Medical Malpractice and Hospital-Acquired Conditions
Hospital-Acquired Conditions, also known as HACs, are any conditions that are determined to be a “complication” to a patient’s stay in a medical facility. Hospital-Acquired Conditions are medical conditions that did not pre-exist the patient’s admittance to the hospital. When visiting a hospital, patients expect that they will get better, rather than worse. However, when a patient receives a HAC, in some cases they are left worse than when they arrived. Oftentimes, these HACs are a result of negligent care in the hospital by a doctor, nurse, staff member, or another medical professional.
Hospital-Acquired Conditions
Understanding types of HACs can help you determine if you were a victim of medical malpractice. There are 14 legally identified HACs that are recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’. The HACs recognized include the following:
- Air embolisms
- Blood incompatibility
- Catheter-associated urinary tract infections
- Deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism following certain procedures
- Falls and traumas
- Foreign objects retained after surgery
- Iatrogenic pneumothorax with venous catheterization
- Manifestations of poor glycemic control
- Stage III and IV pressure ulcers
- Surgical site infection following bariatric surgery
- Surgical site infections following cardiac implantable electronic device
- Surgical site infections following certain orthopedic procedures
- Vascular catheter-associated infections
While sometimes patients simply do not recover or get worse after medical treatment, if there was actual medical negligence in the process of any medical procedures, there may be a cause for a medical malpractice claim.
Hospitals With Poor Records Regarding HACs
If you are a patient, you may be worried about HACs. There are several hospitals and other medical facilities that report extraordinarily high HACs in their facilities. These hospitals and medical facilities are listed in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services report. If your hospital is not listed, you may be able to look up your hospital or medical facility prior to arrival to see how they are doing regarding HACs. Taking charge of your health is an important step to your recovery.
Medical Malpractice
Doctors, nurses, staff and medical facilities can commit medical malpractice when they fail to comply with any regulations regarding either Hospital-Acquired Conditions or Present On Arrival standards. Medical professionals are required by law to give their patients the best care possible, and when they are negligent, oftentimes patients are injured. When a medical professional violates the established standards of care regarding a patient, it can be grounds for a medical malpractice lawsuit. However, medical malpractice law is complex, and if you were injured with a HAC after being treated by a medical professional of any kind, you may have the right to receive compensation for your additional injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and maybe even pain and suffering.
Let Us Help You Today
If you are a patient struggling with a Hospital-Acquired Condition due to the negligence of a doctor, nurse, staff member, or another medical professional in a medical facility or hospital, speaking to a medical malpractice attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, and help you build your case. Contact an experienced Columbia personal injury attorney at The Stanley Law Group at 803-799-4700 and set up a consultation today to discuss your case, and how to get compensation for your injuries.
Resource:
cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/HospitalAcqCond/Hospital-Acquired_Conditions.html
https://www.thestanleylawgroup.com/what-ifs-why-you-need-a-lawyer-for-your-personal-injury-case/
