12/10/2013 // NYC Attorney Jonathan C. Reiter // The Law Firm of Jonathan C. Reiter // (press release)
A New York Times report details the findings of a study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association that indicated surgical errors, paradoxically, yield a hefty profit for hospitals. Researchers from Boston Consulting Group, Harvard’s schools of medicine and public health and Texas Health Resources found that patients who developed one or more preventable health complications following surgery stayed on average four times longer, yielding an approximate $30,000 increase in hospital revenue for each patient.
Hospitals Profit From Surgical Errors, Study Finds
“The median length of stay for those patients quadrupled to 14 days, and hospital revenue averaged $30,500 more than for patients without complications ($49,400 versus $18,900). Private insurers paid far more for complications than did Medicare or Medicaid, or patients who paid out of pocket.”
For more information about the study on hospital surgical errors, please visit http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/17/health/hospitals-profit-from-surgical-errors-study-finds.html?_r=0
The New York medical malpractice lawyers at The Law Firm of Jonathan C. Reiter say that the researchers’ assertion that surgical complications may be reduced if there were less of a financial incentive to fix related problems may have some validity.
Surgical complications and errors bring in more money for hospitals
“About $400 billion is spent on surgical procedures each year in the U.S., and the number is expected to grow according to the study’s authors.”
For more information about the impact of surgical errors on hospital revenue, please visit http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57580117/surgical-complications-and-errors-bring-in-more-money-for-hospitals/
According to The Law Firm of Jonathan C. Reiter, holding hospitals and doctors accountable for surgical errors is one means of reducing the incentives for sweeping medical mistakes under the rug. If a patient develops a preventable condition following surgery, which requires an extension of their hospital stay, hospital negligence could be to blame. Although medical errors cannot be attributed to every patient’s case under these circumstances, many patients do have valid grounds to pursue claims for medical malpractice if they develop further health complications due to a surgical error.
The Law Firm of Jonathan C. Reiter (http://jcreiterlaw.com) is available for New York patients who have been injured as a result of a doctor or hospital’s negligence and are seeking legal help. Individuals may contact the firm to arrange for a free consultation to discuss their medical injury and legal options for pursing compensation from those responsible today.
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