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Banner University Medical Center Tucson: Computer System Errors

snyder-wenner · May 11, 2020 ·

An investigative report from the Arizona Department of Health Services detailed serious patient safety problems when Banner University Medical Center Tucson was working on their computer system.

While upgrading its health records system, Banner University Medical Center Tucson experienced a significant number of computer glitches during the upgrade causing problems in delivering medications, ordering tests, and caring for critically ill patients. The hospital also had problems delivering and administering chemotherapy for patients in the hospital and outpatients.

Some of the most problematic findings included:

a physician who ordered a larger dose of medication for an infant than was needed; and
nurses who had difficulty calculating the appropriate dosage of a blood thinning medication for a patient who had undergone a kidney transplant. The patient was internally bleeding and needed to be resuscitated twice.

Were these issues caused by the failure of Banner University Medical Center Tucson to train its doctors and staff on the differences between the old and new health records system? Only time will tell. It appears that perhaps too many doctors, nurses, and staff were not properly equipped to deal with the transition which led to patient injuries and near-misses. The simple fact is that medical malpractice rates continue to rise throughout the country. Computer systems should make malpractice less likely for various reasons, but electronic records also have their own inherent problems. Since patients can be injured due to a host of issues, it is important to find a medical malpractice lawyer that has significant experience in all aspects of malpractice cases. This includes the electronic medical record system, and proving that doctors and/or nurses had access to certain information in the chart even if they claim they did not.

Contact Snyder & Wenner today for more information on medical malpractice and wrongful death lawsuits in Tucson, Arizona.

Medical Malpractice Tucson, Arizona

snyder-wenner · May 1, 2020 ·

Tucson is home to several hospitals, including Banner University Medical Center, Tucson Medical Center, Northwest Medical Center, Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital, Tucson VA Medical Center, and Oro Valley Hospital. These facilities do not include the numerous urgent care centers and other doctors’ offices throughout the city. Unfortunately, patients at these hospitals and urgent care centers are subjected to possible life-changing outcomes that are the same at hospitals all throughout Arizona, including injuries and death due to medical negligence.

Some of these injuries and deaths were due to:

birth injuries,
doctor’s misdiagnosis,
radiology errors,
delay in diagnosis,
judgment errors,
surgical complications,
medication errors, and
doctor and nurse fatigue.

Suing a hospital or doctor in Tucson may sometimes be more complicated than in other cities in Arizona. This is due to Tucson being home to the University of Arizona Medical School. Many of the hospitals in Tucson have medical students, residents, and fellows who rotate through the various departments and hospitals across the city providing medical care and treatment to Tucsonans. Additionally, some of the doctors at these hospitals are teachers and faculty members of the University of Arizona Medical School. Due these differences in Tucson, you may also have to sue the State of Arizona and the University of Arizona in addition to the doctor and the hospital for your injuries.

In order to protect your legal rights when suing any hospital in Tucson you need an experienced medical malpractice lawyer who understands these complex issues. You may have to serve what’s known as a Notice of Claim against the State of Arizona and the University of Arizona for their employment and supervision of these doctors. A Notice of Claim requires victims of personal injuries and wrongful deaths to act quickly, within 180 days of the injury or death, to file a claim. Snyder & Wenner has significant experience litigating and trying cases in Tucson, which is a critical component of successfully resolving a medical malpractice.

If you or a loved one suffered injury or death as a result of medical malpractice at any hospital or urgent care center in Tucson, Arizona, you must contact the experienced medical malpractice lawyers now at Snyder & Wenner for a free consultation. Email us or call us now at 602-224-0005.

What To Know About Nurse Practitioner Malpractice

snyder-wenner · Mar 31, 2020 ·

When you go to a doctor’s office or the hospital for treatment, chances are you don’t actually see a doctor. Instead, you are likely to be treated by a Nurse Practitioner (“NP”). Nurse practitioners are mid-level providers. This means the NP is a licensed medical professional who obtained a bachelor and masters or doctoral degree in Nursing. NPs have less medical education and training than a doctor but can still diagnose, treat, and prescribe medications. In Arizona, a nurse practitioner can be sued and held responsible for your injury just like you could sue a doctor.

Does a Nurse Practitioner Work on Her Own?

Yes. Nurse Practitioners can work independently without the supervision of a licensed medical doctor.

What Types of Malpractice Can a Nurse Practitioner Commit?

Medical errors
Failure to obtain an appropriate medical history
Failure to diagnose a medical condition
Delay in diagnosing a medical condition
Providing the wrong diagnosis
Failure to treat

Who do I Need to Sue to Protect My Legal Rights When a NP Commits Medical Malpractice?

When a NP commits medical malpractice, you need to ensure you take appropriate legal action against the NP who injured you and the hospital, medical practice, or medical clinic that employed the NP. The hospital, medical practice, or medical clinic that employed the NP is also liable for the injuries the PA caused you because they vicariously liable for the NP. Under the laws of Arizona, if an employee (like a NP) causes an injury, the employer is responsible for the acts of the employee who is acting within the scope of their employment.

If you believe a NP has committed medical malpractice against you or a loved one you need to contact an experienced medical malpractice law firm. For a free consultation contact us by clicking on this link, or call Snyder & Wenner at 602-224-0005.

What To Know About Physician Assistant Malpractice

snyder-wenner · Mar 25, 2020 ·

As doctors and hospitals in Arizona look to maximize profits, they are turning more and more to “mid-level practitioners” to help see patients and bill. One such practitioner is a Physician Assistant, or “PA.” A PA can be sued and held responsible for your injury just like you could sue a doctor. A PA is a licensed professional who has less medical education and training than a doctor but can still diagnose, treat, and prescribe most medications. While PAs allow doctors to see more patients each day (and thus bill more), they often have difficulty knowing their limits. Because of this, they can cause serious, life-threatening injury, and even death. This blog addresses some of the common questions regarding physician assistant malpractice.

Do Physician Assistants Work on Their Own?

No. PAs are required to work under the supervision of a licensed medical doctor. In certain places, a licensed medical doctor doesn’t need to be physically present in the same building as the PA who is treating you. However, the PA must be in frequent contact with a supervising licensed medical doctor about how the PA is treating you and your symptoms.

What Type of Malpractice Can a Physician Assistant Commit?

Because they have less education, training, and (often) experience, physician assistants are more prone to make errors that a doctor would not have otherwise made. These types of negligence can include:

Medical errors
Failure to obtain an appropriate medical history
Failure to diagnose a medical condition
Delay in diagnosing a medical condition
Providing the wrong diagnosis
Failure to treat
Prescribing medication they are not allowed to prescribe

Who Do I Need to Sue to Protect My Legal Rights When a PA Commits Medical Malpractice?

It’s as simple as 1, 2, 3.

The PA who injured you.
The licensed medical doctor who supervised the PA.
The hospital, medical practice, or medical clinic that employed the PA and licensed medical doctor who supervised the PA.

The licensed medical doctor is subject to liability for injuries caused by a PA. That supervising licensed medical doctor is responsible for all aspects of the performance of a PA. If the PA injures you, the licensed medical doctor is liable for the acts of the PA too.

The hospital, medical practice, or medical clinic that employed the PA is also liable for the injuries the PA caused you because they vicariously liable for the PA. Under the laws of Arizona, if an employee (like a PA) causes an injury, the employer is responsible for the acts of the employee who is acting within the scope of their employment.

If you believe a PA has committed medical malpractice against you or a loved one you need to contact an experienced medical malpractice law firm. For a free consultation click this link to contact us, or call Snyder & Wenner at 602-224-0005.

Birth Injury – Cerebral Palsy

snyder-wenner · Jan 29, 2020 ·

A birth injury, like cerebral palsy, is one of the most devastating things a family can go through. The birth of a child should be one of the happiest times in a person’s life. If a birth injury occurs, that moment of happiness and joy will be crushed. This is especially true if the injury, like cerebral palsy, is due to doctor and/or nurse error.

What Causes A Birth Injury Like Cerebral Palsy?

There can be many causes of a birth injury. It can be the result of physical pressure during the birth process. This is often due to an issue that occurs when the baby is moving through the birth canal. If the baby becomes stuck, a nerve injury can occur. This usually affects the shoulders, as the doctor may need to forcefully pull the baby to get him or her through the canal. More serious injuries can also occur, though. For example, if the baby’s head becomes stuck, or if the umbilical cord wraps around the baby’s neck, the baby can lose oxygen. Unlike an adult, who can hold his or her breath for a long period of time, babies are unable to do so. If a baby is without oxygen for too long it can result in brain damage. This condition is called cerebral palsy.

What Injuries Does It Cause?

A baby who has cerebral palsy will typically have problems with muscle tone, movement, and motor skills. The child may not be able to sit up on his or her own. There may be difficulty holding a bottle or a toy. Speech can be affected. The greater the brain damage, the greater the deficit. This type of birth injury is something that will affect a child for his or her entire life. This not only impacts the quality of life for the child, but it also will lead to overwhelming medical bills.

A birth injury like cerebral palsy is almost always preventable. Nurses must be on high alert for any potential problems with the baby’s heart rate. A decreased heart rate can mean the baby is not getting the oxygen it needs. If this happens, the nurses must notify the doctor. The doctor then may have to perform an emergency c-section to deliver the baby before he or she sustains brain damage. Emergency c-sections can be completed very quickly, and can prevent injury.

n affected by birth injuries in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tucson, FLagstaff, and all the surrounding cities in Arizona.