Author: davidlhood

Medical record errors can be dangerous, even deadly! What’s so big about a small mistake in a medical record? It turns out, little errors can lead to huge problems.

Why Do You Need to Have Access to Your Medical Records?

Why is it so important to have access to your medical records, and to pay close attention to what is contained in them?

Here’s a scary statistic: “The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology estimates that nearly 1 in 10 people who access records online end up requesting that they be corrected for a variety of reasons.”

The best-case scenarios are those in which the errors don’t actually cause any damage, like incorrect contact information for a patient, causing bills to be sent to the wrong address. Your family history may not be conveyed accurately, or maybe the records reflect a service a patient never received, for example, a stress test.

The worst-case scenario is an incorrect diagnosis or a delayed diagnosis which could result in death.

“Omissions from medical records – allergies that aren’t noted, lab results that aren’t recorded, medications that aren’t listed – can be equally devastating.” (KFFHealthNews.org)

Medical Record Errors – Actual Cases

Believe it or not, small errors in medical records can lead to huge health problems. Following are several real-life examples of what can potentially happen if you don’t retrieve and check your medical records:

Liz Tidyman’s elderly father had a fall and went to the hospital. Tidyman began looking at her father’s medical records and found “pages and pages of notes that referred to a different person with the same name – a person whose medical conditions were much more complicated and numerous than my father’s,” she said. (CNN Health)

Ms. Tidyman removed the pages with the errors and made a mental note to thoroughly check medical records in the future.

Later, her father’s doctors started asking about kidney cancer. Tidyman reviewed the records from her father’s recent ER visit and noticed that “renal cell carcinoma” (kidney cancer) was listed instead of “basal cell carcinoma” (skin cancer) – an illness her father had mentioned when explaining his medical history.

In another case, Pat Sheridan had surgery to remove a mass in his neck. The neurosurgeon reassured him that the tumor was benign, although he had yet to see the pathology report. In actuality, the pathology report showed he had synovial cell sarcoma (a type of cancer).

Six months later, Pat returned to the hospital in distress. The pathology omission was discovered at this time, but it was too late. The cancer had metastasized to his spinal canal, and he died 2 ½ years later. Pat’s death probably could have been prevented, if not for the delayed diagnosis.

In another instance, Dave deBronkart’s mother had to go for rehabilitation after a hip replacement. The records that accompanied her showed that she had an underactive thyroid when in fact she had an overactive thyroid. Thankfully, her family noticed the mistake and set the record straight to prevent her from being given the wrong medications.

It’s easy to see what kind of problems medical record errors like this can cause.

How to Retrieve Medical Records

The Health Insurance Portability and Accounting Act (HIPAA) of 1996 states that a patient has the right to obtain most of his/her medical records, in either electronic or paper form. (VeryWellHealth.com)

“These include doctor’s notes, medical test results, lab reports, and billing information.” (VeryWellHealth.com)

Ask for a request for medical records form at your doctor’s office. They should provide you with a form. Fill it out and return it back there, or deliver by fax, postal service, or email.

HIPAA requires, “… a covered entity must provide access to the [Protected Health Information] PHI no later than 30 calendar days from receiving the individual’s request.”

Keep a copy of your original request. If you have not received the documents within the 30 days, contact the provider, to be sure they have your request. If you fail to receive the records after repeated attempts, contact The SC Department of Health and Environmental Control at  803-898-DHEC (3432).

How Long Are Physicians Required to Keep Medical Records?

South Code of Law Section 44-115-120 states, “Physicians shall retain their records for at least ten years for adult patients and at least thirteen years for minors.”

Can Your Doctor Charge You for Medical Records?

Sometimes there is a charge for medical records. Price can vary but must be reasonable. In The Palmetto State, South Carolina Code of Laws Section 44-115-80 states that a physician, “may charge a fee for the search and duplication of a paper or electronic medical record,” up to a maximum amount allowed by this law.

Electronic Health Record System

What is an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system? Imagine a huge digital library that stores all the info about your health – like your doctor’s visits, any allergies you have, the medicines you take, and even the results from your last physical. EHRs are like a one-stop shop for doctors and nurses to find everything they need to know about your health. They’re useful because they make sharing your health information between different doctors a breeze.

Benefits:

• Quick Access – Doctors can quickly get your health info.
• Better Coordination – Different doctors can coordinate your care more easily.
• Less Paperwork – Say goodbye to filling out the same forms over and over!

Challenges:

• Possible Errors – Sometimes, mistakes in typing or uploading info can happen.
• Technical Issues – Like any computer system, EHRs can have glitches or crashes.

What to do if You Find a Mistake

“Most providers will agree to correct factual errors or track down reports that should have been maintained in your file…if you believe that that the refusal of a correction is unjust or places you in harm’s way, submit a complaint to the OCR [Office of Civil Rights] detailing the dispute. They can review the evidence and decide if the correction is warranted.” (VeryWellHealth)

In the world of health care, accurate medical records are like gold. They help doctors take better care of us. But it’s up to us to make sure they’re correct. Always remember to check your records and speak up if you find an error.

Contact The Law Offices of David L. Hood for a Free Medical Malpractice Consultation

If you or someone you care about has suffered because of medical negligence, please schedule your free consultation by calling the Law Offices of David L. Hood at (843) 491-6025 or filling out our brief online contact form.

We know how difficult it can be to deal with the immediate and long-term effects of a serious malpractice-related injury. At The Law Offices of David L. Hood, we work hard to make things simple for you. After a free case evaluation, if we believe we can help you and your family, Medical Malpractice Attorney David L. Hood, co-counsel, and our team of experts will vigorously pursue your case to get you the best result we can achieve. Let us put years of experience to work for you!

*Clients are not liable for any expenses, unless there is a recovery in their case; however, if there is a recovery in their case, clients will be liable for expenses. Attorney’s fees are based on a percentage of the recovery, which will be computed before deducting expenses.

Other helpful resources:

Your medical records rights in South Carolina (HIPAA): https://cyrss.com/docs/hipaa/StateHIP/sc.pdf

The Guide to Getting & Using Your Health Records:

https://www.healthit.gov/how-to-get-your-health-record/check-it/

Doctors abusing drugs: a subject that might sound surprising because doctors are the ones who help us when we’re sick. But, just like anyone else, doctors can face challenges too, and sometimes, those challenges involve drug abuse.

Doctors on Drugs: Understanding the Issue

When we think of doctors, we often picture people who are super knowledgeable about health and always ready to help others. But doctors are human too, and they can struggle with the same problems as everyone else, including drug abuse. In fact, the most common cause of impairment in physicians is addiction.

Doctors are more likely to misuse prescription drugs than their patients, studies suggest. “An estimated 10 percent of health care professionals abuse drugs — about the same rate as the general public.” (DrugRehab.com)

Addiction in Medical Professionals

Addiction in medical professionals is especially tricky and scary because it can not only affect the doctor’s health but also their ability to care for patients safely.

Why Doctors are Abusing Drugs

Doctors abuse drugs for various reasons:

• Increased drug availability, making them easily accessible
• To relieve stress
• Pain Management
• To treat anxiety and depression
• Recreational Use
• To avoid withdrawal symptoms from other substances

Which Medical Professionals are Most Addicted?

A study published in the Journal of Addictive Diseases compared drug use by different types of doctors, and found that psychiatrists and emergency room doctors use drugs the most, surgeons the least.

“The study also revealed:

• Emergency room doctors used the most illicit drugs
• Psychiatrists used the most benzodiazepines (like Valium & Xanax)
• Pediatricians had low rates of drug use
• Surgeons had low rates, except for tobacco smoking
• Anesthesiologists had high rates of opioid abuse

(DrugRehab.com)

A 2012 study found 15.4% of surgeons suffered from alcohol abuse. Female surgeons were more likely to exhibit symptoms of alcohol addiction than male surgeons. “The consequences of the alcohol problems were frightening. Surgeons who reported feeling burned out or depressed were the most likely to have an alcohol use disorder, as were surgeons who reported making a major medical error within the previous three months.” (renaissancerecovery.com)

How the general public can identify an impaired doctor or nurse:

• Smell of alcohol
• Excessive sweating
• Slurred speech or tremors
• Difficulty walking
• Lack of coordination
• Memory impairment

Why the Silence by Colleagues?

A 2010 study showed that 17% of 1,891 physicians who were surveyed knew of an impaired or incompetent doctor within the past three years. However, only 67% reported their colleagues to the proper authority. Physicians working in small practices are even less likely to report an incompetent colleague.

Reasons doctors gave for not reporting:

• They thought someone else was doing it
• They believed their reporting would not make a difference
• Fear of retribution
• They didn’t think it was their responsibility
• They didn’t want their colleague to get in trouble
• They didn’t know how to report it

Addicted Medical Professionals Seeking Help

In most states, addicted physicians can get help through a confidential Physician Health Program (PHP), which allows them to seek help without disclosing their identity to the National Practitioner Data Bank. Studies report that PHP’s are more successful than alternative plans. PHP’s offer a “full continuum of care and a detailed treatment plan backed by support groups such as AA or NA.” (DrugRehab.com, https://www.drugrehab.com/addiction/doctors/ ) The program is usually five years in duration, and is open to residents, nurses, physician assistants, dentists, pharmacists and veterinarians.

After Treatment, Can They Go Back to Work?

Physicians can return to work, “with proper monitoring, a solid addiction recovery program and enrollment in a PHP.” The PHP will ensure compliance by a physician using a contract.

The good news is a Mayo Clinic Study shows that physicians in recovery have between 74% and 90% abstinence rates. This is most likely due to their determination to keep their license.

It’s important to remember, most doctors are dedicated professionals who work hard to take care of their patients. However, doctors can face challenges and need support, just like the rest of us. Drug abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of how educated or successful one is.

Contact The Law Offices of David L. Hood for a Free Medical Malpractice Consultation

If you or someone you care about has suffered because of medical negligence, please schedule your free consultation by calling The Law Offices of David L. Hood at (843) 491-6025 or filling out our brief online contact form.

We know how difficult it can be to deal with the immediate and long-term effects of a serious malpractice-related injury. At The Law Offices of David L. Hood, we work hard to make things simple for you. After a free case evaluation, if we believe we can help you and your family, Medical Malpractice Attorney David L. Hood, co-counsel, and our team of experts will vigorously pursue your case to get you the best result we can achieve. Let us put years of experience to work for you!

*Clients are not liable for any expenses, unless there is a recovery in their case; however, if there is a recovery in their case, clients will be liable for expenses. Attorney’s fees are based on a percentage of the recovery, which will be computed before deducting expenses.

Homeschooling is on the rise in South Carolina, and it’s changing the way many kids and teens in the state are learning.

Technology and the internet have made homeschooling more accessible and varied, offering courses and learning experiences that might not be available in traditional schools.

Homeschooling on the Rise

Homeschooling means getting your education at home instead of going to a traditional public or private school.

In the US, homeschooling may be the fastest growing form of education.

The Washington Post set out to find answers on why this boom has taken place. The Home-School Nation project is based on data from 32 states and the District of Columbia. The data represents over 60% of school age children in the US.

In 390 of the districts surveyed: For the 2021-22 school year, out of every 10 children in public schools, there was at least one child being homeschooled. “That’s roughly quadruple the number of districts that had rates that high in 2017-18.” (WashingtonPost.com)

The National Home Education Research Institute’s (NHERI) latest data shows that in 2019, there were approximately 2.5 million students being homeschooled. But in 2021-22, there were closer to 3.1 million children being homeschooled. “The homeschool population had been growing at an estimated 2% to 8% per annum over the past several years, but it grew drastically from 2019-20 to 2020-21.” (NHERI.org)

Why Do Parents Choose Homeschooling?

A Washington Post-Schar School poll asked homeschooling parents the question, “Thinking about some specific reasons, did your family choose to home-school this child because…”

The top five reasons were:

• Concern about school environment
• To provide moral instruction
• Dissatisfaction with academic instruction at schools
• Concern about school shootings
• Concern about bullying

Some of the other reasons ranged from the child having special needs (behavioral or otherwise) that couldn’t be met at a brick-and-mortar school, to parents wanting to provide religious instruction.

Homeschooling on the Rise in South Carolina

In South Carolina, families have been choosing homeschooling more and more for its flexibility and the ability to tailor the learning to each student’s needs.

We have seen a huge increase in the number of families choosing to homeschool in the last few years. “Out of the 32 states and the District of Columbia from which The Washington Post was able to collect data, South Carolina ranked 18^th for the growth rate of home schooling.” In The Palmetto State, the number of children being homeschooled since the 2017-18 school year has increased by 49%! In Anderson, SC there was a 373% increase! (TheState.com)

3.6% of all students in SC are homeschooled, according to the National Home Education Research Institute.

How Does Homeschooling Work in South Carolina?

In South Carolina, homeschooling doesn’t mean you’re just on your own. There are laws and guidelines to make sure homeschooled students get a solid education. For example, you need to learn certain subjects and get a certain amount of instruction each year. But within those rules, there’s a lot of room to customize how and what you learn.

Families might use online courses, textbooks, community resources, or even get together with other homeschooling families to share experiences and lessons. It’s a bit like building your own adventure in learning.

The Benefits and Challenges of Homeschooling

Homeschooling can be pretty awesome. Students often get one-on-one attention, can learn at their own pace, and explore subjects they’re really interested in. They might also have more flexible schedules, which can be great for traveling or pursuing hobbies and sports more seriously.

But it’s not all easy. Homeschooling can be a lot of work for parents, who are often the teachers, too. And some students might miss the social side of traditional schools, like extracurricular activities or just hanging out with a big group of friends at lunchtime.

What’s Next?

As homeschooling continues to grow in South Carolina, we might see even more resources and support for families who choose this path. Technology will likely play a big role, with more online classes and learning tools becoming available. And who knows? The way we think about school and learning might keep changing in exciting ways.

So, whether your children are homeschooled, in public school, or private school, remember learning can happen anywhere and everywhere. It’s all about finding what works best for you!

Whether your child is homeschooled, in Montessori, public or private school, the need for emergency rooms and hospitals that are specifically geared to handle children is critical information for all families in South Carolina. To learn more, check out our blog Pediatric Emergency Care is Lacking in America.

Contact The Law Offices of David L. Hood for a Free Medical Malpractice Consultation

If your child is the victim of a tragic accident which wasn’t their fault, contact The Law Offices of David L. Hood for your free, confidential initial consultation. We also focus on medical malpractice and wrongful death cases. With 18 locations across South Carolina to serve you, we’re never too far away. Contact us today. To get in touch with us, you can call our offices at (843) 491-6025 or email us here. There’s no obligation – You have questions, we have answers!

Pediatric Emergency Care is Lacking in America. Some hospitals in the US aren’t fully prepared to treat kids in emergencies. Why is this a big deal?

Pediatric Emergency Care: The Current Situation

Imagine your child breaking their arm while playing soccer, or having a sudden allergic reaction to something they ate. You would rush them to the closest emergency room, right? But here’s the kicker: not all emergency rooms are fully ready to treat kids. Children aren’t just tiny adults; they have unique medical needs and require specialized care.

Hundreds of children are injured or even die each year in the US after being taken to poorly prepared emergency rooms.

The Wall Street Journal found that “only about 14% of emergency departments nationwide have been certified as ready to treat kids, or are children’s hospitals specializing in treating young patients.”

Heartbreaking Stories

You may be wondering, “Why does this matter?” Some children in America, including in South Carolina, have been injured or have tragically passed away because the emergency care they received wasn’t up to par.

Here are a couple of cases:

A three-year-old was suffering a seizure when she was rushed to the hospital. The doctor wanted to install a breathing tube. The breathing tube handed to the doctor by staff was too large for the toddler.

Because a child’s airways are smaller than an adults’, and the breathing tube must be positioned differently, intubating a toddler can be especially tricky for a doctor who does not specialize in pediatrics. Children also lose oxygen more quickly than an adult, so intubation needs to happen fast.

After the doctor could not intubate with the adult tube, he tried multiple times with smaller tubes and failed. The toddler lost too much oxygen and her heart stopped.

CPR was attempted, but once again, staff used adult drug doses. She was finally stabilized but had gone without oxygen for too long. Sadly, she passed away several days later.

Preventable Life Altering Injury

In another case, a 4-year-old went to the ER for stomach pain and vomiting. Emergency staff gave him Tylenol and apple juice. They did not order an x-ray of his bowel until four hours later. They had planned to send him home before the x-ray results even came back!

Once they got the x-ray results, he was rushed to a children’s hospital, where he was diagnosed with intussusception, a crumpled bowel. Doctors who do not specialize in pediatrics will sometimes mistake intussusception in a child with constipation or a stomach virus. If caught early, intussusception is easily cured.

Because it took so long to diagnose him, the boy’s oxygen dropped to a dangerous level, and he went into septic shock. In the operating room, his heart stopped. He ended up needing multiple surgeries on his bowel and lungs. He suffered long-term lung damage, and has been hospitalized several times for pneumonia, caused by the lung damage. (WSJ.com)

These are just a couple of examples: reasons why we need to spread awareness about the importance of pediatric emergency care readiness.

The Pediatric Readiness Project: A Ray of Hope

To tackle this issue, there’s a nationwide effort called the “Pediatric Readiness Project.” This project aims to ensure that every emergency room is prepared to give the best care to children. Hospitals are being evaluated on how well-equipped they are, from having the right-sized medical tools for children to training doctors and nurses to deal with pediatric emergencies.

“Steps that research has shown E.R.s should do to be ready to take proper care of children:

• Doctor coordinator for pediatric emergency care
• Nurse coordinator for pediatric emergency care
• Staff are tested periodically on pediatric care skills, such as resuscitation
• Careful monitoring of quality and safety markers specific to children
• Child-specific protocols, such as identifying abnormal pediatric vital signs
• Written all-hazard disaster plan that accounts for children
• Evidence-based decision support tools available to doctors in real time
• Written agreements for where and when to transfer young patients
• Safety measures, such as only weighing children in kilograms to avoid confusion, and using guides that pre-calculate drug doses
• Stocking child-sized equipment and medications important for children, and training staff on where to find them

Source: Pediatric Readiness in the Emergency Department Checklist produced by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Emergency Physicians, Emergency Nurses Association and Emergency Medical Services for Children Innovation and Improvement Center, 2021.”(WSJ.com)

How Can You Make Sure Your Child is Safe When There’s an Emergency?

“In 1994, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) obtained federal grant funding to integrate the special treatment needs of pediatric patients into the state’s EMS and hospital systems. This program became the South Carolina EMS for Children (SC EMSC) program.”(SCDHEC.gov)

This link will give you information on which South Carolina hospitals have been awarded pediatric-ready certificates. These are hospitals that have voluntarily applied for a certificate.

South Carolina hospitals that specialize in pediatrics along with their websites:

MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital (Charleston) https://locations.musckids.org/sc/charleston/10-mcclennan-banks-drive-fac151utm_source=Yext&utm_medium=Listings&utm_campaign=WebsiteClicksFacility

Prisma Health Children’s Hospital (Columbia) https://prismahealthchildrens.org/locations/hospitals/childrens-hospital-midlands

Prisma Health Children’s Hospital (Greenville) https://prismahealthchildrens.org/locations/hospitals/childrens-hospital-upstate

Shriners Hospital for Children (Greenville) https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/en/locations/greenville

McLeod Children’s Hospital (Florence) https://www.mcleodhealth.org/services/care/childrens-hospital/

Stay Informed: Share this information with your friends and family. Awareness is the first step towards change.

Support Local Hospitals: Find out if your local hospital is a part of the Pediatric Readiness Project. If not, write to the hospital management or local representatives, stressing the importance of pediatric emergency care.

Safety First: Have your children practice safety guidelines in sports, be aware of food allergies, and always require them to wear helmets and seat belts.

Every Child Deserves the Best Care

Every child, whether in The Palmetto State or any other part of America, deserves the best emergency care. By staying informed, supporting the Pediatric Readiness Project, and taking safety precautions, we can all play a part in ensuring a safer future for our children.

Stay safe, stay aware, and remember that every voice can make a difference!

Contact The Law Offices of David L. Hood for a Free Medical Malpractice Consultation

If you, your child, or someone else you care about has suffered because of medical negligence, please schedule your free consultation by calling The Law Offices of David L. Hood at (843) 491-6025 or filling out our brief online contact form.

We know how difficult it can be to deal with the immediate and long-term effects of a serious malpractice-related injury. At The Law Offices of David L. Hood, we work hard to make things simple for you. After a free case evaluation, if we believe we can help you and your family, Medical Malpractice Attorney David L. Hood, co-counsel, and our team of experts will vigorously pursue your case to get you the best result we can achieve. Let us put years of experience to work for you!

*Clients are not liable for any expenses, unless there is a recovery in their case; however, if there is a recovery in their case, clients will be liable for expenses. Attorney’s fees are based on a percentage of the recovery, which will be computed before deducting expenses.

The Surgical Safety Checklist helps keep patients safe and ensures that all the necessary steps are taken before, during, and after surgery.

When it comes to something as important as surgery, making sure everything goes smoothly is crucial. That’s why medical professionals use the Surgical Safety Checklist. Let’s explore what this checklist is all about and how it’s making a positive impact in South Carolina and around the world.

What is the Surgical Safety Checklist?

A Surgical Safety Checklist is like a to-do list for doctors, nurses, and other medical staff involved in a specific surgery. Just like you might use a checklist to remember what to pack for a trip, medical teams use this checklist to make sure they’re doing everything they can to keep patients safe during surgery. It includes important steps and things to check before surgery starts, during the surgery, and before the patient leaves the operating room.

Why is the Surgical Safety Checklist Important?

Imagine building a model airplane. You wouldn’t just start building without a plan, right? In the same way, doctors and nurses need a plan to make sure they’re doing everything right during surgery. The Surgical Safety Checklist helps them remember all the important steps, like making sure they have the right patient and the right body part, checking that all the equipment is ready, and making sure everyone in the room knows what’s happening.

Implementation in South Carolina

In South Carolina, hospitals and surgical centers are using the Surgical Safety Checklist to make surgeries even safer. This checklist has become standard practice in many medical facilities. When doctors and nurses follow the checklist, it reduces the chances of mistakes happening during surgery. This means better outcomes for patients and fewer complications after surgery.

Here’s an example. An operating room employee in SC noticed an expired date on an artificial ocular lens implant, just before a cataract surgery was to begin. No one checked the expiration date until 20 minutes before surgery.

Lorri Gibbons, vice president of quality and safety for the SC Hospital Association said, “If the expired implant had been used, the patient may have developed an infection and would have needed another surgery to replace the artificial lens.”

Gibbons said using the 19-point “Surgical Safety Checklist” prevented the dangerous mistake from being made. “They caught it just in time…This (checklist) has become such a good communication tool.” (The Post and Courier)

Global Impact of the Surgical Safety Checklist

The Surgical Safety Checklist isn’t just popular in South Carolina; it’s used all around the world. Medical professionals everywhere have realized how important it is to have a set of steps to follow to ensure patient safety. Countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia have also adopted this checklist as a standard procedure. It’s like a universal language that doctors and nurses can use to communicate and make sure everything is on track.

How Does the Surgical Safety Checklist Work?

• Before Surgery Starts:

Medical staff confirm the patient’s identity, the type of surgery, and any allergies the patient might have. They also make sure all the necessary equipment is ready.

• During Surgery:

The checklist helps the team communicate important updates during surgery. They check if the patient is positioned correctly, if the right body part is being operated on, and if any unexpected problems are happening.

• Before the Patient Leaves the Operating Room:

The team ensures that all steps of the surgery were completed successfully. They also discuss any concerns or special care the patient might need after surgery.

Why is the Surgical Safety Checklist needed?

Dena Knapp was scheduled for surgery to have an adrenal gland, along with a mass on the gland removed.

Later that same day, the surgeon was informed by the pathology department that he had removed the kidney, instead of the adrenal gland. However, two days later the surgeon told Knapp that he had not heard back from pathology yet.

Six days later, Dr. Baker informed Knapp that he had not gotten everything and that she would need to undergo a second surgery.

Knapp made the decision to go to a different hospital to have the second surgery, instead of returning to the same surgeon. A surgeon at the second hospital successfully removed the gland and mass. Knapp has filed suit against the first surgeon and his practice.

According to the lawsuit, “Knapp’s erroneous surgery resulted in an incurable and progressive kidney disease in her remaining kidney…she suffers from pain, fatigue, depression, and mental distress…further, since the erroneous surgery, Dena has been unable to perform many functions and has required replacement services to clean and maintain her home, the past and future cost of which is yet to be determined.” (USA Today)

With the Surgical Safety Checklist in play, everyone in the operating room would have known what body part was to be removed, and the mistake more than likely would not have happened.

The Safe Surgery South Carolina Program

Recently, South Carolina hospitals were asked to participate in a voluntary program to implement this World Health Organization (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist. In the hospitals that completed the study, South Carolina saw a 22% reduction in post-surgical deaths.

“In the Safe Surgery South Carolina program, all hospitals in the state were invited to participate in a voluntary, statewide effort to complete a twelve-step implementation program with Ariadne Labs that included customizing the checklist for the local setting, doing small-scale testing, and observing and coaching on checklist performance.” Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Fourteen hospitals (40% of the inpatient volume in the state) completed the study.

Post-surgery, “patients are at risk of complications and death from a variety of causes such as infection, hemorrhage, and organ failure.”

Findings of the Safe Surgery South Carolina program

Findings: Prior to implementation the post-surgery death rate in these 14 hospitals was 3.38% and decreased to 2.84%  after implementation. Mortality in the 44 hospitals that did NOT participate in the program was 3.5% , and then increased to 3.71%. That’s a 22% difference in mortality between the two groups!

“With these results, South Carolina offers a national model of best practices in implementing a team-based, communication checklist to drive quality improvement in the operating room.” Gibbons said, “None of us went into health care to hurt people and when it happens, it’s devastating personally, and professionally. And if something as simple as improving communication around the patient so that…everybody is more likely to say, we’re on the wrong leg or we’re hanging the wrong bag, that is what’s saving lives.” (Greenville News)

The Surgical Safety Checklist might seem like a simple tool. But it’s making a big difference in how surgeries are done. By following this checklist, doctors and nurses are working together to make sure patients stay safe and healthy. So, the next time you hear about someone having surgery, remember that behind the scenes, hopefully, there’s a checklist helping to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible.

Contact The Law Offices of David L. Hood For a Free Medical Malpractice Consultation

If you or someone you care about has suffered because of medical negligence, please schedule your free consultation by calling The Law Offices of David L. Hood at (843) 491-6025 or filling out our brief online contact form.

We know how difficult it can be to deal with the immediate and long-term effects of a serious malpractice-related injury. At The Law Offices of David L. Hood, we work hard to make things simple for you. After a free case evaluation, if we believe we can help you and your family, Medical Malpractice Attorney David L. Hood, co-counsel, and our team of experts will vigorously pursue your case to get you the best result we can achieve. Let us put years of experience to work for you!

*Clients are not liable for any expenses, unless there is a recovery in their case; however, if there is a recovery in their case, clients will be liable for expenses. Attorney’s fees are based on a percentage of the recovery, which will be computed before deducting expenses.