Hospitals serve an important role with Americans in the United States. Not only are hospitals expected to handle the volumes of those with insurance, they are often the front line for the uninsured and any undocumented individuals. With the handling of so many sick individuals, germs and diseases are easily spread. This may pose a liability for hospitals as they are expected to stay on top of the prevention and spread of diseases.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American hospitals are not doing a good job of preventing the spread of infectious diseases as about two hundred Americans die every day just from infections picked up at hospitals. It is completely preventable, as poor hand hygiene was found to be the main culprit.
The largest illnesses are pneumonia and infection at the site of surgery. Bacterial infections like, C. difficile and various strains of the staph infection are the next cause of hospital-related illness. Such infections can be deadly and when they are detected, hospitals should institute quarantines to contain them. Finally, infections from the bloodstream are about ten percent of all hospital-induced infections. The CDC has been trying to get hospitals to institute protocols to ensure basic hygiene is followed, and they have seen some improvements with the reduction in infections in the past few years.
Another cause for concern is the ability to track such infections. In one instance, nineteen patients across six Alabama hospitals were infected from what was eventually found to be contaminated feeding bags. The bags were recalled by the manufacturer, with the source of the contamination being found months later. Missouri recently deleted its records on hospital infections due to the cost of maintaining such information. They will only keep such records for a year before it is deleted. This will make it difficult for those who have realized their illness was not from their own activities to find the actual source, which may be the hospital.
It may take a while for patients to realize that they received an infection from a hospital. After all, they came to a hospital because they are sick. Worsening conditions are attributed to the known illness. Many may never realize the source of the death of a loved one as a result. If you suspect the hospital may be the cause of the worsening illness or death of a loved one, it is imperative to seek an attorney while continuing medical care.
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not to be construed as legal advice. Do not rely on the above information as all cases are different and different laws apply to different cases. Consult an attorney in your area for further guidance. If you were injured in an accident from a hospital please call one of our attorneys at David K. Kremin & Associates, and we will give you a free consultation. We never charge unless we collect for you. Please call 1(800) ASK-A-LAWYER or 1(800)275-2529, askalawyer@aol.com, www.1800askalawyer.com.