Parker Waichman LLP

Post-Hospital Syndrome sending many Patients back to Hospitals

Post-Hospital Syndrome Sending Patients Back To Hospitals. People who’ve recently endured a hospitalization are likely to end up back there days and weeks later with an entirely new problem, caused by their previous stay in the hospital. According to a USA Today report on a new study appearing in the recent edition of the Journal of […]

Post-Hospital Syndrome

Post-Hospital Syndrome Sending Patients Back To Hospitals. People who’ve recently endured a hospitalization are likely to end up back there days and weeks later with an entirely new problem, caused by their previous stay in the hospital.

According to a USA Today report on a new study appearing in the recent edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association, “post-hospital syndrome” is the cause for many readmissions to hospitals in the U.S. Researchers found that 1-in-5 elderly Medicare patients who were hospitalized returned there within a month. Most of these returning patients are affected by conditions caused by their previous stay in a hospital.

One example provided by researchers and the news source would be a patient who was hospitalized with pneumonia only to return there within a month after they suffered a fractured bone or other serious injury caused by a fall. This likely happened because they were weakened physically during their previous hospital stay, causing them to fall unexpectedly after they were discharged for their original malady.

An author of several studies that were used for this research summed it up for USA Today saying, “They come into the hospital with one thing but they leave with another.”

Illness Caused By Inadequate Or Improper Care

The study looked at more than 3 million hospitalizations of Medicare patients over an unspecified period of time. Ninety percent of people hospitalized with a heart attack originally were back in the hospital a month later, or less, with a different problem. That rate is 78 percent for patients hospitalized with pneumonia, and 65 percent for heart failure patients.

While there are many risks to staying in a hospital, such as the increased likelihood of acquiring a serious infection or other illness or a condition caused by inadequate or improper care, “post-hospital syndrome” is not caused by those increasingly common factors.

When a person is hospitalized, even though their overall health is of primary concern, the conditions they must endure on their road to recovery is likely making them more susceptible to problems after they are released from their stay. Poor and interrupted sleep, the amount and potency of medications, and prolonged periods of bed rest are just some conditions inside a hospital that can be disorienting and lead to trouble when a person returns home from their stay. This is even true for otherwise “healthy” individuals who are forced to endure a hospital stay. When they get home, they may be confused or delirious, or even just overall weakened by their extended period of bed rest. This can pose serious problems when they get home and attempt to return to their normal activities.

Adding to the risk of “post-hospital syndrome” is the likelihood that a patient in the hospital is not of the soundest mind – at that time – to be receiving instructions on specialized care they may need or things they must do, such as cleaning wounds, that if they’re not done properly, could land them back in the hospital with another series of problems.

The study suggests that hospitals and their staffs consider this part of a patient’s health when they’re administering drug treatments and providing other care. For instance, instead of waking a patient in the middle of the night to deliver medications, it may be best to wait until they’ve had a proper night of rest.

Need Legal Help Regarding Post-Hospital Syndrome?

The personal injury attorneys at Parker Waichman LLP offer free, no-obligation case evaluations. For more information, fill out our online contact form or call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529).

What Our Clients Say About Us
We have worked with thousands of clients and we appreciate them and their positive reviews. Here are just a few recent client reviews...
5 Star Reviews 150
Michelle Josama it was a pleasure To work with You are the Best at what You do.Thank you so much for everything you did an amazing job For our family. Chuck Silverstein we were very lucky To have you as our lawyer you did An amazing job and we appreciate you Thank you so much we will highly Recommend you to our friends and family.
Will bivens
3 years ago
5 Star Reviews 150
I have been a client of Parker Waichman since 2008. The staff's courteous demeanor and knowledgeable responses to all my questions and concerns is why I chose to have the attorneys represent me 3 times.Jillian and Josephine return my calls in a timely fashion and treat me like I'm family. Look no further when searching for a firm that is informative, knowledgeable and competent in handling every detail of your case. That's the reason I would never choose another firm to handle any of my personal injury cases.
Tanysha Donaldson
5 years ago
5 Star Reviews 150
robert francis
3 years ago

Why Choose Us to Help You?

We Take Care of Everything
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
No Recovery = No Legal Fees
We work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that we only get paid from a portion of your settlement or jury award. If you don't get compensation, you owe us nothing.
Decades of Experience
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
Respected by Our Peers
Judges, insurance adjusters, and fellow attorneys all speak highly of our skills, and we've earned numerous accolades, including a flawless rating from AVVO.
We Have Many Locations To Serve You
We have the experience and the skilled litigators to win your case. Contact us and speak with a real attorney who can help you.
Long Island – Nassau
Parker Waichman LLP
6 Harbor Park Drive
Port Washington, NY 11050
Long Island – Suffolk
Parker Waichman LLP
201 Old Country Road – Suite 145
Melville, NY 11747
New York
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038
Queens
Parker Waichman LLP
118-35 Queens Boulevard, Suite 400
Forest Hills, NY 11375
Brooklyn
Parker Waichman LLP
300 Cadman Plaza West
One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
New Jersey
Parker Waichman LLP
80 Main Street, Suite 265
West Orange, NJ 07052
Florida
Parker Waichman LLP
27299 Riverview Center Boulevard
Suite 108
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
Nationwide Service
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038