According to a study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association, hospitals profit when your surgery goes wrong. Here are some highlights from the study:
- Patients who had complications during surgery spent significantly more time in the hospital, which increases their bills.
- Surgical complications can as much as triple a hospital's profit margin.
- Hospitals that reduce complications don't see a financial benefit - the savings go to insurance companies and Medicare.
The study does not say hospitals are messing up surgeries on purpose. It just shows they don't have a strong incentive to prevent complications or invest in better technology.
One solution being proposed is that hospitals be required to pay out of their own budgets for complications. This would give them more incentive to prevent complications whenever possible.
Still, surgical errors can happen. If you've been injured in a hospital, you should speak with one of our Kansas City medical malpractice attorneys about your case.
We know how hospitals work and how to get the justice you need and deserve. Contact us today for a free conversation.
