Thousands of patients suffer from infections acquired in the hospital every year in Pennsylvania. These infections lead to unnecessary pain, additional medical treatment, and even higher medical bills.
As health care spending has increased, employers, which often pay the bills, have begun pressing hospitals to work to reduce a variety of mistakes, from incorrect medications to avoidable infections. As part of that effort, Pennsylvania requires every acute care hospital to report the number of infections contracted in the hospital in four major categories:
The most common reported infections were urinary tract infections (UTI) transmitted to patients while using a catheter. Methicillin-resistant staph (MRSA) infections and blood stream infections associated with intravenous catheters are also a huge problem in hospitals in Pennsylvania.
Patients who develop pneumonia while using a ventilator have high death rates. Many times the transmission of these infections are a medical error caused by the negligence of a physician or other health care professional, a case of medical malpractice. Some health care providers report that to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia cases, simple steps such as keeping the patient’s head elevated and ensuring the patient breathes independently for at least a few minutes each day can prevent an infection.
The most important prevention strategy to reducing the number of infections and deaths is simple, frequent hand washing by your health care providers. Shaving, a common procedure before surgery can creates abrasions that can become easily infected. The preferred technique is clipping of the hair.
If you or a loved one has contracted an infection while in the hospital, after surgery or at another health care facility, you may be the victim of medical malpractice. It is important that you know your rights and that your case is evaluated by an attorney with a medical background, who understands the procedures and has experience dealing with medical malpractice cases involving many types of infections.
Veronica Richards, RN, MSN, CRNP, JD, is experienced with many types of medical malpractice cases all across Western Pennsylvania. She has worked as the Manager of Neurosurgery at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has been listed as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Pennsylvania.
Please contact a Pennsylvania medical malpractice lawyer today for a free evaluation of your case by our nurse-practitioner attorney or call 412-261-2620. There is no fee unless a recovery is made.
