Introduction
Medical Errors are one of the top concerns in healthcare as they lead to patient harm and legal problems for the providers. The year 2024 brought additional insights that highlight the importance of healthcare records review. The article explains the details of medical errors and the importance of medical records review, as well as how our solution assists attorneys throughout the United States.
Snapshot to Medical Errors
Medical missteps are one of the top 10 crucial problems in patients’ safety. The year 2024 leaves no reason to believe that these mistakes will be remedied. The figure, which is somehow plausible, suggests that over 250 thousand deaths occur every year because of these errors. This brings forth problems on the patients’ side and also legal conflicts on the service providers’ side.
Categories of Medical Errors
Failure to Diagnose
This error can occur when a medical practitioner overlooks a patient’s condition. For example, an individual who has a pain around the chest area may be diagnosed, a blunder that may have serious outcomes.
Error in dose or giving wrong medicines
In many cases medication errors involve wrong dosage or wrong prescriptions given. A classic example is a patient that is put on overdose of some medication because of communication breakdown between care providers, which is ten times the normal dose of that drug.
Surgical Errors
Surgical mistakes such as operating on the wrong site emphasize the need for proper communication and documentation during surgery because it is a very important process.
Infection Control Errors
Infection control errors relate to hospital-acquired infections, which affect the recovery rate of patients and greatly increases the legal liability of healthcare institutions.
The Role of Medical Records Review
A medical records review is a systematic process that involves going through patient files to look for inconsistencies and missing information. In medical malpractice cases, attorneys need corroborating documentation for the allegations they make on behalf of their clients, and this review makes that possible.
Current trends in medical errors (2024 figure)
There seems to be a trend of more medical mistakes being reported, and there is a consistent focus on improving patient safety measures in the healthcare system. The use of technology in the health sector has both reduced some types of errors while creating others, and this constantly changing environment calls for frequent updates in education and training for the personnel involved.
Case Studies
Case Study 1: A Patient was misdiagnosed with a Heart Condition
• Overview: An indigestion diagnosis was given to a 55-year-old male who complained of chest pain.
• Challenges: A heart attack was suffered due to lack of timely treatment.
• Solutions: Patients’ records were thoroughly assessed and there were significant criteria that had been ignored.
• Compensation: The patient was compensated for both expenses incurred due to treatment and for pain and suffering endured.
Case Study 2: Surgical Error
- Overview: A patient had surgery for a hernia but the wrong site was operated on.
- Challenges: Significant complications arose for the patient.
- Solutions: There were clear communication breakdowns upon reviewing the surgical logs.
- Compensation: The patient received compensation for the additional surgeries and recovery time.
The Importance of Medical Records Review
What is Medical Records Review?
- Definition: An audit of a patient’s medical history aimed at finding inaccuracies, gaps, or discrepancies.
- Purpose: Furnish precise data to legal representation for cases of medical malpractice or medical negligence.
How Medical Records Review Supports Attorneys
- Evidence Gathering: Aids in obtaining all necessary documentation to support the claim of medical malpractice.
- Expert Testimony: Offers opinions that may be utilized by expert witnesses during court hearings.
- Case Preparation: Assists in organizing and detailing essential aspects of the case to bolster arguments surrounding medical care.
Conclusion
As we have seen, the medical records review process in relation to medical errors is crucial for attorneys dealing with legal complexities. With medical errors clearly defined, a meticulous review of the records allows legal representations to effectively act on behalf of their clients while enhancing health care safety.
