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Kentucky emergency medical care given ‘D’ grade

On Behalf of | Jan 24, 2014 | Uncategorized |

Anyone who seeks care at a Kentucky emergency room expects to receive life-saving treatment that is at least on par with the care offered in other parts of the country. Sadly, that isn’t always what happens when someone goes to the hospital. A recent report by the American College of Emergency Physicians gave Kentucky emergency care a ‘D’ rating. The state received an ‘F’ for quality and patient care.

This news isn’t good for people that seek emergency treatment in Kentucky, which is unfortunately already known for having a somewhat unhealthy population. According to the President of the Kentucky chapter of the ACEP, Kentucky is number one for smokers and is one of the highest ranked states for obesity. He says the states around Kentucky have already taken steps to provide better emergency care to patients.

According to him, the ACEP is working on a bill with legislators that would create a panel of doctors to testify in medical malpractice lawsuits. He says that having good policies and laws in place will attract good doctors to practice in Kentucky. In 2012, claims against doctors, physician assistants and facilities totaled $96 million in settlements for 415 claims. In 2011, that total was only $88 million for 984 claims.

This report shows that there is a lot of room for improvement in Kentucky emergency care facilities. If you have been the victim of hospital negligence, such as failure to diagnose, failure to treat or doctor errors, you might have the right to seek compensation for your claims. Consulting with an experienced Kentucky medical malpractice attorney can help you learn about your right to pursue compensation for improper medical care.

Source: WFPL.org, “Kentucky’s Emergency Care Receives ‘D’ Grade” Devin Katayama, Jan. 22, 2014

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