How to Prevent Nursing Home Medical Malpractice

If you have to admit a loved one into a nursing home, you trust the staff members in the facility to provide them with the care and support they need. Most people place loved ones in these facilities when they need round-the-clock or regular care and family members cannot provide it. Due to the fact that nursing homes are responsible for providing so many residents with medical care, malpractice is quite common. Below, our Knoxville nursing home malpractice attorney outlines how to avoid it and keep your loved one safe.

Speak Up 

If you have questions or concerns about the treatment your loved one is receiving, communicate them with anyone involved in treating the resident. You have the right to know what type of medical treatment your loved one is receiving and to have your questions answered. If your loved one needs certain treatments, ask the team why they are necessary and if there are other options.

Ensure All Medical Staff has Your Loved One’s Information 

Medical malpractice can easily occur if members of your loved one’s health care team do not have all of their information. Make sure all members of the health care team have your loved one’s medical history, know of their allergies, the medications they take, and any other relevant information.

Attend Appointments with Your Loved One 

If your loved one has appointments for medical care, attend them with your family member. This is particularly important if your loved one does not have the mental capacity to advocate for themselves, ask questions, or fully understand about the medical treatment they need.

Do Your Own Research 

The advice of a doctor or other healthcare professional is always better than finding information on your own online. Still, you can also do your own research after speaking to your loved one’s health care team. This can help you better understand certain procedures, treatment options, and even the side effects of certain medications. This can help you and your loved one make the best choices about the health care they receive.

Follow Up

You should always follow up on any medical decision, treatment, or test your loved one needs. For example, if your loved one needs a medical test and you do not hear back, do not assume everything is fine. Follow up with the health care team and ask for the results, and also discuss them with the medical team.

Our Nursing Home Malpractice Attorney in Knoxville Can Help if Your Loved One has Been Hurt 

While you can take many steps to prevent nursing home medical malpractice from occurring, they do not always work. At Atkins Brezina, PLLC, our Knoxville nursing home malpractice attorney can help if your loved one has been hurt. We can determine if malpractice occurred and help your family obtain the full and fair compensation your family deserves. Call us now at 865-500-3121 or contact us online to request a free consultation and to learn more about how we can help.

Source:

tn.gov/health/health-professionals/hcf-main/filing-a-complaint.html