Unexpected Emergency Room Dangers

The ER should be a place of refuge, right? Unfortunately, this is not the case in far too many hospitals, where patients are vulnerable to a whole host of surprising hazards.

Infection

Emergency rooms are breeding grounds for bacteria, making patients with already compromised immune systems that much more vulnerable to infection. A study of long-term care facility residents published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal revealed that five percent of those who visited emergency rooms acquired new infections.

Surgical site infections (SSI) are especially common in the ER. While these infections occasionally only prompt mild irritation, some are serious enough to involve major organs or tissues beneath the skin. The Centers for Disease Control reports a mortality rate of 3 percent for SSI cases, plus annual costs of $3.3 billion. Other common ER-acquired infections include central line-associated bloodstream infections and ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Broken Bones

The ER is a shockingly dangerous environment for seniors, who may struggle to navigate gurneys, crowded hallways, and other potential hazards. Far too many facilities remain ill-equipped to provide safe surroundings for a rapidly increasing population of seniors, many of whom are already more vulnerable to broken bones and a whole host of other injuries.

Improper Diagnosis

Misdiagnosis always presents a grave danger, but nowhere more than in the ER, where one wrong move can spell the difference between life and death. A study published in the journal Academic Emergency Medicine reveals that misdiagnosis lies at the heart of a significant number of ER malpractice claims.

If you’ve been adversely impacted by negligence in the ER, it is critical that you speak up. The attorneys of Regan Zambri Long PLLC can help. Contact us today to learn how our legal team can assist you with your medical malpractice case.

About the Author

Patrick M. Regan, Esq.

Patrick Regan is a board certified personal injury lawyer and a founding partner at Regan Zambri Long. His practice is devoted to helping those who suffered catastrophic injuries in car accidents, truck accidents, Metro accidents, and medical malpractice. Over his nearly 40-year career, Patrick has obtained some of the most significant jury verdicts in the history of Washington, DC on behalf of injured victims. Patrick is licensed to practice law in Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland. He received his B.A. at Hamilton College and his J.D. at the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America.