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Snyder Wenner Legal Blog
Monday, May 19, 2008
When Should You Leave the Hospital?
Hospital discharge must be planned and timed accurately. We are typically discharged a lot earlier these days than was the case a few decades ago. We will have our prescription painkiller, detailed self-care instructions, and whatever devices we might need such as a walker or crutch.
We’ll have a series of follow-up appointments set up and the doctor’s phone number should anything go wrong. Perhaps a social worker or nurse will be stopping by.
Hospitals stays are very expensive, either for the patient or the insurance company, and hospital beds are always in demand. So hospitals like to discharge people as soon as they are considered able to manage at home. That makes way for a new patient with a new set of payments owing, which helps the hospital’s bottom line.
Premature Discharge Study
In January, 2003, study results were published about premature hospital discharge study. It was funded by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and conducted by a team led by the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. It followed 559 patients in the N.Y. area and found several clinical issues in hip fracture patients that could cause major complications:
Even if those patients were receiving post-op care in a skilled facility of some type, they still encountered these early discharge risks.
Late Discharge no Better
Early discharge is a type of medical malpractice claim. So is unduly late discharge. Doctors can be held financially accountable if they recommend an extended stay without good reason. They may be charging you for unnecessary tests and collecting insurance money. This misuse of power can either fall under medical malpractice law or insurance fraud.
A Patient Can Disagree
You, the patient, have the right to agree or disagree with the hospital’s recommendations. If you feel you are not well enough to go home, you have the right to stay. If a hospital were to refuse to house patients or deliver necessary treatment, it could face consequences such as fines and loss of licensing.
If you or a loved one was discharged early, and serious injury or complications then occurred, you may be entitled to compensation. For more information please e-mail us at Snyder & Wenner, P.C., and we will schedule a free consultation for you.
We’ll have a series of follow-up appointments set up and the doctor’s phone number should anything go wrong. Perhaps a social worker or nurse will be stopping by.
Hospitals stays are very expensive, either for the patient or the insurance company, and hospital beds are always in demand. So hospitals like to discharge people as soon as they are considered able to manage at home. That makes way for a new patient with a new set of payments owing, which helps the hospital’s bottom line.
Premature Discharge Study
In January, 2003, study results were published about premature hospital discharge study. It was funded by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and conducted by a team led by the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. It followed 559 patients in the N.Y. area and found several clinical issues in hip fracture patients that could cause major complications:
- Abnormal vital signs
- Mental confusion
- Heart or lung problems
- Lack of appetite
Even if those patients were receiving post-op care in a skilled facility of some type, they still encountered these early discharge risks.
Late Discharge no Better
Early discharge is a type of medical malpractice claim. So is unduly late discharge. Doctors can be held financially accountable if they recommend an extended stay without good reason. They may be charging you for unnecessary tests and collecting insurance money. This misuse of power can either fall under medical malpractice law or insurance fraud.
A Patient Can Disagree
You, the patient, have the right to agree or disagree with the hospital’s recommendations. If you feel you are not well enough to go home, you have the right to stay. If a hospital were to refuse to house patients or deliver necessary treatment, it could face consequences such as fines and loss of licensing.
If you or a loved one was discharged early, and serious injury or complications then occurred, you may be entitled to compensation. For more information please e-mail us at Snyder & Wenner, P.C., and we will schedule a free consultation for you.
Labels: Arizona Medical Malpractice
posted by Patti at 2:46 PM
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