Hospital Mistakes

Published on: January 17, 2010

Syracuse Heart Attack Lawyers On St. Joseph’s Hospital Chest Pain Accreditation

In April of 2009, St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center, a Syracuse hospital, received chest pain center certification by the Society of Chest Pain Centers. St. Joseph’s Hospital mistakes are expected to decrease with the accreditation because the certification means that the hospital is committed to state-of-the-art care, including prompt identification of a heart attack and quick treatment. The faster that a heart attack is treated, the better the outcome.

A heart attack may not be treated quickly for several reasons. First, many people do not go straight to the hospital after they experience chest pain. On average, most heart attack victims do not arrive in an emergency room until two hours after a heart attack stops. From there, emergency room errors may lead to improper triage and a patient may not see a physician, or specialist such as a cardiologist, for several hours. Where patients are promptly seen by emergency room staff, chest pain due to a heart attack is commonly misdiagnosed as indigestion and patients are frequently sent home without life-saving treatment.
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Published on: January 15, 2010

Oswego Ambulance Negligence Subject Of Health Department Investigation

By Bottar Law, PLLC

Last week, the New York State Department of Health announced that it was investigating the Oswego Fire Department’s ambulance corps for refusing to transport patients.

Syracuse area ambulances are required to take patients somewhere. Usually, to the closest available hospital. Emergency medical personnel are not supposed to make a determination regarding whether a patient needs to go to the hospital – even if they know the patient and his or her condition. According to the Post-Standard, the Department of Health received complaints that the Oswego Fire Department ambulance corps was not transporting patients who were suffering from minor or superficial injuries.

Our search of Court filings did not reveal any Syracuse ambulance lawsuits.
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Published on: January 12, 2010

Syracuse Hospital Negligence Results In Fine For Crouse

By Bottar Law, PLLC

Crouse Hospital, a 506 bed facility located in Syracuse, New York, was fined $10,000.00 by the New York State Department of Health for hospital negligence. Specifically, for failing to thoroughly check the background of an employee who sexually assaulted a mentally disabled patient in 2008.

In 2008, Crouse Hospital used “companions” to sit with patients in need of continuous supervision. It secured the “companions” from a contractor. Before exposing disabled patients to the “companions,” Crouse failed to check to see whether the individuals were properly qualified. According to the State — which issued the maximum fine — there was no evidence that Crouse Hospital checked backgrounds of the “companions” who, in many cases, were providing care to patients such as inserting suction tubes and assisting with other activities of daily living.

Crouse Hospital no longer uses “companions.”
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Published on: December 20, 2009

Auburn Medical Malpractice Should Decrease With iSuites

By Bottar Law, PLLC

A press release issued by Auburn Memorial Hospital advertises that “iSuites” will enhance surgical safety and decreases incidents of medical malpractice and hospital mistakes.

According to Scott A. Berlucchi, President/COO of Auburn Memorial Hospital, the new surgical suites will be equipped with specialized lighting booms and television monitors, in order to enable surgeons to better control the configuration of the operating room. The new technology will also permit storage and recall of surgical imagery (photos and video taken during surgery). The iSuites are also expected to make the hospital more profitable and efficient, in that the operating rooms can be modified quickly to accommodate a multitude of surgeries.
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Published on: December 19, 2009

University Hospital Surgery Mistakes and Operation Complications Low Per ACS NSQIP

By Bottar Law, PLLC

Syracuse University Hospital was recognized recently by the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program as one of 25 participating hospitals that achieved “exemplary outcomes for surgical patient care.” Good surgical outcomes should mean that University Hospital’s liability for medical malpractice should decline.

The National Surgical Quality Program focused on a handful of clinical areas, including deep vein thrombosis, thrombophlebitis, pulmonary embolism, cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, pneumonia, surgical site infections and urinary tract infections. According to John McCabe, M.D., University Hospital’s CEO, “[t]his recognition from the American College of Surgeons underscores University Hospital’s commitment to patient safety and quality surgical care,” Further, “[t]his distinction ensures patients that they will receive the best care possible at University Hospital, and celebrates the work and dedication of our medical staff in providing this exemplary care.”

The National Surgical Quality program was created to reduce the number of poor surgical outcomes, such as infections following surgery, as well as deaths due to surgical mistakes. The Program currently is used in more than 250 hospitals.
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