Hospitals are busy places. They are often under-staffed, and nurses and doctors are over-worked and exhausted. In many unfortunate circumstances, a shift comes to an end and a doctor’s order is not followed. There is a missing test, a test is not performed, the results are not examined, a treatment is not given or there is no follow up. Any number of things can be neglected in this fast-paced environment. These hospital malpractice errors from patient handoff can mean the difference between life and death.
Miscommunication, or lack thereof, is the leading cause in medical mistakes. More than half of all medical malpractice can be traced to what is forgotten or not said when a patient is transferred from one caregiver to another.
This large percentage has been recognized nationally, and plans have been put in place to prevent the errors that result in a muddled patient handoff, but unfortunately it still occurs. One such plan is called I PASS the BATON. This acronym instructs health care givers to work through a very thorough process that drastically minimizes room for error. Unfortunately, this is not always followed and mistakes are made.
If you or a loved one has been affected by medical malpractice as a result of patient handoff, the attorneys at Cirignani Heller & Harman, LLP, are experienced in digging deeply into these cases. Our Chicago, Illinois, lawyers are board certified medical professionals who excel in combining the care giving side of a health professional with the hard-hitting strength of an experienced and knowledgeable attorney.
Contact Cirignani Heller & Harman, LLP
To learn more about our firm and how we can help you get the best possible compensation for you so that you can focus on healing and building a brighter future for you and your family, contact us or call 312-346-8700 for a free consultation.
