What Types of Medical Mistakes Happen in Nursing Homes?

Posted on June 22, 2016 by Shapiro Law Group

medical mistakes

Nursing homes are places where the elderly and disabled can receive around-the-clock treatment. Unfortunately, some of these places can neglect patients and cause harm. In fact, a 2014 study published by Medicare’s Inspector General suggested 22,000 nursing home patients were injured in the span of one month in 2010. The report discovered 33 percent of nursing home patients were hurt by medication errors, infections or other preventable mistakes related to treatment.

This study also discovered that medical mistakes are more common in nursing homes than in hospitals. But what kinds of mistakes occur in nursing homes?

Medication mistakes: Medication mistakes in nursing homes are extremely common. An investigation in Texas discovered state nursing homes had been cited 1,060 times in 2011 for medication mistakes! Medication mistakes in nursing homes have caused patients to experience a variety of health problems, such as delirium and excessive bleeding.

Substandard care: The Medicare report also discovered that patients received substandard care in nursing homes. Patients were poorly monitored by nurses and other staff, and major medical problems were ignored. Preventable blood clots, fluid imbalances and kidney failure were common causes of death.

Infections: According to the Medicare report, nursing home residents were also harmed by infections. Pneumonia, surgical site infections, urinary tract infections and c. Diff harmed or killed patients.

Why Preventable Medical Mistakes Are Inexcusable

The Medicare report claimed 59 percent of medical mistakes that harmed nursing home patients were preventable. Such numbers suggest tens of thousands of patients are harmed by preventable mistakes! Patients and families have their lives ruined when medical professionals fail to do their jobs. For example, a Minnesota nursing home is being sued by the family of a patient who died after her nurse accidently gave her blood-thinning medication. It turns out the facility had not monitored the performance of its nurses.

When nursing homes fail to supervise residents or to provide an acceptable standard of care, family members may have legal options.

The Tampa Bay medical malpractice attorneys at Shapiro Law Group can help patients and families who have been harmed by negligence.

Tags: AARP

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