Fairfax, VA Hospital Malpractice Attorney

Experienced Hospital Malpractice Attorneys Advocating for Injured Patients in Fairfax, Virginia

Patients who receive care at hospitals may be suffering from serious health issues. They expect that they will receive attentive care, with nurses addressing their needs, doctors responding quickly to potential concerns, and the proper steps being taken to protect their health and safety. When a hospital fails to provide the expected level of care, a patient can suffer serious harm that may add to the medical issues that brought them to the facility in the first place.

At Shevlin Smith, P.C., our medical malpractice lawyer can provide the representation needed to address injuries that occur because of hospital negligence. He will take steps to determine how failures in care occurred and who may be held responsible for the harm suffered by a patient.

Ways Negligent Hospital Care Can Harm Patients

Hospital negligence can take many forms, including:

Inadequate Staffing

A hospital will need to ensure that it has enough staff members available to meet the needs of every patient. When a hospital is understaffed, nurses and other providers may be responsible for more patients than they can safely manage. An overwhelmed nurse who is responsible for too many patients at once may not be able to respond promptly to a call light. They may fail to administer medications on schedule, or they may not monitor vital signs when necessary. These issues can lead to a failure to recognize and respond to complications and prevent a person from suffering serious harm.

The consequences of understaffing at a hospital can include delayed treatment, medication errors, and other issues that would not have occurred if enough personnel had been on duty. Hospitals make decisions about the number of staff members to schedule during each shift and in each unit. When a hospital has failed to ensure that enough staff members are on duty, it may be held responsible for injuries that occur because of understaffing.

Failure to Monitor Patients

Patients in hospitals will often require ongoing observation. Staff members may fail to monitor a patient because of a lack of attention, understaffing, or a failure to follow the correct procedures. This may cause a patient's condition to deteriorate when they do not receive the proper care within the right amount of time.

A patient whose vital signs are not checked regularly may experience changes in blood pressure, oxygen levels, heart rhythm, or other indicators, and these issues may not be noticed until the situation becomes critical. After surgery, a patient who is not monitored closely may experience issues such as internal bleeding or infection, and staff members may not intervene in time to prevent a life-threatening complication. When receiving medications, patients should be monitored for adverse reactions, and they can suffer serious harm if the signs of these reactions are not recognized.

Patient Falls

When hospital patients fall while getting into or out of bed, using the restroom, or moving around the facility, they may suffer serious injuries, including fractures or head injuries. Patients may be at a higher risk of falling due to the effects of illnesses, medications, or weakened physical conditions.

Hospitals should assess fall risks for patients and make sure the proper steps are taken to prevent falls. When a patient who has been identified as a fall risk does not receive the proper supervision, they may fall because no one responded to a call for assistance.

Infections

Hospitals are required to follow the proper steps to prevent infections that could affect patients. If these procedures are not followed, patients may contract infections due to bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens. Urinary tract infections can occur when catheters are not placed correctly. Blood infections can occur due to improper wound care. Other types of infections can occur if staff members do not follow the proper hygiene practices, fail to sterilize instruments, or do not take steps to protect against the spread of pathogens.

Medication Errors

While they are receiving care in a hospital, patients will need to receive the correct medications, in the correct doses, by the correct routes, and at the correct times. Medication errors can occur at multiple points during treatment, including when a medication is prescribed, dispensed by a pharmacy, or administered by nurses.

The consequences of medication errors can range from allergic reactions to dangerous overdoses. If staff members fail to administer a medication when required, a patient's condition may deteriorate. Hospitals may be responsible for failing to implement systems to ensure that medications are administered correctly.

Improper Discharge

When a hospital discharges a patient before they are medically ready, the patient may experience health issues that will require them to return to the hospital or other issues that could affect their condition. In some cases, patients may be discharged without providing instructions for managing their conditions, or hospital personnel may fail to arrange for follow-up care that will be needed. A patient could be sent home while they are still at risk of a complication related to surgery, or they may suffer harm because they were not provided with instructions about medication management.

Contact Our Fairfax Hospital Malpractice Lawyer

When negligent care at a hospital has resulted in injuries, a patient will need to understand what steps they can take to hold the hospital responsible. At Shevlin Smith, P.C., our lawyer can provide the legal representation needed to ensure that a patient's rights will be protected, and he will fight to obtain compensation that will address the damages that have occurred. Contact our Fairfax, VA hospital negligence attorney at 703-591-0067 to set up a free consultation.