Deborah K. Hedgecock, Ph.D.

Ph.D. University of South Florida, 2007 (Aging Studies)
B.A. University of South Florida, 1999 (Psychology)
A.A. Hillsborough Community College, 1997

Email Address: dhedgecock@fmhi.usf.edu
Curriculum Vitae
           

Description of Research Interests:
Long-term care policy; nursing facility litigation and liability insurance issues; public perception of long-term care and nursing facilities.

Grants/Contracts:
2007 Research Associate: Florida Elder Abuse Survey
2004 Co-P.I.: Georgia Nursing Home Liability Insurance Case Study
2001 Co-P.I.: Florida Nursing Home Litigation and Liability Insurance Survey
2000 Co-P.I.: Improving Posture and Functioning Among Wheel Chair Bound Nursing Home Residents

PUBLICATIONS:

Hedgecock, D. K., Polivka, L., Hyer, K., Schonfeld, L., & Salmon, J. R. (2008). Nursing Facility Litigation: Do Tort Forms Make A Difference? Florida's Experience. Manuscript in preparation.

Molinari, V., Hedgecock, D., Branch, L., Brown, L. M., and Hyer, K. (2008). Mental Health Services in Nursing Homes: A Survey of Nursing Home Administrative Personnel. Manuscript in preparation.

Hedgecock, D. K. (2007). The Preliminary Impact of 2001 Florida Tort Reform on Nursing Facility Litigation in One County. Submitted for publication, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.

Hatzmann, M., Hedgecock, D., Michaelowski, J., & Burwell, B. (2006). The Nursing Home Liability Insurance Market: A Case Study of Georgia. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Office of Disability, Aging and Long-term Care Policy.

Johnson, C. E., Dobalian, A., Burkhard, J., Hedgecock, D. K., & Harman, J. (2004) Factors Predicting Lawsuits Against Nursing Homes in Florida 1997-2001. The Gerontologist, 44(3), 339-347.

Johnson, C. E., Dobalian, A., Burkhard, J., Hedgecock, D. K., & Harman, J. (2004). Predicting Lawsuits Against Nursing Homes in the United States, 1997 - 2001. HSR: Health Services Research, 39(6p1), 1713 – 1731.

Johnson, C. E., Hedgecock, D. K., Oakley, M. L., Dobalian, A., Salmon, J. R., Hyer, K., et al. (2004). Predictors of Lawsuit Activity Against Nursing Homes in Hillsborough County Florida. Health Care Management Review, 29(2), 1-9.

Salmon, J. R., Hyer, K, Hedgecock, D., Zayac, H., & Engh, B. (2004). Florida Assisted Living Research Study: Facilities, Residents, Staff, Training, and Liability Insurance: Executive Summary. Tampa, FL. Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging.

Polivka, L., Salmon, J. R., Hyer, K., Johnson, C., & Hedgecock, D. (2003).Forum: The Nursing Home Problem in Florida. The Gerontologist, 43(Spec No. 2), 7-18.

Hedgecock, D. K., Johnson, C. E., Oakley, M. L., Salmon, J. R., Polivka, L., & Hyer, K. (2003). Nature and Extent of Nursing Facility Lawsuits. Long-Term Care Interface, 4(11).

Johnson, C. E., Hedgecock, D. K., Oakley, M. L., Dobalian, A., Salmon, J. R., Hyer, K., et al. (2002). Predictors of Lawsuit Activity Against Nursing Homes in Hillsborough County, Florida, Fourth Annual Health Care Organizations Conference. University of California, Berkeley,

Hedgecock, D. K. and J. R. Salmon. (2001). "Lawsuits and Liability Insurance Experience of Florida Nursing Homes, January - October 5, 2001: Initial Impact of Senate Bill 1202." Tampa, FL: Policy Exchange Center on Aging.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS AND POSTERS

2003 Annual Meeting of The Gerontological Society of America: Litigation and Liability – Insurance Conditions Facing Florida’s Assisted Living Facilities

The Florida Conference on Aging 2002 – The State of Affairs: Tort Reform and Nursing Home Litigation, August 21, 2002

Society of Certified Senior Advisors, Regional Training Event, Principles of Aging, Orlando, Florida, December 12, 2001

2001 Annual Meeting of The Gerontological Society of America: Nursing Home Litigation in Hillsborough County, Florida, November 17, 2001

The Florida Conference on Aging 2001 – Connections and Directions, Liability, Insurance & Financing Crisis in NH/ALF, August 15, 2001

University of South Florida Nursing Conference, Quality of Care and Litigation: Focus on Pressure Ulcers, July 18, 2001

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

Gerontological Society of America, 1999-present
Florida Conference on Aging, 2001-present
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, 1999-present

EXPERIENCE:

6/2007 – Present   Postdoctoral Fellow Department of Aging & Mental Health, Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida

5/2004 –  6/2004 Co-principal Investigator Georgia Nursing Home Liability Insurance Case Study
           
1/2003 – 11/2003  Project Manager Florida Assisted Living Research Study

1/2002 – 5/2002   Graduate Teaching Assistant The Life Cycle Department of Gerontology University of South Florida

8/2001 – 12/2001  Co-principal Investigator
Florida Nursing Home Litigation and Liability Insurance Survey Conducted for Florida Health Care Association and Florida Association of Homes for the Aging

 1/2000 – 12/2003  Graduate Research Assistant, Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging, University of South Florida, Tampa

6/2000 –   2/2001  Investigator Task Force on Availability and Affordability of Long-Term Care for the Florida Legislature in Response to House Bill 1993