Knowledgeable Attorneys Advocate For Your Well-Being During A Hospital Discharge Trust a team of skilled medical malpractice lawyers for rock-solid legal representation
Being discharged from the hospital is generally seen as a positive experience, symbolizing better health and the end to a challenging experience. But the success of a hospital discharge largely depends on the actions of the hospital staff and the patient’s physician. If proper steps are not taken, or the discharge is completed too early, injuries to the patient can result. When this happens, contact the law firm of Schochor, Staton, Goldberg and Cardea, P.A. for reliable representation of your hospital injury discharge claim. We hold two offices in Washington D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland, and serve both local and national clients.
When discharge is inappropriate
Medical stability generally determines when hospital discharge is appropriate. It is the responsibility of the physician and hospital staff to ensure that a patient is not discharged prior to the proper time. Every year, numerous patients in Washington D.C., Baltimore and across Maryland are forced to leave a hospital prematurely, thus increasing their risk of injury. Some of the reasons include:
- The refusal of the insurance company to compensate for a continued hospital stay
- Failure of the physician to identify ongoing medical problems
- Hospital staff misunderstanding the orders of the physician or completing discharge documentation incorrectly
When hospital discharge results in injury
Even when a hospital discharge is completed at the appropriate time, situations may still arise where errors result in injury to the patient. There are generally two types of hospital discharge mistakes that can lead to patient injury.
- Failure to adequately coordinate continued care. If a patient leaves the hospital, but still needs some level of medical treatment, the hospital staff may be responsible for coordinating with the nursing home, elderly care facility, home health agency, or other health care professional. If this is not adequately done, the patient may undergo a gap in service, leading to further injury or even death.
- Failure to provide adequate discharge instructions. When a patient is discharged from the hospital, it is extremely important that he or she leave with understandable instructions for continuous care for such issues as wound care, medications, physician follow-ups and recognizing signs of increased illness. Failure to provide accurate and understandable instructions can cause existing conditions to worsen and even create new health complications.
