Today’s health care facilities often depend on a wide array of newly developed technologies to function. It is hoped that the implementation of advanced surgical devices and information networks can help reduce medical errors. Ultimately, the use of new medical technologies should offer patients safer, more efficient care.
But since technology is moving forward at such a rapid pace, what are some of the potential dangers that a patient could face in a modern hospital? At the end of last year, a nonprofit institute published a list of potential technology health hazards. Here are some of those potential hazards, which patients and their families may want to be aware of:
- Electronic health records which are missing information or contain incorrect information.
- Surgical devices and endoscopes that have not been properly disinfected and sterilized.
- Insufficient training among medical staff members on how to use robotic surgical devices.
- Hospital rooms that have too many devices sounding off alert signals. A multitude of constant signals can lead health care workers to miss one that is critical.
This is just a sample of things that could contribute to a patient being injured while receiving treatment. Medical accidents caused by the items on this list are typically preventable. Proper training and well-defined processes can go a long way to help ensure patient safety.
In order to avoid harming a patient, doctors and medical staff members must all perform their duties with an appropriate standard of care. Should this standard of care not be applied when utilizing new technologies, a patient could suffer severe or perhaps fatal injuries.
If you or a family member are harmed due to a mistake occurring during the course of treatment, you may have grounds for a medical malpractice suit. A Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorney may be able to offer you assistance in pursuing compensation.