Cook County Hospital & Delays in Treatment
Cook County Hospital (also known as John Stroger Hospital) has one of the largest and busiest emergency rooms (ER) in Illinois, with a projected annual ER capacity of 124,000 patients per year. Despite opening a new facility in December 2002 to help with the large volume of ER patients, the Cook County hospital continues to experience crowding and a limited number of beds to accommodate all of the patients who require overnight stays. It is not uncommon for patients to line the hallways of the Cook County ER, waiting to see a doctor. It is estimated that 40% of the Cook County hospital's emergency room patients wait up to 6 hours or more to be seen by an attending physician.
At many hospitals, triage nurses and hospital staff are responsible for prioritizing the patients and determining who needs to be evaluated first by the ER doctor. Unfortunately, sometimes the seriousness of a patient's condition may not be recognized and mistakes can be made. A delay in treatment can worsen a patient's condition, and in the worst case scenario, result in death.
Types of Emergency Room ErrorsWhen the following conditions exist anywhere - overcrowding, lack of beds and overworked and undertrained staff -emergency room errors can occur. Two of the most common types of ER mistakes are failure to diagnose and failure to treat.
Types of Emergency Room Errors
Failure to treat: when the physician or doctor makes a correct diagnosis of the patient's condition, but fails to provide proper medical treatment for the condition, illness or disease.
Consultations and Surgeries
Consultations and Surgeries
Another common error happens when emergency room doctors fail to request a consult from a specialist, such as a heart surgeon, cardiologist, neurosurgeon, pediatrician, immunologist, psychiatrist, infectious disease doctor or neonatologist. Sometimes mistakes happen when surgical procedures are done in the ER instead of being performed in a fully equipped, scheduled and staffed operating room.The result of these mistakes may be minor. But this is not always the case. emergency room errors can have lasting effects. In some situations, the delays and errors in treatment can result in paralysis, heart attack, strokes, amputations, death and other injuries - injuries that could have been avoided had the patient received proper medical care.
Some of the conditions that can be misdiagnosed or improperly treated in the ER include:
Heart attacks Traumatic brain injuries Strokes Burns Meningitis Appendicitis Spinal cord injuries Preterm labor Encephalitis Preeclampsia Subdural hematomas or bleeding in the brain Cancer
Medical Malpractice Cases Failure to diagnose and failure to treat are two types of medical malpractice cases. Patients who have been the victims of these types, or other emergency room errors or mistakes, may be able to file a medical malpractice claim against the responsible parties. In order to successfully file a medical malpractice claim against the physician, the patient must be able to prove that the doctor violated the acceptable standard of care and as a result, the patient was injured. If the patient died as a result of the physician's malpractice, the family may be able to bring a wrongful death suit against the physician and/or the hospital where the error occurred.
Medical Malpractice Cases
Immunity for Cook County Hospital
Immunity for Cook County Hospital
If you believe your injury is the result of medical treatment in a Chicago-area emergency room, it is important to consult with an attorney. A lawyer knowledgeable of medical malpractice matters can review your situation, help you determine whether or not you have a claim and assist you in pursuing a resolution that may be in your best interests based on your circumstances.
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