Smart Talk: What did an audit of PA nursing homes find? Can computers learn from mistakes?

What to look for on Smart Talk Monday, August, 1, 2016:

Tens of thousands of Pennsylvania’s most vulernable and needy citizens live in nursing homes.  Most have been diagnosed with an illness or other medical condition and are in need of nursing care.

In Pennsylvania, nursing home residents are required to receive a minimum of 2.7 hours of direct care each day.

An audit of nursing homes by Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale found that the State Department of Health was not reviewing nursing home staffing levels as much as required meaning some facilities may have been understaffed.

The audit also found that the Department of Health stopped taking anonymous complaints in 2012, which may have jeopardized residents’ safety.

Auditor General DePasquale appears on Monday’s Smart Talk with more information about the audit.

Department of Health’s Nursing Home locator can be found here.

Also, computers don’t make mistakes – or do they?  It may sound counterintuitive, but a Franklin and Marshall College study is looking into whether computers can learn through trial and error — just like humans.

Joining us on Monday’s program is Erik Talvitie, Associate rofessor of Computer Science, Franklin and Marshall College