Malpractice Specialists

Monitor Your Doctor with HealthGrades' New ``Watchdog' Alerts: Disciplinary Actions, Malpractice, Other Alerts Sent

GOLDEN, Colo. (Business Wire EON) February 19, 2008 -- "Recent high-profile news stories underscore the need for patients to know more about their doctors," said Sarah Loughran, HealthGrades' executive vice president. "If your doctor is sanctioned by his or her state medical board, has a substantial malpractice judgment or has received new training or expertise, you can know about it immediately through HealthGrades' Watchdog e-mail alert service. It's designed to give patients peace of mind."

HealthGrades maintains award-winning quality profiles on virtually every practicing physician in the country to help patients and their loved ones research and choose the physician who is right for them. The profiles include information on each doctor's medical training, board certification, patient-experience ratings, state and federal sanctions, malpractice judgments (in 15 states), procedure costs, hospital affiliations and more. By signing up for the HealthGrades Watchdog service, consumers will receive real-time e-mail alerts when important information changes within their doctors' profile.

More than four million individuals visited HealthGrades.com in January of 2008 to research the quality and cost of doctors, hospitals, physicians, nursing homes and home health agencies.

HealthGrades' physician profiles include the following information, much of which is free to visitors of www.healthgrades.com:

-- Physician contact information

-- Medical training

-- Residencies and fellowships

-- Specialty

-- Board certification

-- Sanctions and disciplinary action at the federal level and in all of the 50 states

-- Malpractice judgments (available in 15 states)

-- Patient-experience survey responses

-- Years in practice

-- HealthGrades quality ratings of affiliated and nearby hospitals

-- Cost information on relevant procedures

-- Checklist for evaluating physicians

-- Comparisons to similar physicians

-- Bridges to Excellence(R) certification

-- Priority appointment link for thousands of doctors

-- Physician-written background information on practice philosophy, subspecialty training and more, in selected reports

Comprehensive physician profiles cost $29.95 and the Watchdog e-mail alert service cost $4.95 a month.

About HealthGrades

Health Grades, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGRD) is the leading healthcare ratings organization, providing ratings and profiles of hospitals, nursing homes and physicians. Millions of consumers and many of the nation's largest employers, health plans and hospitals rely on HealthGrades' independent ratings, advisory services and decision-support resources to make healthcare decisions based on the quality and cost of care. More information on the company can be found at www.healthgrades.com.

Do You Deserve Medical Malpractice Settlements?
Medical malpractice settlements are awarded for damages and injuries incurred by a patient who is being attended by health care workers. These awards vary in the amount depending on the damages and the state in which the case is taking place. In order to receive a settlement, the patient and his attorney must show that the patient suffered harm by actions or inactions of the medical workers who were charged with his care.

Medical Malpractice - Who is Treating You?
Do you know who is treating you? Patients are often unaware that the professional treating them is not a physician. For example, a patient goes into a routine outpatient procedure under which they are sedated with anesthesia. The anesthesiologist M.D. greets the patient briefly and asks some history and may perform a short examination. This takes place after another professional, likely a C.R.N.A. certified nurse anesthetist and/or a nurse has taken a history from the patient. The M.D. doesn't do a real thorough job taking the history or performing an examination because he assumes this has been done by the nurse and/or C.R.N.A. He is present to sedate the patient and once sedated, leaves the operating room giving control and supervis...

What Is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice refers to negligence caused by health care professionals that then leads to injury, loss of income or even death of the patient. Medical malpractice can occur to anyone at anytime. In fact this situation is gaining momentum, as a result of which many countries have made specified laws to deal with medical malpractice. The law clearly states that primary health of the patient at the time of first visit to the physician is not the responsibility of the physician. But problems that may occur thereafter, in the course of or after treatment of the patient, is the responsibility of the physician.

What To Do If You Are A Victim Of Hospital Malpractice
Hospital malpractice is like dental or medical malpractice; however it does have one difference. Hospital malpractice may not be a result of actions regarding a specific doctor or medical personnel at the hospital. Hospital malpractice is usually a result of actions by hospital personnel that cause undue injury or pain. This injury or pain can be temporary or permanent as a result of misdiagnosis or other error. To help you better understand malpractice we are going to look at what it is; how a malpractice lawyer may be able to help you, and how these types of cases are usually settled.

Related:

Medical Malpractice - Who is Treating You?
Do you know who is treating you? Patients are often unaware that the professional treating them is not a physician. For example, a patient goes into a routine outpatient procedure under which they are sedated with anesthesia. The anesthesiologist M.D. greets the patient briefly and asks some history and may perform a short examination. This takes place after another professional, likely a C.R.N.A. certified nurse anesthetist and/or a nurse has taken a history from the patient. The M.D. doesn't do a real thorough job taking the history or performing an examination because he assumes this has been done by the nurse and/or C.R.N.A. He is present to sedate the patient and once sedated, leaves the operating room giving control and supervis...

What Is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice refers to negligence caused by health care professionals that then leads to injury, loss of income or even death of the patient. Medical malpractice can occur to anyone at anytime. In fact this situation is gaining momentum, as a result of which many countries have made specified laws to deal with medical malpractice. The law clearly states that primary health of the patient at the time of first visit to the physician is not the responsibility of the physician. But problems that may occur thereafter, in the course of or after treatment of the patient, is the responsibility of the physician.

What To Do If You Are A Victim Of Hospital Malpractice
Hospital malpractice is like dental or medical malpractice; however it does have one difference. Hospital malpractice may not be a result of actions regarding a specific doctor or medical personnel at the hospital. Hospital malpractice is usually a result of actions by hospital personnel that cause undue injury or pain. This injury or pain can be temporary or permanent as a result of misdiagnosis or other error. To help you better understand malpractice we are going to look at what it is; how a malpractice lawyer may be able to help you, and how these types of cases are usually settled.

Hot in this network: