An Early Discharge from the Hospital Could Lead to Future Problems

 Posted on September 11,2018 in Medical Malpractice

Anyone who has spent time in a hospital can tell you the relief they felt when they were discharged and allowed to go home. Even those staying in a hospital for a short time can start to feel homesickness and grow intolerable of the bustle and noise of a busy hospital. Although they can be uncomfortable, hospital stays are often a requirement for patients requiring round-the-clock care for more serious illnesses and injuries.

To most patients, the news that they get to leave the confines of a hospital bed and return home is met with happiness. After all, if they are allowed to go home, their condition must have improved dramatically. Patients assume that the doctors and nurses on staff at the hospital would never discharge someone who was not well enough to go home. The tragic reality is that doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals do make mistakes and sometimes patients who are not ready to leave the hospital are discharged anyway.

Questionable Early Hospital Discharges Put Lives in Danger

Even hospitals which are not-for-profit must rely on income generated through medical services. Hospitals must constantly find ways to save on costs. Many experts believe that cost-cutting efforts and other factors have caused an increase in patients being discharged from the hospital too soon. Sometimes, patients who are simply staying in the hospital to be observed are discharged quickly in order to create space for patients who need more intensive care or many diagnostic tests. Early hospital discharge can lead to worsened medical conditions and unnecessary pain and suffering. Early discharges that result in injuries to the patient can often open the door to medical malpractice claims.

Injury Attorneys Representing Medical Malpractice Victims in Winnebago County

Many times, when patients are discharged from a hospital or other healthcare facility too soon, they experience serious medical issues or injuries once they are home. Often, these problems would not have occurred if the patient had stayed in the hospital.

If you were discharged from the hospital too soon and have suffered as a result, a medical malpractice claim can allow you to receive financial compensation for the damages caused by the hospital’s negligence. The Rockford medical malpractice attorneys at Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Injury Law, have over 20 years of experience successfully representing clients across Illinois. To schedule your free, initial consultation, call us today at 815-215-7561.

Sources:

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/patient-advice/articles/2015/01/29/sent-home-too-soon-the-difficult-art-of-hospital-discharge

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/14/revenue-driven-hospitals-patients_n_1514570.html