Many hospitals now hire staff physicians who have the sole responsibility for diagnosis and treatment of patients admitted for care. These doctors are commonly referred to as ‘hospitalists’ and maintain proper credentialing and training.
Hospitals in Oregon and Washington Are Required to Hire Licensed Doctors
Hospitalists are often called upon to treat patients on an emergency-basis, when the patient’s regular doctor cannot attend to sudden symptoms or worsening health condition. They are held to the same high standards for properly diagnosing serious medical conditions and providing effective treatment as expeditiously as possible.
If you suffered a misdiagnosis or improper medical treatment by a hospitalist while undergoing medical treatment at a hospital in Oregon or southwestern Washington, talk to a medical malpractice litigation attorney at Miller & Wagner, in Portland. We know the legal issues related to hospital liability and physician errors. When necessary to determine the extent of liability, we work with independent medical professionals to investigate and prepare evidence for recovering compensation for your injuries.
It is illegal for hospitals to provide substandard levels of medical care, including the hiring and staffing of unlicensed or unqualified physicians, nurses and technicians. Miller & Wagner’s experience with the investigation and proof of hospital negligence claims gives you a powerful advantage for your hospital negligence or medical malpractice claim.
Examples of hospital negligence include:
- Unlicensed or uncredentialed hospitalists and staff nurses
- Improper monitoring of patients
- Medication errors
- Nurse errors, doctor’s failure to give clear instructions to nurses
- Nutrition errors leading to serious medical problems
- Infections resulting from unsanitary conditions or care of surgical wounds
- Discharge from the hospital before the patient is ready to go home
From our offices in Portland, our medical malpractice trial attorneys represent plaintiffs in medical negligence claims against physicians and health care providers throughout Oregon and Washington. For your convenience, we have a satellite office in Pacific City.