In Which of the 25 Most Populous Counties Are People Most Likely to Die From Complications From Medical and Surgical Care?

When you visit a healthcare clinic or go into the hospital for surgery, you expect to receive the highest quality care. Unfortunately, there’s always the potential for medical mistakes. In some instances, these mistakes lead to fatal complications. Our team at Anapol Weiss chose to closely examine the statistics below to uncover potential reasons for the fatalities from medical complications in 25 of the most populous counties.

By AnapolWeiss.com

Why Are Fatality Rates Due to Surgical and Medical Complications So High in the 25 Most Populous Counties?

Part of the answer to the above question is in the question itself. The 25 counties listed on the chart have populations ranging from 1,513,562 in Suffolk County to 9,550,505 in Los Angeles County. Not surprisingly, the vast numbers of people living in these counties put a lot of stress on the healthcare system. Consider these five specific issues that contribute to the number of fatal surgical or medical complications in these counties:

Overwhelmed Healthcare Professionals

With so many people seeking healthcare in these counties, many doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals are pushed to exhaustion. Unfortunately, overwhelmed healthcare professionals are more likely to make medical mistakes. An exhausted doctor or nurse may forget to make an important note on a patient’s medical record before surgery, enter information on the wrong patient’s chart, or even use an incorrect abbreviation or code. If this type of mistake is missed, it can lead to a patient’s death due to a surgical or medical complication.

Poor Communication

Poor communication can happen in a variety of scenarios within a healthcare setting. For instance, a doctor may misunderstand a patient’s medical complaint by not taking the proper amount of time with them, resulting in a missed or incorrect diagnosis. A nurse finishing her shift may forget to convey critical information about a patient to the nurse replacing her on the floor, putting the patient at risk. A nurse and a doctor may give a patient conflicting information on how often to take prescribed medication. Poor communication in a healthcare setting doesn’t always result in medical or surgical complications, but the potential exists.

Ineffective Record-Keeping

Ineffective record-keeping can jeopardize patient safety in a healthcare facility. For example, when a nurse or other medical staff member doesn’t record all of a patient’s symptoms, it can result in an incorrect or delayed diagnosis, causing more health issues. An inconsistency between a patient’s written health record and their digital one can leave out essential medication information, putting that patient’s safety in peril. This leads to the following medical mistakes on the list.

Medication Errors

Patients in busy hospitals and clinics can fall victim to fatal drug interactions. If there is poor communication and/or ineffective record keeping, a doctor or nurse may be unaware of a patient’s current medications. Consequently, a new medication introduced at the healthcare facility may interact with the patient’s other medicines, causing dire results.

Surgical Instruments Left Behind

Surgical instruments or supplies left in the body are a surgery risk. A small sponge, a glove, or another surgical item can cause pain, severe infection, or even a medical error that results in death.

Three Practical Tips to Remember When Having Surgery

Now that you know some of the surgical and medical complications that can occur, consider some tips to give you peace of mind as a patient facing surgery.

Bring a family member or friend with you to the hospital.

Your loved one can ask the doctor questions on your behalf and take down important notes about aftercare and medications. Furthermore, the person can provide emotional support, helping you stay calm in anticipation of the surgery.

Be sure to ask all your questions before signing any forms.

Don’t feel rushed to sign forms given to you shortly before your surgery. Take your time reviewing them, ask questions about surgery risks, and bring any other concerns to the medical staff. The more informed you are about the process, the more at ease you’ll feel about the surgery.

Mark the area on your body where the surgery will be performed.

If you are having surgery on your left ear, mark it with a pen. Do the same for surgery involving your right arm, left leg, right hip, etc. Marking the area on your body where the surgery will take place may seem unnecessary, but why not make your procedure perfectly clear for all the medical staff? This simple action can go a long way to protecting you from wrong-site surgery.

When it comes to medical care, our skilled team of attorneys believes you deserve only the best. However, if you or a family member falls victim to medical malpractice in the U.S., we offer a range of legal services to assist you. Let us collaborate with you and leverage our expertise to successfully pursue a claim for you and your loved ones.

The 25 Most Populous Counties Ranked by the Rate of Deaths From Complications of Medical and Surgical Care