Published by Arfaa Law Group
Medical malpractice can happen in a variety of ways. If you suspect that you or someone you love has been hurt by medical malpractice involving electronic health records (EHR), our Baltimore medical malpractice lawyers can help. The rate of EHR-related claims has gone up drastically in the past decade and it is clear that adjustments have to be made to improve patient safety. As experienced medical malpractice advocates, we will meticulously investigate your case to identify any errors or lapses in judgment that may have caused you harm.
According to a recent report, EHR-related claims in medical malpractice lawsuits have increased from 0.35 percent in 2010 to 1.35 percent in 2018. Specifically, the rate of these claims shot up from a low of 7 cases in 2010 to an average of 22.5 between 2017 and 2018. It is important to note that EHRs are generally contributing factors as opposed to the primary causes of malpractice claims. Approximately 12 percent of the EHR-related claims were the result of technology failure, while 7 percent were the result of EHR lacking alerts or failing to send alerts. The main user-related problems included copying/pasting, EHR conversion issues and users entering the wrong information.
Researchers found that family medicine and internal medicine obtained the highest percentage of claims (8 percent) in which EHRs played a role, with cardiology and radiology next at 6 percent. General surgery and emergency medicine had the lowest percentage of claims involving EHRs (3 percent). Of all the claims related to EHRs, diagnosis-related claims accounted for almost one-third.
While EHRs are meant to improve patient safety by reducing medical errors, they often make things worse. For example, if an EHR fails to alert a medical professional of a patient allergy to a certain prescription drug, the consequences can be devastating. Patients injured as a result of medical malpractice can hold the at-fault party accountable. When preventable mistakes in medical records or medical records being mixed up are the cause of patient harm, the injured patient can pursue compensation through a medical malpractice claim. Under Maryland law, medical professionals must diagnose and treat patients with the same level of knowledge, skill and ability as an ordinarily prudent medical professional would under comparable circumstances. When this does not happen, they can be liable for malpractice.
Victims of medical errors are entitled to damages. There are two types of compensation available for medical malpractice cases in Maryland. The first is economic damages, which typically include things like medical expenses, rehabilitation costs and loss of income if a person is unable to work because of the injury. The second type of compensation is known as non-economic damages, which include things like pain and suffering, emotional anguish and other compensation for other intangible harms
Problems with EHRs and physician communication errors can lead to serious medical mistakes. If you or someone you love has been the victim of medical malpractice involving EHRs, we can help. At Arfaa Law Group, our diligent and hardworking Baltimore medical injury attorneys understand how to secure full and fair compensation for our Maryland clients. We are here to answer your questions and guide you through every step of the legal process. To schedule a free consultation, please call us today at 410-889-1850 or contact us online.