New Jersey Medical Malpractice Lawyers Report on Injuries at Rehab Facilities
Patients who have suffered from a debilitating injury, stroke, or surgery often go to rehabilitation centers to recover their strength and improve their mobility. A recent report, however, shows a high rate of incidents that could result in further injury or illness. An estimated 29 percent of patients in rehab facilities suffer from a medication error, contract an infection or bedsore, or sustain some other type of injury. New Jersey medical malpractice lawyers note that many of these incidents are preventable.
Researchers from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reviewed data from various types of rehab centers around the country that were not associated with hospitals. Patients receiving care at rehab facilities are considered to be in better shape than patients at hospitals or nursing homes, and are able to receive physical or occupational therapy for at least three hours each day, five days per week.
Many Patient Injuries Were Preventable
The doctors and nurses conducting the study examined 417 cases of Medicare patients who stayed in rehab centers in March 2012. Of the cases included in the review, 158 of them showed some sort of incident resulting in harm to the patient while in the care of the facility. The resulting injuries ranged from mild to severe. Some injuries required an extended stay at the rehab facility, or even caused a permanent or fatal injury. About 25 percent of those harmed at the facilities had to be transferred to an acute care hospital; the costs of their care amounted to approximately $7.7 million for that month.
Doctors estimated that half of the cases of patient harm were preventable. Most of these incidents were caused by neglect, including infrequent monitoring and failure to provide care when necessary. Upwards of 40 percent of patients were harmed due to a lapse in routine care, which resulted in bedsores, falls, or constipation. Around 46 percent of the cases examined involved some kind of medication error, which can cause serious harm to patients; for example, patients recovering from gastric ulcers can suffer from dangerous bleeding if given blood thinners, and patients not well suited to narcotic painkillers may experience adverse effects such as loss of consciousness.
The data in this study was concurrent with other recent studies, which showed that more than 25 percent of patients in hospitals and 33 percent of patients in skilled nursing facilities had suffered from a medical mistake. The American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association has responded to the study saying that they have taken steps to improve patient safety since 2012 and remain committed to providing patients with the best care possible.
New Jersey Medical Malpractice Lawyers at Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP Obtain Compensation for Victims of Medical Negligence
If you or a loved one has sustained an injury or illness at a rehab facility, call the New Jersey medical malpractice lawyers at Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP. We will thoroughly review the facts of your case to determine if your injury was preventable and hold the negligent parties accountable for your suffering. With offices conveniently located in Edison, Red Bank, and Toms River, we help injured patients throughout New Jersey. Call us today at 732-777-0100 or contact us online for a free consultation with a qualified medical malpractice lawyer.
Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP has purposely remained small in size, because it is important to us that we get to know our clients and their needs. Larger NJ injury firms may churn out case after case, but that’s not how we operate. Partners Barry Eichen, William Crutchlow, and Daryl Zaslow have created a firm with the resources to handle complex litigation, and a team that takes your case personally.
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