No matter what hospital you receive care from, you need prompt, accurate treatment that puts you on a path towards recovery. While many patients assume all hospitals meet the same safety standards, the reality is that this isn’t always true. Certain hospitals have higher risks of preventable injuries, medical errors, and medical malpractice. Learning about hospital safety grades and malpractice rights can shed light on hospital malpractice cases in Michigan.
If you or a loved one has been a victim of medical negligence during a hospital stay, you should hire a hospital malpractice attorney for guidance. Hospital malpractice laws are complex, and it can be difficult to build a successful claim without an attorney’s experience in gathering, analyzing, and presenting different pieces of evidence. At Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC, our team of skilled attorneys is ready to help you understand your legal rights in this situation.
What Patients Should Know About Hospital Safety Grades
Hospital safety grades are letter grades that reflect a hospital’s safety risk when it comes to preventable medical errors. High grades, like A and B, can demonstrate a strong commitment to safe practices and patient outcomes, while grades like D or F may show higher risks of medical errors and thus, medical malpractice.
Some qualities that are found in hospitals with high hospital safety grades include:
- Thorough sanitation procedures
- Staff responsiveness and strong communication
- Low rates of patient injuries and medical complications
- Low rates of hospital-acquired infection
The Economic Alliance of Michigan (EAM) is one organization that works to provide access to information about hospital safety. They recognize that Michigan hospitals receive a wide range of hospital safety grades.
Overall, the EAM reported that Michigan hospitals ranked 35th nationally when it comes to safety. Certain locations also receive higher ratings, with several Ann Arbor facilities receiving A or B ratings, while a large number of Detroit hospitals received Fs.
Many patients compare hospitals’ safety grades to choose facilities that have a higher chance of safe practices and satisfactory patient outcomes. That said, medical malpractice can happen at any hospital, regardless of the safety grade.
It is also important to recognize that many people don’t have the choice of different medical centers, whether due to location or cost, potentially leaving them at a higher risk of medical errors.
Your Rights in a Hospital Malpractice Case
It is essential to understand that a hospital’s safety grade does not impact your rights when it comes to medical malpractice. Hospitals and their staff have a duty to provide care that meets accepted medical standards.
If you are facing an injury or worsened medical condition as a result of systemic failures or the errors of medical professionals, such as unsafe policies, inadequate staffing, or surgical mistakes, you can file a claim against the hospital. About one in three clinicians face a malpractice claim during their career. Hospitals can be held accountable for both direct negligence and the actions of hospital employees.
Why You Should Hire a Hospital Malpractice Attorney
Medical malpractice cases often involve complex hospital malpractice laws, confusing medical records, and multi-layered medical care. This makes it difficult to properly identify the cause of your injury and file an accurate claim.
A Michigan hospital malpractice attorney can work with you to make sure your case is properly evaluated, supported by evidence, and presented effectively in court. When building your claim, your attorney can find strong evidence to prove the hospital’s negligence.
Evidence can be test results, incident reports, medical records, or, importantly, the testimony of a medical professional who can analyze medical records and decisions. When it comes to hospital safety grades, an attorney can include this to highlight repeated trends and add to the credibility of your claim, though it is not direct proof of malpractice.
FAQs About Hospital Safety Grades and Malpractice Rights in Michigan
How Are Hospital Safety Grades Calculated in Michigan?
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is calculated biannually based on 32 different evidence-based safety measures. 50% involves the process and structural elements a hospital adopts, such as whether a hospital uses electronic medication records or the staff’s responsiveness when help is needed. The other 50% are based on the patient’s safety outcomes, such as infection rates or the number of dangerous objects left in a patient’s body after surgery.
Do Hospital Safety Grades Affect a Patient’s Right to File a Medical Malpractice Claim?
No, hospital safety grades do not determine whether you have the right to file a medical malpractice claim in Michigan. Your legal rights are solely based on the facts of your specific case, rather than overall safety trends. Even hospitals with high safety grades can make serious errors, and victims of this negligence are able to file a claim.
What Must a Patient Prove to Succeed in a Michigan Medical Malpractice Claim?
To succeed in a Michigan medical malpractice case, you must prove four key elements. First, there must be a clear provider-patient relationship, which establishes that the hospital had a duty of care. Then, you must prove that the hospital breached this duty by failing to meet the accepted level of medical care you were owed.
Then, you must prove that the hospital’s error directly caused your injury or condition. Finally, you must prove the damages you have suffered.
How Can Hospital Safety Records and Inspection Reports Support a Malpractice Case?
Hospital safety records and inspection reports can highlight instances where the hospital system or staff failed to meet the standard of care. Unlike general safety grades, these documents often have more detailed information about safety violations that apply to your case. For example, records of improper sterilization or staffing deficiencies at the time you received care can be used as evidence to prove the hospital’s error led to an infection or delayed treatment.
Reach Out to an Experienced Michigan Hospital Malpractice Attorney
Hospital safety grades and other general factors don’t determine your legal rights. If the hospital system or staff has harmed you, you need a skilled attorney who understands the complexities and individual details of your case.
Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC, has been helping malpractice victims in Ann Arbor and Michigan for over 40 years. Contact us to schedule a consultation for your malpractice case.
