When you visit the hospital for surgery or another major medical treatment, you never imagine that you’ll leave more injured than you were before. Yet according to the latest report from non-profit medical watchdog Leapfrog Group, the majority of St. Louis hospitals fail to meet the standard of care on multiple patient safety metrics. This means thousands of patients could be receiving substandard care in the St. Louis area alone.
Every year, the Leapfrog Group ranks more than 2,600 hospitals across the country on a range of safety-related metrics, from the number of unnecessary C-sections performed to total amount of “Never Events,” such as leaving objects behind during surgery. After completing the Leapfrog survey, hospitals are graded on a letter scale much like those used in schools: A through F, with “A” ratings denoting the highest caliber of patient safety practices, and “F” ratings suggesting malpractice.
In their recent report on the St. Louis area, the Leapfrog Group found that fewer than 20% of all the hospitals surveyed were able to meet the top safety ratings and garner an “A” rating. Although none received a failing grade, average-to-middling scores prevailed. The full report notes that these ratings are most likely due to ongoing problems with hospital infections, as well as poor staff training for physicians and nurses in the area.
Holding Medical Practitioners Accountable for Negligence
At Meyerkord & Kurth, we aim to provide top-quality legal representation every time, and we care deeply about helping each client seek justice. As St. Louis medical malpractice attorneys, the results of the latest Leapfrog Group report don’t come as a surprise: Many of our past clients have come to us with heartbreaking stories about a wide range of physician, nurse, and hospital abuses. No matter what kind of medical malpractice you’ve experienced, we promise to listen to your story with a compassionate ear, and help you fight for complete financial recovery when you’ve been hurt.
Some of the most common medical errors and wrongful acts we see in the St. Louis area include:
- Serious infections after a hospital stay
- Medical equipment failure
- Failure to properly diagnose a life-threatening condition
- Post-operative infections and other surgical injuries
- Improperly sanitized instruments
- Errors in the emergency room
It may be difficult to tell when malpractice takes place, but a skilled attorney can help you determine if you have grounds to sue. When you work with our committed legal team, you can rest assured that we will offer an honest and fair assessment of your situation, backed by more than 100 years of experience in medical malpractice law.
If believe you were the victim of malpractice during your last hospital visit, contact Meyerkord & Kurth today at (800) 391-4318 for a free consultation. We are ready to help!