Emergency medical treatment is instrumental in saving the lives of countless Americans every day, but medical errors can often have disastrous consequences. As one of the leading causes of death in the United States, it is crucial to be aware that mistakes made by medical staff in emergency rooms can result in severe injury or death.
A study conducted in 2016 revealed that medical errors were responsible for over 250,000 deaths annually and are now believed to be responsible for more fatalities than heart disease or cancer ranking them the third major cause of death in the U.S. Therefore, medical personnel must exercise the utmost caution when providing medical care–especially in hectic emergency room environments where split-second decisions often mean life or death.
What are the common emergency room mistakes, and how can you avoid them? Read on, get informed, and this information may one day save your life.
Diagnosis & Misdiagnosis
Emergency rooms are often high-stress environments, with physicians having to make quick decisions with limited information. As a result, failure to diagnose or misdiagnosis is far too common. These errors may occur in some cases because the physician hasn’t been given an accurate medical history or enough clinical data to diagnose. There can also be problems related to staff shortages and overcrowding that delay or obscure testing and prevent doctors from giving the correct treatment in time. Further contributing is a lack of communication between patients and clinicians — leading to mistakes such as failure to detect underlying conditions or inadequate follow-up on test results. With diagnostic errors costing the U.S. healthcare system nearly $40 billion per year, it’s clear more needs to be done to reduce the risks of misdiagnosis.
Triage Mistakes
Triage maximizes the efficiency of hospitals and other emergency-care settings, allowing patients with the most severe injuries or illnesses to be treated first. However, this practice can lead to common mistakes in the emergency room, such as prioritizing those who are seen first over those who are more seriously injured. Unfortunately, this misstep can have dire consequences for some patients — delays in medical treatment during an already stressful event could be the difference between life and death for someone with a severe health condition. Furthermore, triage mistakes can direct resources away from those most in need. As such, it is essential for staff members in emergency settings to regularly evaluate the effectiveness of their triage system and do what they can to ensure that errors don’t occur.
Medication Complications
Unfortunately, medication errors are all too common in emergency rooms worldwide – wrong medications, wrong doses, and drug allergies or unsafe drug interactions are preventable mistakes. Many of these mistakes result in serious medical complications or even death. It is more important than ever that emergency rooms take extra care when administering medication, ensuring that staff are appropriately trained, protocols are in place, and double checks are completed. Along with careful oversight and proper training of staff members, modern technology can also assist in reducing the number of medication mistakes happening in emergency rooms.
Communications
In emergency room settings, communication errors can easily lead to mistakes that put patients at risk. This communication might include discharge instructions not being appropriately given or failure to order the tests needed for necessary diagnoses. Poor communication can cause fear, confusion, and frustration for the patient and medical professionals, leading to a lack of mutual understanding. Proper communication makes it easier for patients to understand their conditions and follow discharge instructions accurately. Communication mistakes ultimately put the patient in harm’s way and amplify the chances of medical error.
What Can Patients Do?
Avoiding common emergency room mistakes is vital for patients because it can significantly reduce medical errors and improve the quality of care. To prevent these mistakes, patients should prepare emergency medical information including a list all their current and past diseases or health conditions before arriving in the ER. They should also provide their blood type and list all of their prescriptions and over-the-counter medications. Finally, it is also essential to list any allergies or intolerances and any surgical procedures that have been done, including dates if possible. By providing this information, patients can help ensure that doctors can diagnose accurately and deliver better healthcare.