Medical Errors in Rehab

The rate of medical errors that occur in rehab, and that harm patients, is shocking. In fact, according to a recent article published in NPR.org that summarized a government report, a whopping 29 percent of patients in rehab suffered a medical error in one study.

When you are in recovery, you want to focus on getting better. You do not want to have to worry about further complications that could lead to even more pain or procedures. Rehabilitation (rehab) programs take many forms, many involving physical therapy after surgery. However rehab centers also administer post-surgery medications in addition to monitoring a patient’s progress physically.

We rely on our healthcare professionals to provide quality patient care to our loved ones and most do this. Unfortunately there are times where mistakes are made and the result can be dangerous and even life-threatening.

 The government report details the types of harm that most patients experienced in rehab as a result of medical errors, the majority of which involved:

• Medication errors;
• Bedsores; or
• Infection.

46 percent of injuries reported were a result of medication errors, and harm that occurred commonly involved bleeding from gastric ulcers due to blood thinners, and loss of consciousness linked to narcotic painkillers. Patients involved in the study were in medical rehab facilities for a variety of reasons, including recovering from a stroke, injury, or recent surgery. Some of the injuries led to permanent injuries or death; others were considered non-severe. However, even the non-severe injuries are concerning, and raise questions about the level of care that patients receive when they are rehabilitating.

It is important to be well-informed about the facility you select to take care of you or a loved one after a procedure. In addition to on-line reviews, you should speak with the doctors, nurses and staff to make sure that they are suited to the post-surgery care you need.

You Deserve High Quality Care

No matter who you are, if you are being treated in a rehabilitation or other type of medical facility, you deserve high quality care. When your right to quality care is breached and you suffer harm, you have the right to seek damages.

At the law offices of Napoli Shkolnik PLLC, we are here to guide you throughout the claims process and help you to recover compensation for your losses. Each case is different and we encourage you to contact us today for a free consultation.