When you enter a hospital, you put your trust in the system and team of medical professionals. However, not all hospitals provide safe care that complies with health and safety guidelines and hospital malpractice laws. If you or a loved one has been a victim of medical negligence, it is important to understand how hospital safety grades & Michigan malpractice claims relate.
Medical malpractice is a serious issue in Michigan hospitals, and can leave you feeling betrayed, overwhelmed, and confused while also navigating health complications. At Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC, you can hire a hospital malpractice attorney who understands how to analyze medical errors and hold hospitals accountable for their failure to maintain a safe environment.
Understanding Hospital Safety Grades and Why They Matter
Hospital safety grades are designed to give patients a clear, accessible way to evaluate the safety of different medical facilities. The Leapfrog Group is one organization committed to providing grades based on safety measures and safety risks.
Hospitals are assigned a letter grade, A, B, C, D, or F, depending on their ability to prevent medical errors, infections, and other preventable issues. Some factors involved in calculating these grades include:
- Rates of hospital-acquired infections
- Surgical complications and errors
- Patient injuries, such as falls
Some studies estimate that about 400,000 hospitalized patients are victims of preventable harm every year. When it comes to analyzing hospitals in Michigan, a University of Michigan article points out that safety scores vary widely between local hospitals. Your risk of infections, injuries, and treatment errors shouldn’t depend on where you receive care.
A low safety grade doesn’t automatically mean a hospital is guilty of medical malpractice. Yet, it often reflects systemic problems that may lead to negligence, such as failing to follow proper treatment procedures, poor infection control and sanitation protocols, or even a lack of proper staffing and supervision.
It’s not surprising that issues like poor sanitation and failing to adhere to hospital protocols are not only causes of low safety grades, but also key failures involved in a hospital malpractice case. When a hospital fails to meet the accepted standards of care, leading to harm to a patient, it can be held legally responsible.
Common Types of Malpractice and What Safety Errors Can Cause Them
A hospital malpractice case can look different from case to case. In general, you should watch out for issues like worsening illness or injury even after treatment, unusual side effects, or getting a diagnosis or treatment unusually late. If you feel something is off with your healthcare, consulting a Michigan hospital malpractice attorney is a great place to start.
Some of the most common types of hospital malpractice cases we help patients face at Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC, include:
- Hospital-acquired infections. About one in 31 hospital patients suffers from a healthcare-associated infection. These infections, including urinary tract infections or surgical site infections, can happen when hospitals are negligent towards proper sterilization and hygiene practices.
- Medication Errors. The rate of medication error is 5 per 100 hospital admissions. Despite being such a common issue in hospitals, it is still a serious safety risk to patients. Medication errors are more likely to happen when hospital staff have weak communication or record-keeping, or even distraction and understaffing issues.
- Informed consent issues. Before a medical procedure, you should be aware of the risks involved and alternative options. Providing informed consent minimizes the risk of unnecessary or inaccurate procedures and is a core part of hospital safety grading.
- Failure to monitor. When patients are in the hospital’s care, the expectation is attentive and thorough monitoring to prevent and respond to complications. It is no surprise that overworked or understaffed medical teams can’t properly stay on top of patient care.
No matter what issue led to your injury or worsening medical condition, it’s important to understand that you do have legal rights. An attorney can explain the hospital malpractice laws that apply to your case so you can take the right next steps after medical malpractice.
FAQs About Hospital Safety Grades & Michigan Malpractice Claims
How Do Hospital Safety Grades Impact Medical Malpractice Claims in Michigan?
Hospital safety grades can highlight patterns of preventable harm, such as infections or staffing issues, that were present in a medical malpractice case. A Michigan hospital malpractice attorney can use a hospital’s safety grade to support the argument that the hospital failed to maintain safe standards. The safety grade can also be used to point towards areas of improvement that should be focused on as the hospital continues providing patient care.
Can a Low Hospital Safety Rating Be Used as Evidence in a Michigan Malpractice Claim?
Low hospital safety ratings can be used to support your existing evidence. They show hospital-wide patterns of insufficient patient care, but it is not sufficient evidence alone for a medical malpractice case.
Hospital grades don’t provide information on your specific case. Safety ratings can be a supplemental piece of evidence that can work to strengthen an argument founded on individual medical records and the testimony of medical professionals.
What Role Do Accreditation Reports and Safety Violations Play in Proving Negligence?
Accreditation reports and safety violations do not prove a specific act of negligence. However, if there was a report made regarding your specific hospital visit and the treatment you personally received, this can help prove negligence as it can be tied directly to your injury. An attorney can search for evidence, such as hospital records of safety violations that pertain directly to your case.
What Do You Need to Prove in a Hospital Malpractice Claim?
To prove a hospital malpractice claim in Michigan, you must establish four elements. The first is that a duty of care existed between the hospital and you as a patient. Then, you must prove that the hospital system or staff failed to provide this level of care. Then, you must prove that the hospital’s actions directly led to your injury or health condition. Lastly, you must demonstrate measurable damages you have experienced due to the hospital’s negligence.
Hire a Hospital Malpractice Attorney Who Understands the Importance of Safety
Safety grades provide a unique insight into the risks involved in receiving care from a certain hospital. At Goethel Engelhardt, PLLC, we have over 40 years of experience helping victims move forward after the hospital system let them down. Contact us to schedule a confidential case consultation.
