It has been reported over 30 million more Americans have health insurance as a result of new healthcare laws. Consequently, over 30 million more Americans are seeking treatment from the same pool of available doctors prior to this rapid increase.
This means doctors are forced to take on many more patients, dramatically increasing their workload. According to a recent survey, over 40 percent of doctors think the number of patients they treat in a month exceeds safe levels.
Doctors’ excessive workload undermines the safety of patients and results in unnecessary medical errors.
Annually, 98,000 patients die in the hospital as a result of preventable medical mistakes. The author of a survey by JAMA Internal Medicine attributes many of these mistakes to doctors’ workload.
“Excessively increasing the workload may lead to suboptimal care and less direct patient care time…excess workload prevents doctors from fully discussing treatment options, causes delay in patient admissions and/or discharges, and worsens patient satisfaction… workload contributed to patient transfers, morbidity, and even mortality.”
Doctors with an excessive workload don’t have time to get to know their patients.
Personalized health care is crucial to doctor and patient success. When doctors aren’t able to adequately communicate with their patients, it becomes difficult for them to properly diagnose and treat their patients.
While healthcare reform has taken great steps in the right direction, we have to make sure, as a society, that we are receiving the right type of healthcare. It is important to remember, we want quality over quantity.
If you or a loved one was harmed as a result of a medical mistake, you have to call me right away at 1 (800) 556-4769. I can help you get the compensation you deserve.
As your Ohio medical malpractice lawyer, I’ll be there for you, and I’ll Make Them Pay!®
Author: Tim Misny | For 33 years, personal injury lawyer Tim Misny has represented the injured victim in birth injury, medical malpractice, and catastrophic injury/wrongful death cases, serving “Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Columbus & Cincinnati, Ohio.” You can reach Tim by email at tmisny@misnylaw.com or call at 1 (800) 556-4769.