As the result of the excessive rate of hospital infections and preventable medical errors, Medicare has decided to take action. It has announced plans to fine some 750 hospitals across the nation, including in California. These hospitals are those where the incidence of preventable errors and infections are the highest.
If you believe that you or a loved one may have suffered harm as the result of a hospital visit, it is critical that you contact an experienced Los Angeles medical malpractice attorney right away.
The statistics concerning infections and errors are alarming. Nearly one in eight patients suffer harm as the result of a simple visit to the hospital.
Catheter use, contaminated surgical wounds, and soiled linens are frequent breeding grounds for infection.
Recently, several deaths have been attributed to the spread of a deadly virus as the result of the failure of hospitals to adequately sanitize blankets. Further, previously treatable infections are becoming harder to control and causing more serious injuries, even deaths. Medicare's decision to begin penalizing the worst offenders is a step in the right direction. However, more is needed to ensure patient safety.
If you or a loved one has been harmed by a preventable error – including a hospital-acquired infection – we urge you to contact our knowledgeable Los Angeles medical malpractice team for an immediate consultation.
