Jury verdict for the wrongful death of a 63-year-old man who was survived by his widow. When communication errors occur in healthcare, treatment may be delayed or the patient may receive the wrong treatment. When a doctor or medical facility's failure to comply with these rules results in a patient's injury or death, the at-fault party may be held responsible for medical negligence. The IOM identifies an adverse effect as an injury to the patient that causes disability or prolonged hospitalization caused by medical or surgical treatment, and not by an underlying condition of the patient.
Automatic dispensing systems that quickly make medications available to patients allow pharmacy doctors to perform other safety activities, such as reconciling medications. In addition, electronic drug management helps identify incorrect medications and orders that have been canceled or modified. While not reporting medical errors increases the likelihood that patients will be seriously harmed, many health institutions have strict policies that create a confrontational environment. Health professionals can experience profound psychological effects (e.g., anger, guilt, inadequacy, depression, and suicidal ideation) due to real or perceived errors, which can aggravate the threat of imminent legal action.
Contact the West Palm Beach medical malpractice attorneys at Gordon & Partners to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. This can make staff hesitant to report errors, minimize problems, or fail to document problematic issues, contributing to an evolutionary cycle of medical errors and ultimately tarnishing a health institution's reputation. Cognitive aids include algorithms that help guide decision-making based on accepted guidelines, tools included in electronic medical records that remind doctors to consider the differential diagnosis for diseases that are often misdiagnosed, and checklists to prevent the omission of critical measures. Another definition identifies medical errors as a lack of care that can or do not harm the patient.
A medication error occurs when a healthcare provider administers or prescribes to a patient the wrong type of medication or an incorrect dose of medication. Physicians, advanced professionals, nurses, pharmacists, surgical and pharmacy technicians, and other members of the healthcare team must work together to identify deficiencies that cause medical errors and implement preventive strategies. The most common mistake that healthcare professionals make when working with a patient is the error when prescribing a medication. It is estimated that intraoperative errors are the main problem in 75% of cases of malpractice involving surgeons.
By working together, healthcare professionals can improve patient safety by identifying factors and events that contribute to medical errors, developing multifaceted prevention protocols, and implementing these strategies at various levels of healthcare.
