Patient Safety Week: Ways To Reduce Your Risk Of Medical Malpractice In Miami
While our country offers residents the highest standard of health care in the world, glitches within the system can jeopardize patient safety. National Patient Safety Week raises awareness of the risks. Our Miami medical malpractice lawyer explains more about the problem and ways to protect yourself.
The Need To Make Patient Safety A Top Priority
Held in mid-Spring each year, National Patient Safety Week raises awareness of common problems within the healthcare industry while encouraging individuals and the medical community to make patient safety a priority. According to the Institute For Health care Improvement (IHI), important problems in the system that need to be addressed include:
- Medical mistakes: Errors in filling out patient charts, providing treatment, or prescribing medications can have serious adverse impacts on individuals and public health.
- Medical misdiagnosis: Failing to review medical history, downplaying symptoms, or not ordering standard tests can cause serious health conditions to go unnoticed.
- Lack of communication and continuity of care: Not communicating with the patient or with specialists and others involved in their care affects the quality of service and patient health.
- Healthcare-associated infections and other preventable accidents: Potentially life-threatening infections can happen due to failure to maintain sanitary conditions. Patients can also suffer serious personal injuries due to a lack of proper monitoring and support.
How To Protect Yourself And Your Loved Ones Against Medical Malpractice In Miami
Medical negligence involves breaching professional standards followed by other members of the medical community. This includes taking reckless actions that put patients at risk and neglecting to take needed actions that could have prevented further harm.
If you or someone you love is a victim of medical negligence in Miami, you may be entitled under the Florida Statutes to hold those at fault accountable for medical expenses, lost wages, and any pain or suffering you experience as a result.
Patient Safety Week is about taking action to prevent this type of situation. Practical steps you can take to protect yourself and your family include:
- Visit your doctor regularly and report any new symptoms;
- Observe how well the office is run and the amount of time allowed for visits;
- Take lists of medications, symptoms, and other health conditions you suffer with you to ensure they are included on your patient chart;
- Periodically review your patient file and keep copies of all records;
- Take someone with you to visits;
- Be persistent in seeking medical care, even if it means switching doctors;
- Do not hesitate to get a second opinion;
- Use websites, such as HealthGrades, to check ratings for medical providers and facilities in our area.
Discuss Your Case With Our Miami Medical Malpractice Lawyer
Medical malpractice in Miami can have major impacts on your own health or that of a loved one. Get the caring support and professional legal representation you need in this situation at Pita Weber Del Prado. To discuss your case, call 305-670-2889 or contact us online and request a consultation with our Miami medical malpractice lawyer today.
Sources:
ihi.org/Engage/Initiatives/Patient-Safety-Awareness-Week/Pages/default.aspx
leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0766/Sections/0766.102.html
healthgrades.com/quality/americas-best-hospitals/florida
