Keeping the lines of communication open is important in every work environment. Serious mistakes can occur when co-workers are not on the same page. And sometimes, these mistakes can cost a business time and money. But when a staff member in a hospital fails to communicate effectively, the results could lead to patients suffering serious injuries.
A report put out by a group of patient safety experts reveals how patient care is adversely affected by communication breakdowns in hospitals. In compiling the report, the experts looked at more than 23,000 cases in which patients were harmed in some way and miscommunication played a role in more than 7,000 of those cases.
Several causes of miscommunication between healthcare providers were cited, including failure to examine a patient’s medical record and poor documentation regarding the patient’s condition.
Moreover, there are also instances wherein healthcare providers and patients have communication issues. For example, a provider may not give a patient an adequate explanation about the medications or the kind of treatment he or she is being prescribed.
Whenever a patient suffers unduly while in the care of a hospital, it is incumbent upon the hospital’s administrative staff to discover how and why the injury occurred. And whenever possible, the hospital should address and correct problems so as to better ensure the safety of patients in the future. Failure to do so is simply negligent behavior.
If you have been injured in a hospital due to communication or any other problem, you may want to consider filing a medical malpractice lawsuit to obtain compensation. But hospitals are notorious for not wanting to share information about medical cases, even with those who were injured. But an experienced attorney can make sure that you gain access to all of your records. The attorney can also assess your records and other pertinent information to help you determine the best way for you to pursue damages.