It can be upsetting to suffer negligent treatment in a hospital.HospitalNegligence can be a tricky thing in the US medical system.It is possible for hospitals to be held responsible for their actions, but the process typically takes a lot of courage and persistence.If you can get your issue resolved, start with hospital administrators.escalate your issue through state and federal levels if the hospital administrators aren't willing to accommodate youTalk to an attorney about filing a lawsuit if nothing else works.
Step 1: There is a written record of the carelessness.
Make your report specific so administrators can address the issue.List the date and time of each incident of negligent behavior, as well as the names of hospital personnel involved.If your room wasn't cleaned during your stay, you would list the days you were in the hospital and the names of any nurses, orderlies, or other attendants you spoke with.It's best to start a diary in which you record each separate incident while the details are still fresh in your mind, if theNegligence is an ongoing thing rather than a single incident.If you can't do it on your own, have a trusted friend or family member help create the log for you.
Step 2: A detailed letter to hospital administrators is what you should write.
You can prove that you notified the hospital administrators of the problem if you put your report in writing.You should state what you want the hospital to do about the negligent treatment you received.The deadline is 2 weeks after receipt.When you were at the hospital, state your name and nature of your complaint in the first paragraph.Information about the issue can be provided in the next paragraphs.To describe what you want to happen, use the final paragraph.You could write "I expect a full written apology and $3,000 in damages I suffered as a result of this hospital's negligent actions."The amount can be applied to my bill.2 weeks after the date you receive the letter, if I don't hear from you, I will follow you up.If you've just left the hospital and are still recovering, you might not feel up to it.A friend or family member can write a letter for you if you give them permission to handle the issue on your behalf.
Step 3: Mail your letter with a return receipt requested.
You can follow up on your complaint with certified mail because you know when the hospital administrators received it.If the administrators don't respond to your complaint or take action to resolve it, it will give you proof.You have to work with hospital administrators to resolve your complaint before you report it to the state health department.If you go to the state health department, you may need to show that you first reported the issue to hospital administrators.
Step 4: 2 weeks after receipt, follow up on your letter.
You should mark the first business day after the date on your calendar when you get the card in the mail.Call the hospital administrators if you haven't heard from them in a while.When you call, you can simply say that you sent a letter two weeks ago and haven't heard anything, so you're calling to follow up.If the hospital administrators don't want to work with you, you can contact your state health department.You should talk to an attorney about the possibility of a lawsuit.Free initial consultation is offered by most attorneys who deal with malpractice.
Step 5: State department licenses health care facilities.
Hospitals are licensed by the state health department.Hospitals are required by state regulations to adhere to a specific standard of care.If the standard of care was not met, the hospital could be considered negligent and face regulatory fines.There's a list of state health department websites.
Step 6: You can find complaint forms online.
If you want to submit a complaint online, you can use the online complaint forms that most states have.Go to the health department's website and click any links related to filing a complaint to find out what forms are available.Before you give any information, make sure the site you're on is an official government site.There is a ".gov" extension to the URL.If you scroll down to the bottom of the page, you can see if it is a state government site.
Step 7: If there are no forms, you should write a detailed letter.
If your state's health department doesn't have online forms, or if you're not comfortable submitting your complaint online, you can send a letter detailing your experience at the hospital.The name and location of the hospital, as well as the names of all the doctors and nurses involved, should be included in your letter.
Step 8: Inform the health department of your complaint.
State health departments do not investigate all complaints.All complaints are reviewed.They'll send you a letter if the department requires more information.Try to get the additional documentation for the state health department as soon as possible.They might want to discuss the incident with you or the patient.If the state health department doesn't handle the type of incident you describe, you'll usually get a letter with contact information for the agency that does.The health department may want to speak with you directly if you had a friend or family member handle the complaint on your behalf.
Step 9: The state medical board can be used to file a complaint.
Doctors and surgeons are separate from the hospitals where they work.The state medical board licenses them for their conduct.If your complaint refers to a specific doctor, use this complaint process.You can find the website for your state's medical board by doing an internet search for "medical board".There are links on the home page to submit a complaint.
Step 10: If you're covered by Medicare, use the nearest QIO office.
If you or the patient are covered by Medicare, the Quality Improvement Office nearest you can handle complaints about quality of care.Let the QIO office know if carelessness on the part of the hospital contributed to poor quality of care.You can get contact information for the QIO office by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.
Step 11: For medical decisions, you can request a redetermination through Medicare.
If the hospital's negligent actions resulted in you being discharged before you were medically ready, Medicare will review that decision.The process you use depends on whether you have Original Medicare or a Medicare health plan.Wait until you get your Medicare Summary Notice in the mail, if you have Original Medicare.Information on how to request a redetermination will be included.You have 120 days to request a redetermination.Contact your plan's representative if you have a Medicare plan.You have to follow the appeals process for your plan's carrier.
Step 12: A complaint can be submitted to the Joint Commission.
Many of the country's hospitals are accredited by the Joint Commission.They look into complaints about the quality of care.The Joint Commission has a website where you can submit a complaint.There is a link to submit a new patient safety event.The hospital may be visited by the Commission to investigate your concern.They don't resolve individual complaints.They won't order the hospital to do anything to compensate you if they address the negligent behavior.