How many of you have not had the experience of visiting your local emergency room? I bet not many.
An astounding 115 million people in America are treated in emergency rooms every year, according to a 2007 statistic released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The more worrisome statistic is the Journal of the American Medical Association has reported that more than 225,000 people die every year as a result of medical malpractice with emergency room errors accounting for almost half of those numbers.
According to a study by Health Grades, Inc., 20-40% of emergency room patients were misdiagnosed by health professionals. It is these mistakes that can lead to further injury and wrongful death.
How do the emergency rooms in Western Virginia measure up?
Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Lewis-Gale Hospital, Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County, Danville Regional Medical Center, Stonewall Jackson Hospital, Carilion New River Valley Hospital, Montgomery Regional Hospital, Wellmont Bristol Regional Hospital, Carilion Giles Memorial Hospital, Alleghany Regional Hospital, Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital, and Tazewell Community Hospital