One study conducted by a health policy researcher in one state suggests some nursing home residents may never be seen by a doctor. The study took data from more than two million Medicare patients recently cleared from a hospital to a nursing home facility for rehabilitation care. Out of these residents, 10.4 percent never came in contact with a doctor or other qualified medical professional during their time at the facility.
The study also suggests patients in rural areas of the country received slower care than more urbanized areas. The size of the facility was also taken into account, as patients in larger facilities may have been seen less often than in smaller facilities. For more, read the story.
