Denver Emergency Room Error Lawyers
Colorado Attorneys Protecting Patients Distressed By Long ER Wait Times
A 2004 study found that university-based hospital emergency rooms (ERs) were crowded 35% of the time. What did crowded mean? It meant all emergency room beds were occupied, some patients were on beds in hallways, the waiting room was full and it took more than an hour to receive treatment. Another report, from 2003, noted that more than a half-million ambulances were diverted from their normal ER destination to a secondary one because the first was full. In 2004, most city hospitals (70%) reported that diversions were necessary at least once during the year.
At Chalat Hatten & Koupal PC, our lawyers are skilled medical malpractice attorneys that are knowledgeable about the types and frequency of emergency room errors. We strive to gather all necessary information when building a case on your behalf. Our firm provides the one-on-one comprehensive representation you need if you or a loved one has been injured as the result of an emergency room error. Contact an attorney at our firm today to further discuss your situation and needs.
Medical Malpractice in Emergency Rooms
An analysis by researchers at the Cambridge Health Alliance and Harvard Medical School found that the median waiting time to see a physician in hospital emergency departments jumped from 22 minutes in 1997 to 30 minutes in 2004.
For the sickest heart attack patients wait times more than doubled, according to results published in the journal Health Affairs. In 1997, half of these patients got to see a doctor within eight minutes; in 2004, it took 20 minutes. For a quarter of the heart attack patients, the wait reached 50 minutes or more - a particularly disturbing lag, when every minute of delay increases the likelihood of death.
Slower treatment can also contribute to worsened conditions and slower or more difficult recoveries. Many studies show that high-stress, chaotic situations facilitate a mistake, misdiagnosis or medication error. One study revealed that 70% of adverse outcomes caused by negligence in hospital treatment occur in ERs.
Many hospitals employ emergency medicine specialists: medical doctors who specialize in emergency care. These ER doctors diagnose and treat many medical emergencies, although they often refer people to other health professionals for further treatment. Many emergency medicine doctors - though not all - are board-certified through the Board of Emergency Medicine, which is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.
To learn more about the emergency room error that has caused your injuries, contact a Colorado emergency room error lawyer at Chalat Hatten & Koupal PC. Our attorneys' fees are charged as a percentage of any award or settlement won by our clients. If we fail to win your case, you are under no obligation to pay our attorneys' fees.
