This is a moderated platform run by an independent non profit organisation that takes your feedback directly to the hospital. Typically you will receive a response from the hospital within 72 hours of it being posted. The team moderate it before posting it so it is not immediately displayed. As all stories are moderated before publishing, please consider this when writing. For example, critical stories will not be published with names included, they will be edited out. Some stories may not be published but you will be able to discuss this with Care Opinion. You can see their Moderation Policy here. Show
The Care Opinion website allows you to post your story, positive or negative, anonymously. The health service is identified but you remain anonymous. This story is published to the website where you, and everyone else can track its progress from your story being read, responded to, and a change made if necessary. The feedback is read by the highest level of health service management, so it is one of the most effective ways to make your voice count. We have advocated for this platform, also used in the United Kingdom and Ireland, because its transparency really changes the game. See this page for more information.
2. The consumer liaison/patient feedback serviceEach hospital in Western Australia has a feedback department. These departments are made up of staff within the hospital who can help facilitate patient and family services within the hospital, as well as take down, investigate and respond to complaints about the hospitals service. There is a full list of these departments on this link or at the end of this document: https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/U_Z/WA-Health-patient-consumer-liaison-contacts
When you visit your doctor or go to the hospital, you have a reasonable expectation that your doctor will treat you with a high degree of care. Unfortunately, doctors are often overworked, have little time to devote to personalized patient care and make mistakes that constitute medical malpractice. At The Law Offices of Michael M. Wilson M.D., J.D. & Associates, our experienced Washington, D.C., medical malpractice lawyers know how devastating it can be to be a victim of a physician’s error. If you believe that your doctor or hospital has acted in a way that warrants a complaint, you should quickly report the doctor and/or hospital to the property authorities. If you have suffered harm as a result of malpractice, you should meet with an experienced attorney with our law firm as soon as possible to discuss the option of filing a medical malpractice suit for damages. Our lawyers are here to assist you – just reach out to us today to learn more about your rights and how we can help. Types of ComplaintsBeing frustrated with your doctor or your condition does not necessarily mean that you have grounds to file a complaint or a medical malpractice lawsuit. The human body and mind are complicated. Sometimes, even the best medical care in the world is not enough to remedy a person’s ailment. With that said, certain actions do warrant filing a complaint. These actions include:
Any time that a doctor breaches the duty of care owed to a patient, filing a complaint can help to protect other patients and hold that doctor responsible for his or her negligence. Federation of State Medical Boards Physician Data CenterThe Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) is an organization that consists of more than 70 state medical boards from throughout the country. The organization’s Physician Data Center is a database that provides detailed profiles about the physicians and other medical professionals who are licensed and regulated by those boards. When you look up a doctor’s profile, you can find information that includes the doctor’s:
When you look up a profile, you will get a better understanding of a doctor’s background and experience, which can help you to determine whether the doctor has training to handle your specific type of medical problem. Of course, the disciplinary history is also important. Generally speaking, doctors are disciplined by medical boards only after an investigation has determined that the doctor did something highly unprofessional or provided sub-standard care to a patient. Medical Board WebsitesEvery state and the District of Columbia has an agency that licenses, regulates and, ultimately, disciplines doctors if they engage in professional misconduct. These boards have databases as well which are available to the public. In the Washington, D.C., area, you can check out:
Keep in mind: Many doctors are licensed and practice in several different states. In fact, it’s highly common for a doctor to practice in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. So, you may need to check out multiple medical board websites to get a complete picture. National Committee for Quality Assurance Report CardsThe National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is a nonprofit that measures the quality of not only individual health care providers but health care organizations and health care plans as well. The NCQA Report Cards assesses doctors and their practices by using a scoring system that takes into account several factors including malpractice history. The NCQA does not provide as much detailed information about past complaints against a doctor or hospital. Still, the Report Cards can help you to get a good overall picture of what to expect when you work with a health care provider. CourthousesIf you really want to dig deep into the background of complaints against a specific doctor or hospital, you can go to the local courthouse and look up whether any medical malpractice lawsuits have been filed against them. Typically, a patient will file the lawsuit in the county where the doctor practices, or where the hospital is located. What Should You Do with All of This Information?When you conduct a background search on a doctor or hospital, you should step back and look at the big picture. For example, a doctor’s rating on a website may show that the doctor has a high success rate with patients. At the same time, the doctor may also refuse to treat high-risk patients, which can skew the doctor’s record. Likewise, a doctor with a lower success rate may be an excellent doctor that simply cares for anyone that comes through the door, including challenging cases. If you see red flags in a doctor’s background, your next step may be to simply ask the doctor about it. If a doctor refuses to discuss it with you, that may raise another red flag. It can be a sign that you should consider looking elsewhere for medical care. However, if the doctor is open and honest about what happened in the past, it may be a positive sign. After all, communication and transparency are crucial when it comes to having a good doctor-patient relationship and making sure that you get the quality of care that you deserve. Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Being a Victim of a Medical ErrorIf you are a victim of a medical mistake, it is important that you file a complaint –not only can this serve as a piece of evidence should you pursue a medical malpractice lawsuit, but filing a complaint can also help you to protect others from a similar error or from an unfit doctor. Knowing how to reduce your risk of being a victim of a medical error in the first place is also important. Some steps that you can take include:
Reach Out to Our Experienced Washington, D.C., Medical Malpractice Lawyers TodayIf you believe that your doctor has acted in error, and if you have suffered harm as a direct result, not only should you file an official complaint, but you should also meet with an experienced Washington, D.C. medical malpractice lawyer. At The Law Offices of Michael M. Wilson M.D., J.D. & Associates, we have years of combined medical and legal experience that we can bring to your case. Contact us today for a free review of your case and learn more about how we can assist you. Michael M. Wilson Dr. Michael M. Wilson is an attorney and a physician who earned his undergraduate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his legal and medical degrees from Georgetown University. He has focused in the area of medical malpractice for more than three decades and secured more than $100 million in settlements and verdicts on behalf of clients throughout the country. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and New York as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is listed in America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators. What is the most common complaints in a hospitals?Studies have found that the vast majority of hospital patient complaints are related to the customer service they receive, specifically in the areas of:. Staff/Patient Communication: 53 percent.. Long Wait Times: 35 percent.. Practice Staff Behavior: 12 percent.. Billing Discrepencies: 2 percent.. How do I complain about a doctor in Singapore?If you have any feedback or questions on matters relating to doctors and clinics in Singapore, you may visit the Ministry of Health website for the feedback form. You may also visit the section on "Further Information" to see if your questions on Specialist Registration and Accreditation have already been addressed.
How do I report a hospital in California?Central Complaint Unit. Toll-Free: 1-800-633-2322.. Phone: (916) 263-2382.. Fax: (916) 263-2435.. Email: [email protected].. How do I file a complaint against a hospital in Illinois?The Health Care Bureau's toll-free hotline, 1-877-305-5145 (TTY 1-800-964-3013), operates to assist consumers with problems related to health care. Health Care Bureau mediators deal directly with the consumer to collect information regarding the complaint.
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