No one expects that getting treatment for a medical problem could actually worsen your health—and they shouldn’t! No one should ever have to worry that seeing a doctor could put their health at risk. Sadly, however, the Centers for Disease Control estimate that one out of every 25 patients being cared for in a hospital has at least one healthcare-associated infection.
This alarming statistic is one of the reasons the Affordable Care Act required that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implement a program to increase patient safety. This CMS program, in addition to setting Medicare payment standards for patients, also establishes a rule specifically targeted to reduce healthcare-associated conditions (HAC).
The HAC Reduction Program states that if a hospital is found to have high rates of HAC incidents it will be financially penalized in terms of the Medicare payments it will receive. This program went into effect on October 1, 2014, and the CMS has already penalized over 700 hospitals.
Northern Virginia and D.C. Hospitals Penalized for HAC
Medicare evaluated all U.S. hospitals for avoidable mistakes such as central-line associated bloodstream infections, catheter-related urinary tract infections and serious complications like blood clots, bed sores, and falls. In the first year, 721 hospitals were found to have unacceptable rates of HAC. Eleven of these hospitals are in the greater Northern Virginia/D.C. area, including:
- Culpeper Regional Hospital (Culpeper)
- Inova Fairfax Hospital (Falls Church)
- Riverside Tappahannock Hospital (Tappahannock)
- Stafford Hospital (Stafford)
- VCU Health System (Richmond)
- Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center (Mechanicsville)
- George Washington University Hospital (D.C.)
- Medstar Georgetown University Hospital (D.C.)
- Medstar Washington Hospital Center (D.C.)
- Providence Hospital (D.C.)
- Sibley Memorial Hospital (D.C.)
Penalties Aren’t Enough When You Suffer the Consequences of Their Actions
If your healthcare provider is on this list, and you believe you have suffered as a result of negligence or improper care, you may be entitled to medical malpractice damages. Although these hospitals have been penalized and publicly reprimanded, you’re still suffering the consequences of their mistakes. Is that fair? We don’t think so.
Contact us for a free consultation and review of your case. No one should ever have to experience an HAC, but if you have, you deserve to be compensated. Call today to see how we can help you pursue a malpractice injury claim. Remember, it’s up to you to make sure your hospital takes responsibility.
Need more information about your medical rights? Please feel free to download our free report: Medical Negligence: Your Rights in the District of Columbia You’ll not only learn more about your rights and claim options, but you’ll also see how our knowledge and experience can help you get the justice you deserve.
