The emergency department of a medical facility is a high-pressure environment where mistakes sometimes happen. In California hospitals, when doctors and nurses work as quickly as possible, no one expects them to perform every single task correctly. However, there are situations when mistakes can be prevented before the problem becomes a case for medical negligence.
Trends in claims
According to medical malpractice statistics, there were certain trends found in negligence claims that occurred in emergency departments. At least 31% of these claims were mistakes that involved neurological or vascular diseases.
The most common diagnostic error is a delay or inaction in providing an accurate diagnosis. An emergency department is a fast-paced environment that often lacks the time and resources to give an accurate diagnosis. This common error results in higher incidences of indemnity payments. The CT scan is the most common test that is delayed or not ordered on time.
In emergency rooms, patients check in quickly and are expected to leave as soon as possible. Some of them do not receive a proper diagnosis and evaluation of their condition. The average length of time spent in emergency varies from several minutes to several hours. During this period, the average patient’s condition is not properly assessed as it changes. Medical malpractice claims are more likely to occur when providers don’t have enough to monitor their patients.
Increased rates of medical negligence in emergency rooms
There are exceptionally high cases of medical negligence in emergency rooms. Emergency room providers often do not have enough time to diagnose the patients properly. However, there are innovative methods they can use to reduce the risks of medical errors and preventable injuries to emergency patients.