getting workman's comp to cover it because the hosptial spokesman said she does not think it happened at work. First of all, is she even credible to say this?? Second of all, it sounds like she reported it...right? Its not like she waited a few days then reported it which could lead to workcomp denying because there is no way to prove that it did not happen after the fact? Or did she? It states that she was afraid she would get in trouble but it sounds like she did all the right things in reportin it and everything. Am I missing something? How can this even be legal?

Workers comp needs to be completely changed,challenged or something!! If your health insurance carrier says it might be workers comp and your employer denies it YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS AND NO HEALTHCARE!! I was assaulted (choked and jumped on from behind) in January 1994 and my case is still in court!!!! Thanks to a compassionate Neurologist and Physical Therapist I am working FT as a clinical nursing supervisor w/ an 11 mm misalignment at L4-L5. The minute I went back to work (out 5 months) all my employer wanted to know was my HIV status!! (I worked in an HIV Unit!) My disabled husband and I nearly lost our home to foreclosure because we are in the right and are determined to make them accountable!!!! No one should be treated like they don't matter! This couple and their son MATTER!!! Healthcare workers MATTER!!! Sorry but I didn't realize how angry I still am!!!

Besides the human tragedy, there's the stupidity involved. They are a bunch of high stakes gamblers. I've seen several cases where insurance companies ended up paying lots of extra money, because initial, aggressive care for a head trauma victim was delayed and subsequently was thought to require extra years of rehab and care. I do not think there's enough information on the timeline of reporting the attack/injury, however, this case shows how important it is to make out injury reports right then and there. I have caught flak in the past for making CNAs fill out reports over scratches, falls and other minor injuries (not necessary they said), but I never get a good answer when I ask who is going to pay if that scratch becomes infected and requires $200 for Dr. apt. and medication. If you put someone on the front line then you should take care of them.

Wow Noreen. That's just so immoral. I know there are probably thousands of stories like these across the country.

I know a dietary worker who has worked at our facility for 30 years hurt her back lifting something. She was followed around walking to and from work (she doesn't drive) getting on the bus and getting her groceries with her husband. They took all kinds of photos and video images and denied her claim. The whole time she was coming to work, doing light duties in the kitchen and just not lifting over a certain amount. She did exactly what she was told to do. Consequently she was treated, in my opinion, like a criminal.

http://helpamelia.com/
with phone numbers to call and how to help!

Does not surprise me a bit that her employer refused a wc claim...THAT IS WHAT THEY DO. And if her health ins gets even a "whiff" that the illness is work related, they refuse, too..Surprised that nobody in the article suggested that she apply for social security disability..that would only take a few years to kick in. Did here former employer utlize incident reports, for work related injuries? Why was she not examined in the ER, immediately following the attack (s). This incident should give everyone out there "sit up and take notice". If you are injured at work, notify the supervisor at once, have a copy your narrative statement signed by that individual and make sure that you KEEP A COPY FOR YOURSELF. Follow up with any exams, and keep all paperwork, no matter how small the incident may seem at the time......

"We do not feel that the injury is work related" is a phrase that all HR , and hsp administrators, and Risk Managers practice daily...