Robbins & Associates, P.C. - Emergency Room Medical Malpractice

    ATLANTA, GA, February 03, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- An emergency room in Atlanta is a vital medical facility for the treatment of illness and injury. By definition the ER is staffed and equipped to handle medical emergencies that threaten life and limb. Emergency rooms also treat patients with medical conditions that are perceived to be serious enough to require urgent care rather than waiting for an appointment with a physician.

The essential role of Triage

Triage is an essential first line function of the emergency room. A wide range of conditions are encountered in the ER from minor to very serious. Because of that, an assessment must be made of each patient as soon as possible when they arrive. The check-in process at the ER is often perceived as simply an administrative function required prior to receiving care. In fact, the brief encounter with a Nurse or other medical caregiver is oriented to obtain the essential and relevant information on the patient and their illness or injury to assess the priority of their care.

A lack of understanding of the triage process can cause frustration for patients and family members. Patients often mistakenly believe that triage is a "sign in" process that establishes their place in the order of treatment when in fact it is a process of prioritization of care. Information from each patient assessment is used to determine the urgency of their need for care and prioritize their care in light of the seriousness of other patients in the ER.

Failure to diagnose, misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis

The emergency room is often a hectic environment with overcrowded waiting rooms and long lines for treatment. Add the ingredients of human emotion surrounding the illness or injury the patients are suffering from and it can become a loud and dramatic scene. In the midst of the chaos, medical caregivers are expected to focus on the patient assessment that they are involved in while also attentive to the arrival of a truly life threatening emergency. And these are but a few of the challenges that can impact an accurate diagnosis.

Failure to diagnose, misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis are the three main causes of emergency room malpractice and account for over 50% of ER related malpractice claims. Malpractice occurrences in the ER happen at a higher rate than many other medical settings. For the reasons listed here accurate diagnosis can be challenging and result in patients not receiving the care they need or not receiving it in a timely manner.

If you live in Atlanta, Georgia and have been injured due to a medical mistake, please visit the website of Robbins & Associates, P.C. today to learn more. (http://www.robbinslaw.com)

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