It’s official: after three years of new initiatives under the Affordable Care Act, the Obama Administration has announced a sharp decline in medical errors nationwide. Since 2011, the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have been working alongside hospitals to help strengthen safe practices and eliminate unnecessary risks in medical practices and procedures.
The Department of Health and Human Services claims that “hospital acquired” conditions in patients have declined roughly 17%—which amounts to 50,000 fewer deaths and $12 billion dollars.
These are incredibly encouraging numbers and it’s good news for any who find themselves trusting their health to doctors, nurses, and technicians at their local hospital. But what does this news mean for those who have suffered—or will suffer—due to negligence during a hospital stay?
More Evidence that Medical Negligence Is Preventable
If there’s anything the new report indicates, it’s that the negligent actions that lead medical malpractice suits are preventable and avoidable. By making a concentrated effort led by the government, medical professionals across the country found that keeping patients safer and healthier was well within their capabilities. For many, this report is just more proof that those suffering from medical malpractice are entitled to compensation for the undue injury they’ve sustained as part of a hospital stay.
It’s worth noting that there’s still a long way to go. This new report states that even with the reduction of incidents, hospitals were responsible for nearly 3.9 million injuries in 2013. So, while the news is mostly good, there are still potentially millions of patients who could be hurt.
If you or a loved one suffered an injury due to the actions of medical professional, then you have the right to pursue the necessary compensation. Contact The Law Offices of Dr. Michael M. Wilson, M.D., J.D. & Associates to speak with a proven Washington D.C. medical malpractice attorney today.
Dr. Michael M. Wilson is an attorney and a physician who earned his undergraduate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his legal and medical degrees from Georgetown University. He has focused in the area of medical malpractice for more than three decades and secured more than $100 million in settlements and verdicts on behalf of clients throughout the country. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and New York as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is listed in America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators.
