Failure to hire and train competent employees

Physicians are required to have the knowledge and training to diagnose and treat patients. Specific knowledge and training is required for nurses, aides, and physical therapists- all the way to the janitorial staff. All staff are required to maintain a certain level of knowledge to competently tend the patients in their care. Even mistakes in how to restrain a patient properly or how to make a bed appropriately can end in serious injury or even death. Testing, surgery, and other more complex duty malfunctions could readily spell disaster in the form of injury. Errors occur more frequently when there is not adequate staff. In order to handle the influx of procedures needed to maintain a base-level standard of care, a facility must have an appropriate staff-to-patient ratio. 

There are basic requirements that are necessary for patient care in any medical setting. The hiring and training of competent employees is one of the most avoidable causes of hospital malpractice. Hospital malpractice occurs when hospital staff causes harm to a patient due to staff action error or lack of appropriate action being taken. During a visit or extended stay in a hospital setting or medical facility, it is the expectation that patients will be treated with knowledge and expertise. 

Failure to hire an adequate number of employees can lead to a medical establishment being “short-staffed”. This can cause longer wait times for life-saving services and adequate care. Even if the medical staff are qualified for their positions; negligence can occur. If there are not enough people to care for all the patients in the facility, life-threatening mistakes can occur. Too many patients per physician, or other medical personnel, can easily lead to mistakes in medication and dosing, testing, anesthesia, surgery, and all other derelictions of responsibility made by hospital staff. 

Nurses and doctors should be compensated fairly and given adequate breaks and days off. One of the biggest problems surrounding nursing home neglect cases is that the workers are understaffed and overworked. They do not have the motivation or the energy to take care of the patients and this can lead to negligence and abuse.

Training is of utmost importance in a medical facility. Having the latest knowledge and medical interventions in any medical setting is important-but with this ever-changing and advancing technology comes the need for additional training and knowledge.. Most medical employees (including Physicians) have ongoing education that they are required to attend to keep their licensure and/or position. On-site training, relevant to each medical facility, is to be in place to keep abreast of facility policies and procedures. Lack of knowledge is dangerous in a profession requiring life-saving techniques. If employees, at any level, are not competent to perform their duties- causing injury or death can be the catastrophic results. Medical malpractice claims can be filed against a medical establishment if harm has been the result of an avoidable error. 

In certain cases, professionals working in certain facilities may be independent contractors, which absolves the facility from malpractice. In these instances, it may be necessary to file for damages directly against the independent employee instead of the medical facility. 

If you feel that you or a loved one has been harmed due to either a failure to provide adequate care or a lack of employee training, you may be eligible for damages. Call the Sweeney Law Firm and let our experts review the facts. You may have a medical malpractice case. If we decide to accept your case, we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning there is no fee for representation unless there is a settlement or fund recovery made on your behalf.