April 5, 2019
The Weitz Firm, LLC

Medical records have always been a mess, so when the US government said that it was time for all medical records to become electronic, everyone was hopeful. Now, ten years after the process began, we have to wonder if anything is better off.

There have been numerous major problems with the software tasked with the challenge of creating electronic medical records, particularly with one of the leading sellers of record-keeping software in the US. At The Weitz Firm, LLC, we are here when you need a Philadelphia hospital negligence attorney. Our qualified and experienced team will work diligently to secure the compensation you deserve.

What Has Happened?

Problems were first noted with the electronic records system (EHR) that were maintained by eClinicalWorks (eCW) back in 2010. Among those problems are:

  • Unreliable patient medication lists
  • Prescribed drugs not showing up
  • Discontinued drugs still on patients’ lists
  • Physician’s notes for one patient showing up on another’s

This may not seem like a big deal, but it can lead to misdiagnosis or the wrong medication being prescribed to a patient. In an investigation of the eCW system at Rikers Island jail complex in New York, 30,000 prescriptions lacked proper start or stop dates, opening patients up to under or over-medication.

Also disturbing is that this system is also used to order lab tests for patients and is just as glitchy. A few years ago, a 47-year-old Vermont attorney had a severe headache. Her doctor wanted to rule out an aneurysm after looking at her medical records, so he ordered an MRI. Unfortunately, the order never went through on the eCW system. The 47-year-old woman ended up passing away due to a brain aneurysm that likely would have been detected had the MRI been performed.

The eCW system is currently being used by 850,000 healthcare professionals in the US, but it has an extensive history of complaints.

The push to have all medical records electronically available makes sense. It should be easy for you to go from one healthcare provider to another. It is especially helpful in emergencies when ER doctors often lack a full patient medical history. However, the problems with the current system are egregious and causing too much patient harm.

What You Can Do

When you go to the hospital or a doctor’s office, you should be able to expect a high level of care. Unfortunately, there are times when human or computer error prevent high levels of care and people get hurt. At The Weitz Firm, LLC, we specialize in medical malpractice cases and are ready to help. When you need a Philadelphia hospital negligence attorney, we will work to secure:

  • Coverage for your medical bills
  • Lost income if you cannot work
  • Pain and suffering damages
  • Loss of enjoyment of life damages
  • Punitive damages against the people, agency, or company responsible

Let us handle this so you can focus on healing and being with your family. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 267-587-6240.

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