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Real case examples

Hip-fracture diagnosis allegedly not communicated at Phoebe Worth Medical Center

This complaint states as follows: The patient went to the Emergency Department at Phoebe Worth Medical Center, after falling and hurting her leg. A radiologist identified fractures in her toes and hip (the femoral neck). No one at Phoebe Worth communicated that information to the patient or her primary care provider for nearly a month. By the time she received treatment, her condition had worsened significantly, requiring more invasive surgery and resulting in permanent mobility impairment.

System
Phoebe Putney
Facility
Phoebe Worth Medical Center
Providers involved
Phoebe Worth Medical Center / Radiologist / Primary care provider
Pattern
Emergency-department hip-fracture diagnosis not communicated to the patient or primary care provider for nearly a month
Harm
More invasive surgery and permanent mobility impairment

Overview

This page concerns an emergency-department visit after a fall where fractures in the toes and hip allegedly were identified by radiology but were not communicated to the patient or her primary care provider for nearly a month, allowing the condition to worsen before treatment.

Chronology

  1. The patient went to the Emergency Department at Phoebe Worth Medical Center after falling and hurting her leg.
  2. A radiologist identified fractures in her toes and hip, specifically the femoral neck.
  3. No one at Phoebe Worth allegedly communicated that information to the patient or her primary care provider for nearly a month.
  4. By the time she received treatment, her condition had worsened significantly, requiring more invasive surgery and causing permanent mobility impairment.

Alleged failures

  • Phoebe Worth providers allegedly failed to communicate the radiologist’s fracture findings to the patient.
  • Phoebe Worth providers allegedly failed to communicate the findings to the patient’s primary care provider for nearly a month.
  • The communication failure allegedly delayed treatment until more invasive surgery and permanent mobility impairment resulted.

Entities and tags

Phoebe PutneyPhoebe Worth Medical CenterRadiologistPrimary care providerFemoral neckEmergency DepartmentFailure to communicateMissed fracture follow-upHip fractureDelay in treatmentEmergency medicineRadiologyPrimary care communication

Questions this example answers

What does the Phoebe Worth hip fracture not communicated allege?

This complaint states as follows: The patient went to the Emergency Department at Phoebe Worth Medical Center, after falling and hurting her leg. A radiologist identified fractures in her toes and hip (the femoral neck). No one at Phoebe Worth communicated that information to the patient or her primary care provider for nearly a month. By the time she received treatment, her condition had worsened significantly, requiring more invasive surgery and resulting in permanent mobility impairment.

Who is identified in this public case example?

This public case example identifies Phoebe Worth Medical Center, Radiologist, and Primary care provider. It also tags the source-supported entities Phoebe Putney, Phoebe Worth Medical Center, Radiologist, Primary care provider, and Femoral neck.

What alleged failures are summarized here?

Phoebe Worth providers allegedly failed to communicate the radiologist’s fracture findings to the patient. Phoebe Worth providers allegedly failed to communicate the findings to the patient’s primary care provider for nearly a month. The communication failure allegedly delayed treatment until more invasive surgery and permanent mobility impairment resulted.