Improper Medical Recordkeeping
A hospital sees a massive amount of paperwork every day. With patients coming in and out of the hospital for emergency treatment as well as long-term care patients requiring check-ups and additional treatments, keeping track of these records can prove difficult. However, misinformation in a hospital can have a serious impact on a patient’s health. A lack of proper recordkeeping can lead to patients receiving the incorrect treatment, among other issues.
It is the responsibility of doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff to carefully monitor medical records to prevent mistakes. If a hospital staff member has failed in this duty to you, you can fight back. To discuss your legal options and rights if you have been injured because of a negligent physician or nurse, contact the Philadelphia medical negligence lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., today by calling 215-238-1130.
Causes for Recordkeeping Mistakes
A person staying in a hospital often receives treatment according to the information on his or her charts and reports. Thus, doctors or nurses following these charts can make medical errors based on faulty information in the patient’s medical record. This includes medical malpractice such as improper treatments that can cause severe injury to the patient.
Improper medical recordkeeping may be caused by the following issues:
- Loss of patient history information
- Lack of communication between doctors and nurses
- Lack of documentation after diagnosis
- Fatigue from long shifts
- Hurried emergency room or hospital setting
- Switching charts between patients
Unfortunately, most patients do not have the medical knowledge to recognize and correct a mistake until it is too late. Therefore, it is imperative that these medical records are correct and up-to-date.
Contact Us
If you have been injured while at the hospital due to mistakes with your medical records, there may be legal options available against the negligent healthcare provider. For more information, contact the Philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C., today at 215-238-1130.