Connecticut Medical Malpractice: Matters of the Heart

To ICU or not to ICU?  

A new study shows that when cardiac patients are admitted to the intensive care unit, their outcomes are worse. This study, conducted at the University of Michigan Medical School, studied the 2010 records of over 570,000 patients.

The research is insightful. Heart attack patients admitted to a hospital with high ICU usage are 6% more likely to die within 30 days of discharge versus their low ICU usage counterparts. For heart failure patients it was 8%.

The research went on to conclude that for hospitals that rely heavily on the use of the ICU there is a lower quality of care. These high ICU-use hospitals are less likely to give a cardiac patient aspirin upon arrival at the hospital. In heart failure patients, these hospitals were less likely to perform important tests, administer certain medications and counsel patients.

If you are questioning the level of care your loved one received in the ICU after a cardiac event, find out if you have a medical malpractice case. Our doctor/attorney, Bob Messey, and nurse/attorney, Gayle Sullivan, will begin an immediate medical and legal investigation into your case.