What is one thing Tennessee surgeons and pilots have in common? If they perform at substandard levels, the results can be catastrophic. Pilots can cause planes to crash, injuring or killing themselves and, likely, all others on board. Negligent surgeons are often sued for medical malpractice after causing severe injuries or illnesses to their patients.
One hospital in another state thought of an innovative way to address this problem. It brought in a highly skilled pilot to teach safety improvement measures to its surgical teams. Although the pilot didn't even understand all the medical jargon being shared in the room, he did know many things he believed could help the surgeons decrease errors in the operating room. Currently, medical mistakes are the third leading cause of death in the nation.
The pilot said he and his colleagues use a very structured system of color codes, simulations, and checklists to prevent mistakes that might otherwise occur. He told the surgeons that implementing a similar system of checks and balances in the operating room may help them lower their risk of error. One of the surgeons participating in the project also happens to be a pilot, and he said he can easily see how such a system could work in the surgical field.
It's good that measures are being taken to help keep patients in Tennessee and throughout the nation safe. However, there are many people currently facing situations where medical malpractice has caused them to suffer injury or illness. Justice can prevail when a personal injury claim is filed and substantiated in court. An experienced attorney can guide an injured victim through the process.
