QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:
Home | Help | Feedback | Subscriptions | Archive | Search | Table of Contents

This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (5) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Troyer, J. L. Articles by Thompson, H. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation

The Impact of Litigation on Nursing Home Quality

Herbert G. Thompson, Jr.
Ohio University

Abstract.

Government reports indicate that regulations have been ineffective in improving quality of care in many nursing homes. Some analysts feel that litigation against nursing homes may be the result of quality problems that are monitored during the inspection process, some contend litigation merely causes quality problems by diverting financial resources away from patient care, and some argue that litigation is duplicating the efforts of the inspection process. Given that the relationship between litigation and inspection-oriented measures of quality is not clear, this article explores the relationship empirically. When a significant relationship is found, the empirical results suggest that litigation is associated with a decline in inspection-oriented measured quality in the nursing home facing the legal claim. In contrast, litigation against a chain has a very different relationship to firm-level quality, where firms within a chain that is being sued have higher levels of inspection-oriented quality. Our results suggest that legal claims may result from quality problems that go unmeasured during the inspection process. However, more research in this area is warranted.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. Grant and K. C. Alfred Sanctions and Recidivism: An Evaluation of Physician Discipline by State Medical Boards Journal of Health Politics Policy and Law, October 1, 2007; 32(5): 867 - 885. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Schlesinger and B. H. Gray How Nonprofits Matter In American Medicine, And What To Do About It Health Aff., July 1, 2006; 25(4): W287 - W303. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. M. Studdert and D. G. Stevenson Nursing Home Litigation and Tort Reform: A Case for Exceptionalism Gerontologist, October 1, 2004; 44(5): 588 - 595. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]