Do More Holiday Hospitalizations Result in Medical Malpractice?

 Posted on November 26, 2024 in Medical Malpractice

It is well known that being hospitalized in July or on a weekend is riskier for patients. This is largely due to factors like short staffing, fewer senior staff at work, and staff fatigue from an uptick in patients. Holiday hospitalizations can also be added to the list of riskiest times for hospitalization and medical malpractice to occur.

In fact, when it comes to death as an outcome or the necessity of readmission, CNN reported that patients discharged during the Christmas holidays were 13.3 percent more likely to be readmitted or to die within seven days. At fourteen days, the percentage increased to 18.6 percent, and in 30 days, it increased to 25.9 percent. Compare this to other times of the year, when the percentages were 11.7 percent, 17 percent, and 24.7 percent, respectively.

Although this study was done in Ontario, more than four million patient outcomes were examined, and the results are believed to be similar for the United States. While this might also indicate that hospitalization is fairly risky at any time, there is clearly a higher risk during the Christmas holidays.  A Chicago, IL medical malpractice attorney from Winters Salzetta O'Brien & Richardson, LLC can help you get the justice you deserve.  

Why Could Medical Malpractice Be More Likely to Occur During the Holidays?

For every 100,000 patients discharged during the Christmas holidays, the study found 188 excess re-hospitalizations, 483 excess visits to an ER, and 26 excess deaths. "Excess" in this context means "more than normal."  Upticks in medical errors are known to occur on major holidays and even over long weekend holidays like Labor Day and Memorial Day.

July is risky because that’s when new doctors, fresh from medical school, typically begin their residencies. Some of the most common reasons medical malpractice may happen more over the holidays include:

• Staffing shortages due to the holidays create delays in CT, MRI, and other radiology scans.
• Doctors with seniority (more time on the job) are more likely to be off during the holidays, leaving patients with less experienced physicians.
• Seasoned nurses are on vacation, leaving the more inexperienced nurses on duty.
•  Understaffing leads to quicker patient discharges so that those scheduled to work to return home to their families.
•  More operating staff are off for the holidays leading to surgical delays.
• When a surgeon is available, it is more likely to be a surgeon who has just completed his or her residency.

Patient factors are also involved, namely a change in routines and eating and drinking habits. Further, most people are unwilling to be hospitalized during the holidays, which results in them waiting longer to seek treatment. When these patient factors are added to hospital staffing issues, a perfect storm of risk for patients results.

How Can You Reduce Your Risk of a Bad Outcome?

There are some ways you can reduce your risk, such as:

• Never schedule elective surgery during the holidays.
• If you have no choice, ensure you always have someone with you as your advocate at all times.
•  If you are unsatisfied with a proposed treatment, ask questions or ask for a second opinion.
• Ask the nurse why you are being given a certain medication.
• Follow up after tests to ensure you are given the results.
•  If you are getting worse and you have not seen a doctor, be firm with the staff and insist on seeing a physician.
• If you have a bad outcome and you believe medical negligence is the reason, speak to an experienced medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible.

Contact a Chicago, IL Medical Malpractice Lawyer

When you choose an experienced Chicago, IL medical malpractice attorney from Winters Salzetta O'Brien & Richardson, LLC, you can be sure you will have a strong legal advocate in your corner who will work hard on your behalf to prove negligence occurred. Medical malpractice is a very specialized area where knowledge, skill, and experience really do make a difference. Your attorney is also aware of the statute of limitations or time limits involved. Contact Winters Salzetta O'Brien & Richardson, LLC at 312-236-6324 to schedule your free consultation.