Farmer, Cline & Campbell Personal Injury Lawyers | April 10, 2025 | Personal Injury
Each hospital aims to prevent medical malpractice and the personal injury claims that accompany negligence. To help avoid negligence that could result in catastrophic injuries, the Joint Commission, a leading national healthcare accreditation and certification organization, has created the seven national patient safety goals. Learn more about these.
1. Lower Patient Identification Mistakes
Hospitals must use at least two patient identifiers when providing any type of treatment. The industry standard for misidentification is between 8% and 10%, but a study reveals that the instances of identification errors are underreported. The Joint Commission now requires identifying patients using their name, birth date, or another factor.
2. Improve Communications
Improving safety and patient outcomes requires effective communication. Providers must have standardized approaches to communicating with other team members. This is essential at all times, but it’s especially so if there will be a care transition.
3. Improve Medication Safety
Hospitals need to prioritize the safety of high-alert medications. These medications are the ones that are most likely to cause patient harm if not used correctly. Personnel education, extensive monitoring, and stringent protocols can help prevent everything from allergic reactions to wrongful deaths.
4. Reduce Harm From Clinical Alert Systems
Clinical alert systems are in place in hospitals to warn caregivers of issues that may arise with intensive care patients, but they can also cause harm if staff members do not manage them correctly. Alarms must be accurate, never ignored, and responded to promptly. The alarms must improve patient safety, not put it at risk.
5. Reduce The Risk Of Hospital-Acquired Infections
Hospital-acquired infections are a significant concern that could delay a patient’s recovery and could even put their life in danger. The Joint Commission calls on hospitals to use evidence-based strategies to minimize the chances of infections.
These strategies involve using antimicrobials appropriately, continuously monitoring hospital infection rates and an unwavering focus on hygiene.
6. Identify Safety Risks In Its Patient Population
Patients who have been deemed to be a suicide risk need to be continuously monitored and placed in an environment where they won’t be exposed to anything that they could use to harm themselves. Performing environmental risk assessments, meticulously monitoring what comes into the patient’s room, and respecting secure transportation regulations are essential.
7. Improve Healthcare Equity
Tackling healthcare disparities is just as important for patient safety as the prevention of falls and medication errors. To be able to fix the problem, it must be identified and addressed with targeted interventions. Hospitals must have processes in place to detect and manage equity issues.
Your Options After Suffering Medical Negligence
Despite the Joint Commission’s best efforts, medical malpractice still occurs in hospitals, causing severe injuries and even deaths each year.
If you have sustained an injury because of medical negligence while receiving care in a hospital, you may be entitled to file a claim against the medical professional and, in some instances, the facility itself.
These are highly complicated cases that require an understanding of the laws regarding medical malpractice and experience negotiating with insurance companies. Filing a malpractice claim without an attorney is never a good idea.
Your lawyer will fight for the compensation you deserve after suffering injuries due to medical negligence. With their assistance, you can recover the losses you sustained and hold the liable parties accountable.
Contact the Personal Injury Law Firm of Farmer, Cline & Campbell Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
For more information, please contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at Farmer, Cline & Campbell Personal Injury Lawyers, to schedule a free initial consultation today. We have convenient locations in Charleston, Beckley, Morgantown, WV.
Farmer, Cline & Campbell Personal Injury Lawyers – Charleston
746 Myrtle Rd
Charleston, WV 25314
(304) 346-5990
Farmer, Cline & Campbell Personal Injury Lawyers – Beckley
101 N Kanawha St, Suite 101
Beckley, WV 25801
(304) 252-5990
Farmer, Cline & Campbell Personal Injury Lawyers – Morgantown
453 Suncrest Towne Centre Drive, Suite 300
Morgantown, WV 26505
(304) 225-5990
