Are You A Victim of Hospital Malpractice?

Hospital malpractice is an issue that occurs when the medical workers at a hospital (such as the doctors, nurses, technicians, etc.) are deemed to be negligent and because of this negligence a patient suffered a serious injury, or in some cases death. There are several forms of hospital malpractice, which include: patient misdiagnosis, providing the wrong medication, overlooking or ignoring patient allergies, failure to actually treat the patient, not following proper protocol or procedures during the treatment process, along with various other violations.

While the laws vary somewhat from state to state, each jurisdiction does have set standards that each and every hospital and medical professional needs to follow. These standards have been designed to ensure that all patients are treated in the same manner. If it can be shown that the hospital or medical staff has not followed these guidelines and met these standards, the patient may be able to seek help to file a complaint or lawsuit and receive compensation for damages.

From a more technical standpoint, hospital malpractice is defined as the negligence of a medical employee to act properly, allowing for physical harm to occur to the patient. The hospital has committed an act of malpractice when the patient or the surviving family members can prove the following:

The hospital owed the patient a "duty of care";

The hospital or its staff breached this duty and did not act in a manner that was considered to be appropriate, or in a way that other professionals would have acted in the same case;

This breach of duty was the direct cause of the physical harm that the patient endured, and would not have happened if the hospital had acted properly;

The patient is permitted to receive damages under the malpractice laws that govern the state in which the injury occurred.

When all of the above mentioned elements can be proven, the hospital is considered to be liable for the malpractice. While this may be clear, you may still be left wondering exactly how hospital malpractice can occur in a real world situation. Below are some of the most common cases for this type of violation:

There was a missed or delayed diagnosis: this could be a failure to order a certain test that would have quickly found a proper diagnosis, or it could be there was a complete error in a diagnosis. For instance, if a competent hospital worker should have ordered a particular test and a different diagnosis would have resulted; the hospital is liable for a case of malpractice.

There was a complete treatment failure: if the hospital decides not to treat a patient, or does not administer treatment promptly, or if the hospital does not recommend that the patient visit a specialist there has been a treatment failure. When any of these things happen, the hospital has placed the patient in harm and can and should be held accountable for negligence.

There was a failure to monitor the patient: After the patient was admitted the hospital, the hospital must abide by the duty of care expected. This includes monitoring the patient to ensure he or she is safe and being properly treated. If proper monitoring does not take place, and an injury occurs because of it, a negligent act has happened and the hospital is liable.

The number of staff that can be held accountable and for which a lawsuit can be filed may be restricted based upon their employment status, or role within the chain of command at the hospital. If the person who has breached the duty of care holds a position such as a nurse or other type of medical technician, the hospital can be held accountable and sue for negligence. That being said, if the negligence was committed by a contractor that is considered to be independent, the hospital cannot be held accountable, and the independent contractor only can be held liable. Many doctors independently contract with hospitals, and are not considered to be employees, so it is necessary to hire an attorney who can examine the details of your case in order to decide how to proceed, and who should be filed against.

All hospital malpractice claims start off in the same manner; a complaint is submitted to the court who oversees the jurisdiction. The complaint will spell out the details of the case, and will assert that the hospital was in fact negligent in performing the proper amount of care to the patient, which therefore resulted in injury or death. The complaint will also state that the patient or his or her family is entitled to receive compensation for these injuries.

Because the statute of limitations for filing hospital malpractice claims varies a great deal from state to state you should seek the advice of a professional malpractice attorney as soon as possible. In most cases, the time frame is one to four years from the time the incident occurred, however most states limit the filing time to two years. Because time is of the essence, you should not wait to consult with a professional. He or she can start compiling your case immediately and can collect all of the needed evidence to solidify your claim.

A hospital malpractice attorney can help you to recover damages to help secure your future. Because most injuries that result force patients to lose work, suffer permanent disabilities, lose quality of life, and even experience substantial out of pocket expenses, you need someone with experience working hard on your side to get you the justice you deserve.

You cannot file a claim on your own, and you should never try to do so. A professional medical malpractice attorney will assume your case, work on all the details for you, and allow you the time needed to heal and move on with your life. You should not settle for less than you deserve or risk being a victim twice. Hospitals and medical professionals have plenty of attorneys working hard on their side and so should you.

For information on medical malpractice lawyers & attorneys, visit the Philadelphia law firm website FeldmanShepherd.com.

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Electric Hospital Beds

Good sleep is required for a patient to recover from whatever condition he or she is currently and comes from being in a good hospital bed. The inability of the hospital bed to provide the much needed musculoskeletal support and comfort to the patient will hinder quality rest and, therefore, a fast recovery.

During the course of your confinement in a hospital, you need a hospital bed that is able to provide adequate support. A hospital bed with a mattress that is either too firm or too soft can cause you back pain, neck pain, and cramping, making your hospital experience miserable.

Electric hospital beds are advantageous in all cases as they offer the much needed comfort sought by patients. With electric hospital beds, the switching and adjusting of the head and leg positions are easy to make. The patient can therefore adjust the bed to his or her preferred position, allowing for the most comfort possible.

Types of Electric Hospital Beds

A semi-electric hospital bed contains electric control buttons to raise and lower the head and feet and a manually operated crank for raising and lowering the bed.

A full-electric hospital bed does every single task with just a click of a button. Thus, the patient is allowed a full control of the bed.

Both beds have their advantages and disadvantages. For example, a full-electric bed allows the patient to make himself as comfortable as possible by adjusting his bed with just the click of a button. However, during a power outage, a manually adjusted bed would be more desirable.

Hospital Beds [http://www.e-HospitalBeds.com] provides detailed information on Hospital Beds, Electric Hospital Beds, Used Hospital Beds, Adjustable Hospital Beds and more. Hospital Beds is affiliated with Animal Hospitals [http://www.i-Hospitals.com].

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Getting Well - Your Hospital Stay

If you or a loved one is soon to be in the hospital, you can reduce the stress and confusion with some good planning and record keeping. Before the hospitalization, during and then after release, there are questions to ask and answers to record. You might want to keep your health care information in the same place you store your important legal documents.

You will want to have a list of the medicines you are taking, and you will want to keep track of answers to questions you have about your care and treatment. If you are not able to act as your own best health care advocate, it is good to designate someone who can. Also, to make the hospital stay more comfortable, you may want to bring things from home, such as books, slippers, and a robe.

There will be questions that you need to ask so that you can make informed health care decisions. You will want to know the names of the doctors that have treated you in the hospital; tests that were performed and with what results; the diagnosis, in medical and layperson's terms; the prognosis for your condition or disease; any new medicines that are prescribed; possible side effects of proposed treatment; and information about any appropriate clinical trials.

It is especially important to keep track of medicines prescribed before, during, and upon release from the hospital. Make a note of when medicines are first prescribed, when dosages are adjusted, and all medicines that are discontinued. By keeping track of your current prescriptions, you will prevent being over- or under-medicated or even having medication interactions.

When you are scheduled to be discharged from the hospital, there will be a "discharge meeting." The discharge planner coordinates ordering equipment, home health services, outpatient therapy, and many other services. The planner will make sure that the doctor has issued prescription orders for all services you need. It is a good idea to attend the discharge meeting (or have someone attend on your behalf) so that your needs may be more fully addressed.

Also at the discharge meeting it will be decided if you will go home, or to some other facility. You may be placed in a rehabilitation hospital, a skilled nursing facility, an assisted living residence, or home with help from a caretaker, family member or friend.

A rehabilitation hospital is where they have an intensive therapy program-often several hours a day of therapy. This is a place patients are sent when they are too "well" for the hospital but not yet strong enough to return home. Another option for care between the hospital and the home setting is a skilled nursing facility, which will usually offer some rehabilitation services.Sometimes, you will need more help than you can get at home, and you will be released to an assisted living facility.

Issues of your mobility can be assessed at the hospital, especially if you request it. Many people leaving the hospital will have specialized equipment for their recovery period. Beyond a wheelchair and walker, there are other items of durable medical equipment that help with accessibility and mobility, such as grab bars, raised toilet seats, and railings for the bathroom. Many of these items will be provided for you to use while you are admitted to a rehabilitation hospital, skilled nursing facility or assisted living facility.

Additional details will be needed if you are going from the hospital to your home. Will your necessary equipment be there already? Will you be able to reach all rooms or areas in your home? Will your home need modifications so that you can access all areas of it? If you ask questions in advance, adjustments can be made so that your return home goes more smoothly. While a hospital stay is never looked forward to, with some planning, asking the right questions, and recording information, the stay may be less stressful. Further, when you have adequate information about your health and your treatment options, you can make more informed decisions and feel more in control of your life and your health.

Smalltown Duo, owned by Sibyl Day and Mary Benson, specializes in medical and legal books for consumers. They publish a popular book called "What Did the Doctor Say? A Guide for Leaving the Hospital." The book covers topics such as questions to ask about your diagnosis, medications, doctor visits, and avoiding common medical errors. If you or someone you know will soon be in the hospital, this book helps with every step of the way. For more information, visit their website at www.SmalltownDuo.com.

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Hospital and Medical Tourism in Singapore

'Singapore' is the next big buzzword in the ever evolving global medical tourism industry

Singapore is no longer just the leisure or business destination. With a population of 4.5 million, strong workforce of skilled doctors and some best state-of-the-art hospitals Singapore is fast positioning itself as a global medical tourism hub. Approximately 200,000 overseas patients visit Singapore every year and the hospitals are targeting to increase the numbers manifold, to serving one million foreign patients annually by 2012 and generate USD 3 billion in revenue.

Medical tourism can be broadly defined as the service of providing of cost-effective private medical care in collaboration with the tourism industry for patients requiring surgical and other forms of specialized treatment. Singapore's healthcare services are built on a foundation of world class quality, safety and trustworthiness, coupled with advanced research and international accreditation, and is Asia's leading medical hub.

Eleven hospitals and medical centres in Singapore have obtained Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation. Quite a few of them are ISO-9001-2000 certified as well.

Patients mostly come from neighbouring countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Burma, etc. However, patient numbers from India, China, the Middle East and Africa to Singapore is witnessing fast growth. Over the past few years patients from developed countries such as United States and Europe also have been choosing Singapore as their medical travel destination for relatively affordable quality and yet hassle free healthcare services in a clean cosmopolitan city.Singapore made news for many complex and innovative procedures such as the separation of conjoined twins and tooth-in-eye surgery. The successful separation of the

10-month-old Nepalese conjoined twins in 2001 puts Singapore's medical expertise onto the World's headlines. Singapore has since accomplished many more milestones both in Asia and in the world arena.

In the year 2006, many Singapore Hospitals have got accredited themselves through Joint Commission International (JCI), a US-based organisation. This could be a reason why JCI has chosen to set up its Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore in 2006. Singapore Hospitals may look towards other European or Asian-based systems of hospital accreditation in an attempt to enhance their brand equity.

Some top Singapore based hospitals are:

1) Alexandra Hospital

Established in the year 1938, this hospital served as one of the prime hospitals for the British Empire in the Far East and was known as the British Military Hospital. Once the World War II ended and even till the 1970s, Alexandra remained to be one of the most modern and well maintained hospitals. More information..

2) Changi General Hospital

Is one of the largest hospitals in Singapore. Its present facilities at Simei were started in the year 1998. It was formed as a result of an amalgamation of two well known hospitals, the Changi Hospital and the Toa Payoh Hospital. The hospital can therefore trace its roots back to the year 1957, when the Thomson Road Hospital began construction More information..

3) National University Hospital

Is a hospital in Singapore that is located next to the medical faculty of the National University of Singapore at Kent Ridge. Besides being a teaching hospital for the university, it also acts as a research centre. This hospital specialises in Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Ophthalmology among others. More information..

4) National Cancer Centre Singapore

The National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) is a national and regional centre directed at the prevention and treatment of different cancers including those involving the breast, stomach, lung, liver, pancreas, lymphomas and head and neck cancers. More information..

5) eMenders Singapore

eMenders is a group of Singapore-based Physicians and surgeon representing more than 25 different branches of medicine and dentistry

A top medical tourism provider which facilitates patient treatment and travel is:

MedicalSingapore is one of Singapore's top health tourism service provider. MedicalSingapore links the space between patients in UK, Europe, USA, Middle East and the health service providers in Singapore. They arrange for treatment, stay and travel in Singapore.

Visit: Medical tourism in India and Singapore medical treatment for visa, stay and air-travel in Singapore.

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Medical Malpractice - Injured in a NYC Hospital - How Much Time Do I Have To File A Claim?

You've been injured while in a City-owned, municipal hospital. Not just any hospital in New York City... a municipal hospital. It's extremely important to learn how much time you have to file a claim against the hospital, and how much time you have to file a lawsuit. If you don't file in a timely fashion, you'll likely never be able to bring a claim for your injuries.

First, here are a list of municipal hospitals in New York City:

Bellevue Hospital Center

Coler-Goldwater Specialty Hospital and Nursing Facility Franklin D. Roosevelt Island

Gouverneur Healthcare Services

Harlem Hospital Center

Metropolitan Hospital Center

Renaissance Health Care Network Diagnostic & Treatment Center

Jacobi Medical Center

Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center

Morrisania Diagnostic & Treatment Center

North Central Bronx Hospital

Segundo Ruiz Belvis Diagnostic & Treatment Center

Coney Island Hospital

Cumberland Diagnostic & Treatment Center

East New York Diagnostic & Treatment Center

Kings County Hospital Center

Dr. Susan Smith McKinney Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center

Elmhurst Hospital Center

Queens Hospital Center

Generally, you have only 90 days from the date of the malpractice within which to file a claim against the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (that corporation is technically the entity that owns and is responsible for these municipal health care facilities).

If for some reason you have missed the deadline to file a claim, there are certain limited exceptions that might allow you to file your claim late. However, in order to do this, your lawyer will have to ask a Court for special permission to file late, and there are specific legal reasons why your case might be accepted even though it is late, and many reasons why it will not be accepted.

The important point to remember is that if you even suspect that something was done wrong at a municipal hospital within the City of New York (that means within the 5 boroughs, New York, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and The Bronx) you must contact an experienced medical malpractice lawyer immediately in order to protect your rights to bring a claim and then a lawsuit.

In the State of New York, you must file a claim that is timely FIRST, before you can ever file a lawsuit. This requirement applies only to cases against a municipal hospital and also a State-owned hospital. This does not apply to a private hospital. This is known as a 'pre-requisite'. Your claim must be filed first, and then you have a limited time in which to start your lawsuit.

Typically, you have only one year and 90 days from the date of the malpractice within which to start your lawsuit against the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation. There are very few exceptions to this rule.

**THIS IS IMPORTANT!** Even though this information is accurate as of the time of this writing (November 26, 2007) you must consult an experienced New York medical malpractice attorney to confirm that it is still accurate at the time you believe you have a claim.

Importantly, you cannot wait years to bring a claim or a lawsuit against one of the hospitals listed above. You must act immediately. As always, speak to a qualified lawyer who handles cases similar to yours before making any decision about the time to file a claim and the time to start a lawsuit. Being an informed consumer will make you a better client and help you understand how the legal system works.

Gerry Oginski is an experienced medical malpractice and personal injury trial attorney practicing law in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, New York, Staten Island, Nassau & Suffolk. He has tirelessly represented injured victims in all types of medical malpractice and injury cases for over 19 years. As a solo practitioner he is able to devote 100% of his time to each individual client. A client is never a file number in his office.

Take a look at Gerry's website http://www.oginski-law.com and read his free special reports on malpractice and accident law. Read actual testimony of real doctors in medical malpractice cases. Learn answers to your legal questions. We have over 200 FAQs to the most interesting legal questions. Read about his success stories. Read the latest injury and malpractice news. I guarantee there's something for you. See Gerry's website at http://www.oginski-law.com Call him at 516-487-8207.

Also, go over to http://medicalmalpracticetutorial.blogspot.com for Gerry's free instructional videos on malpractice & accident law.

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Surgery at Academic Versus Private Hospitals

Do you need to undergo surgery? Do you have a choice of hospitals or surgeons to take care of you? If so, you probably have many questions and concerns about what is your best course of action. Facing surgery of any type can be quite frightening and stressful for many people. Putting your health in someone else's hands can be quite a leap of faith.

One of the largest concerns many people have is whether to choose a private or academic hospital for their care. While both are potentially excellent there can be some differences. The following comparison is a generalization. Not all academic or private hospitals are the same so you should investigate your own options as well.

Academic Versus Private Hospitals: What is the difference?

Generally, academic hospitals are teaching institutions. They are often associated with some university or other school system, although there are exceptions. What defines them is that academic training and/or research are conducted at these centers. This means that medical students, interns, residents and/or fellows may be involved in the care of patients.

A private hospital is one which is privately owned and operated. While there can be academic private hospitals, a purely private hospital does not generally train students, residents or fellows. Therefore, all your care is provided by physicians who have completed their training, along with nurses and/or physician assistants.

What are the advantages of a private hospital?

Private hospitals are often run very efficiently. Therefore, operating room schedules, clinics and other care is generally more prompt and efficient. Additionally, your surgeon and/or other physicians are all finished with their training. No students or physician trainees are involved in your care. Many patients find this to be an important point, but it is not always necessarily better, as will be discussed shortly. Finally, most large private medical centers are very efficient and skilled at treating "bread and butter" cases which are performed frequently. For example, general surgical procedures like an appendectomy or laproscopic cholecystectomy are often performed hundreds or thousands of times a year and are therefore done very well with a low rate of complications.

What are the advantages of an academic hospital?

Academic hospitals are often large medical centers with a full range of sub-specialties covered. Because of the number of physicians who have specialized interests in various areas you can often find the leaders of each field in an academic setting. Because of this sub-specialization and the resources available to a large academic center, many rare and complex cases are referred to them. For this reason, academic centers often have a larger clinical volume and therefore more experience with treatment of these difficult cases. For example, whereas a neurosurgeon at a small private hospital may only perform a few of a given procedure a year, a specialized neurosurgeon at an academic institution may see dozens or hundreds of that type of case.

Studies have shown that the outcomes and rate of complications with a given surgical procedure is strongly related to the experience and volume of such cases treated at a given institution. Therefore, outcomes are more likely to be better with fewer complications when a procedure is performed by an experienced team which has performed many of those procedures. For complex surgical procedures, most academic hospitals have superior volumes of such cases. There are exceptions of course, with some private hospitals supporting a large volume of complex cases in a particular area of specialization.

Finally, while some people would consider medical trainees a disadvantage, there are some advantages to having medical students and residents involved in your care to consider. Academic hospitals often have one or more resident and/or medical student on call and in the hospital at all times. They are responsible for the minute to minute care of patients on their service. The advantage of this can be that you may have more regular attention from a physician. In some private hospitals, physicians may not be as available, particularly during off-hours. Therefore, some people feel the continuity of care and the availability of doctors is greater in some academic institutions.

You must remember that faculty surgeons are often very busy individuals, pulled frequently in multiple directions. In a private setting they may be spread thing, without residents to back them up. In an academic setting, the resident team manages the patients day in and day out and therefore are often much more in tune with the minute to minute and day to day issues that may arise in your care. Knowing that you have a strong team caring for you may be comforting to many patients.

In the end, if you have a choice, you must go with what feels best to you. If you do not have first hand experience with a particular hospital or physician, ask someone who does. Ask how their care was conducted. What was the availability of physicians? How much of their care was through nurses, physician assistants, medical students, residents or others and was the care thorough and attentive? Only you know what form of care you will feel most comfortable with so go with your gut instinct. After all, your comfort during your surgery and hospitalization are most important.

Josh Dusick is the editor of Nervous System Diseases, at http://www.nervous-system-diseases.com, your guide to diseases of the neurological system, providing an in depth introduction that is understandable even if you do not have a background in science or medicine.

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Hospitality Management Schools - Your Key to a New Career?

Looking for a new career? Hospitality Management Schools prepare students for careers in the restaurant industry as well as luxury hotels, motels, resorts, spas, hospitals and more.

Food and beverage, catering, marketing, and sales may be included in hospitality management classes. Four-year Hospitality Management Schools offer Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management (BSHM), Master of Science in Hospitality Management (MSHM), and Executive Master of Science in Hospitality Management Degree (MSEHM) Programs, as well as Certificate Programs for specializations in various Hotel, Restaurant, Hospitality, Travel and Tourism.

Business colleges and universities often offer hospitality management and tourism programs with the same core courses as other business degrees. Program in hospitality management provide specific courses and have explicit work experience requirements.

Some bachelor degree programs in hospitality management are designed for students who looking for opportunities to advance their careers in hospitality fields. Degrees allow for specialization in upper levels of the hospitality industry in areas of food and beverage services, marketing, business management, human resources, and others.

Master level hospitality management may include areas of entrepreneurship, marketing management, information systems, operations management, and investment. Courses provide skills and knowledge for upper-level positions in areas of the industry that individual students find most appropriate to their career interests. Hospitality management employees may realize opportunities for discounts in lodging and restaurants, which attracts some to this industry.

Hospitality management positions may be found in large and small hotels, motels, and restaurants. Establishments may be commercial, resort, or residential. Hotels and motels of larger sizes will often have banquet rooms and ballrooms to accommodate business meetings, conventions, wedding receptions, and various other gatherings.

If you are interested in learning more about Hospitality Management Schools and positions in this industry, please search our site for additional information and resources.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved by Media Positive Communications, Inc., Managing Organization for SchoolsGalore.com

Notice to Publishers: Please feel free to use this article in your Ezine or on your Website; however, ALL links must remain intact and active.

Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. Find more on a Hospitality Management Education or look for Online Hospitality Management Programs at SchoolsGalore.com; meeting your needs as your educational resource to locate schools.

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