Nearly a third of California’s hospitals had worse in-patient death rates for various procedures and conditions than the statewide average during the two-year period, between 2010 and 2011, according to the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development.
The report, released on Monday, documents Inpatient Mortality Indicators (IMIs) for California hospitals in an effort to improve the quality of patient care and to help consumers make more informed healthcare decisions, among other reasons. Interestingly, Orange County Hospitals fared pretty well in the 2010-2011 study.
Orange County Hospital Ratings
In the 2011 report from the OSHPD, Orange County hospitals received seven "Better" ratings and only three "Worse" ratings than the Statewide averages for the particular procedure performed or condition treated. While this would seem to be a solid performance for 2011, the ratings of Orange County hospitals in 2010 were actually better. In fact, in 2010 Orange County facilities received fourteen "Better" ratings and only three "Worse" ratings. It is unknown whether this downward trend is a reflection of a drop in the quality of care or simply a statistically insignificant change.
Medical Malpractice in Orange County
In spite of the number of patient injuries and deaths documented in Orange County each year, very few patients or their families are actually compensated for their losses. Malpractice lawsuits in this county rarely result in a verdict in favor of the patient, and doctors/hospitals prevail the vast majority of the time. Unfortunately, juries tend to favor doctors, and that bias translates into defense verdicts and physicians being held accountable for their mistakes only a small percentage of the time.
If you or a loved one has been injured by what you believe is medical neglect, contacting an Orange County malpractice attorney is likely the best, first step toward determining whether you have a valid case.
SOURCE: AHRQ - Inpatient Quality Indicators (IQIs), Hospital Inpatient Mortality Indicators for California, 2010 and 2011, Office of Statewide Health Panning and Development, June 10, 2013
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