People who seek medical care at a hospital don’t expect that they will suffer from negligence that might make their medical condition worse. They don’t expect that they will suffer adverse effects from their hospital stay. Fortunately, the efforts being made at hospitals around the country are making issues related to hospital errors much less prevalent than it has been previously.
The Department of Health and Human Services has spearheaded an initiative to make health care more affordable and more efficient. While experts can’t say that the program is the reason behind the reduction in hospital errors, it certainly seems as though it is a contributing factor.
From 2010 to 2013, there were 1.3 million fewer conditions considered hospital-acquired that were reported. That is said to have saved 50,000 lives. These conditions include falls, trauma, pressure ulcers, and central line infections. The reduction in pressure ulcers alone is said to have saved more than 20,000 lives and $4.8 billion in health care costs. Besides those conditions, a 44 percent reduction in adverse drug reactions was noted during that time period.
As wonderful as that reduction in hospital-related health issues sounds, the fact remains that Americans are still being adversely affected by hospital stays. Nearly one out of every ten people hospitalized in this country will be harmed in the hospital or will become sick because of their admission. That is still way too high.
Anyone who is injured or becomes sick while in the hospital has the right to seek compensation for his or her injuries. Learning the medical malpractice procedures in Kentucky can help you know what to expect as you work toward getting the compensation you deserve.
If you or someone you love has been negligently injured or wrongfully killed due to hospital errors, you have the right to obtain compensation through an Ohio or Kentucky medical malpractice claim. For a completely confidential and free consultation regarding your case, call the experienced Cincinnati and Covington medical malpractice attorneys at TLF: The Medical Injury Law Firm today.
Source: U.S. News, “50,000 Fewer Deaths Caused by Hospitals” Kimberly Leonard, Dec. 02, 2014