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While emergency rooms may have originally been designed for true emergency care that needs immediate medical attention, they have been increasingly overloaded with patients that have nowhere else to turn for medical assistance. Although most Chicago emergency room staff does their utmost to care for all their patients in a conscientious manner, patients can be overlooked or rushed through treatment due to high volumes of patients passing through their doors.
Regardless of the reason, all patients seeking medical help deserve to been properly diagnosed and treated. When this does not happen, there may be a case for an emergency room medical malpractice lawsuit. The Chicago emergency room negligence attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers are committed to protecting your legal rights. Complete our on-line case intake form and we will reach out to you shortly for a free case review.
Over-Crowding In Emergency Rooms Resulting Patients Not Getting The Care They Need
The Center for Disease Controls reports that volumes have drastically increased in recent years. Between 1999 and 2009, it is estimated that emergency room visits have increased by 32%, from 102.8 million visits to 136.1 million visits. This increase is also thought to have affected the amount of time patients must wait to be seen. Just from 2003 to 2009, wait times for medical care increased 25% in ER’s.
The affect of overcrowding and extended wait times has also increased inpatient mortality rates. A study published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine in December 2012 showed a 5% increase in probability of death for patients visiting an emergency room on high volume days. In addition, hospital stays were longer for those patients with an overall cost of $17 million attributed to overcrowded ER visits of less than 1 million visits studied.
Less Attentive Care Than Patients Require
The largest concern is that patients are receiving less attentive care when they visit the ER and may not receive the treatment they need in a case of an emergency. When hospitals do not have adequate staff to handle the high volumes entering their emergency departments, mistakes can and do happen. Some common injuries that can occur in an ER can be caused by:
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Misdiagnosis. Tired or overworked staff may not take the time to correctly diagnosis an ailment. A patient may not receive the treatment they need and may even be released with no treatment at all.
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Delayed treatment. A patient may digress while waiting for medical assistance, causing additional harm or even death.
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Inaccurate tests or medications. Rushed procedures in ordering tests or medications may lead to the wrong test or medicine being ordered.
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Protocol not followed. In some cases, a nurse or a doctor’s assistant may perform duties that they are not qualified to handle and make mistakes.
Injuries or wrongful deaths that happen due to poor care in the emergency room are not excusable due to high volumes. It is still considered negligence on the part of the hospital or medical facility.
Award Winning Illinois Medical Malpractice Lawyers Handling Emergency Room NegligenceIf you or a family member has been injured due to negligence in an Illinois emergency room, you have the right to pursue a medical malpractice case. As with any case involving medical negligence, it is important to have a law firm that is experienced in medical malpractice due to the complexity of these types of cases.
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers have extensive knowledge in handling Illinois medical malpractice cases involving negligent emergency room care. Our attorneys are considered experts in the field by many colleagues in the legal field. We invite you to discuss your Chicago emergency room malpractice case with us during a free consultation. Call today to schedule your appointment.
