Fractured Trust: How EvaluCare Helped Me Find Justice After a Preventable Hospital Fall

Patient falls in hospitals are most often a result of care gaps. When they lead to an injury the impact on patients can be high.

I'm a 75-year-old woman on the frail side and taking multiple medications to manage my health. When I was in the hospital, I fell and broke my arm. The thing was that I wasn't even told I was a fall risk. Not that I had to be told, I know I am. I was told by others after that the nurses should have checked me for that.

As part of my initial assessment, the nurses never said anything about falling. I've got some physical limitations and I am unsteady, and I told them that when I first got to my room.

Despite this, they never did anything.

One day, I tried to get out of bed to go to the bathroom, my legs felt like jelly. I took a step and I lost my balance. I woke up on the floor feeling dizzy and didn't know where I was. My medications had been adjusted just a few days before, but it seemed that no one thought about how this might affect me. Before I knew what was happening, I hit the floor.

The pain was excruciating. I laid there for a while. I couldn't move. I couldn't call for help at first. It was a long time before anyone noticed me. The nurses got me up. Helped me go to the bathroom. My arm was swollen and sore. The nurse said it looked okay.

Two days or so later I got an X-ray. I had a broken arm. I got a brace for it.

Throughout my hospital stay, I felt like just another statistic. Not a real person deserving of good care. Nurses were always so busy with other things. I didn't want to bother them.

After being discharged with a cast and a long recovery, I couldn't help but be upset. I have to heal my arm, and at 75, bones don't heal too quick.

My son told me that a company called EvaluCare could look at my care. And that's what I had them do.

They reviewed my hospital time and they told me about how things should have gone.

From their report they said:

Issues From Report:

1. A falls risk assessment tool (like Hester-Davis, Morse) should have been used to identify my specific risks and develop a personalized plan to prevent falls.

2. The hospital did not document a falls prevention protocol because they didn't have one.

3. The hospital didn't conduct regular assessments or monitor my condition closely enough as it changed, leaving me apt to fall or fall again.

4. My medication regimen wasn't adequately managed, contributing to the dizziness that led to my initial fall.

It was good to know that this stuff should have happened and it didn't and that if it did I likely wouldn't have fell.

EvaluCare created a letter for me to give the hospital and ask for a settlement. I ended up getting some money which I wasn't expecting.

I really can't thank EvaluCare more.

This whole thing shouldn't have happened. But it could have been worse.

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About EvaluCare

If you're a patient or family member who's experienced subpar care in a hospital setting, know that there are people who care about your story and will fight for justice on your behalf. EvaluCare is more than just a medical care review service, we are advocates for patients like who've been let down by the very healthcare system meant to help.

EvaluCare is a patient advocacy organization dedicated to reviewing medical records, identifying areas of subpar care, and advocating for patients' rights.

Our team of experts works closely with patients and families to uncover the truth behind hospital errors or neglect. With their guidance, you can reach a direct settlement with hospitals and healthcare providers who've failed to provide adequate care.

Visit EvaluCare.net today to learn more about services https://www.evalucare.net/medical-care-review-services and how you can help you find answers and hold your healthcare provider accountable for any mistakes made during your stay.