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Possible abscess on CT allegedly not worked up before discharge at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital

The complaint alleges that the patient went to the emergency room at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital with severe lower-back pain, and that CT imaging showed a possible abscess. According to the complaint, the radiology report suggested follow-up imaging to confirm or rule out abscess, but the patient was discharged without further investigation of a condition the filing describes as carrying a risk of life-threatening sepsis.

System
Piedmont Healthcare
Facility
Piedmont Atlanta Hospital
Providers involved
Piedmont Atlanta Hospital / Emergency physician / Radiology
Pattern
CT finding suggestive of abscess followed by discharge without follow-up imaging or investigation
Harm
Alleged risk of life-threatening sepsis

Overview

This page concerns an emergency-room visit to Piedmont Atlanta Hospital in which a CT reportedly showed a possible lower-back abscess, the radiology report recommended follow-up imaging, and the patient nevertheless was discharged without investigation of a condition that could lead to life-threatening sepsis.

Chronology

  1. The patient went to the emergency room at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital with severe pain in her lower back.
  2. A CT showed a possible abscess in her lower back.
  3. The radiology report suggested follow-up imaging to confirm or rule out an abscess.
  4. The Piedmont physician discharged the patient without investigating the possibility of an abscess, despite the risk of life-threatening sepsis.

Alleged failures

  • The emergency physician allegedly discharged the patient despite a CT showing a possible abscess.
  • The recommended follow-up imaging in the radiology report allegedly was not pursued before discharge.
  • The alleged failure to investigate the possible abscess exposed the patient to the risk of life-threatening sepsis.

Entities and tags

Piedmont HealthcarePiedmont Atlanta HospitalEmergency physicianRadiology reportCTAbscessFailure to diagnoseRadiology follow-up failureAbscess delaySepsis riskEmergency medicineRadiology

Questions this example answers

What does the Piedmont Atlanta abscess delay allege?

The complaint alleges that the patient went to the emergency room at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital with severe lower-back pain, and that CT imaging showed a possible abscess. According to the complaint, the radiology report suggested follow-up imaging to confirm or rule out abscess, but the patient was discharged without further investigation of a condition the filing describes as carrying a risk of life-threatening sepsis.

Who is identified in this public case summary?

This public case summary identifies Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, Emergency physician, and Radiology. It also tags the source-supported entities Piedmont Healthcare, Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, Emergency physician, Radiology report, and CT.

What alleged failures are summarized here?

The emergency physician allegedly discharged the patient despite a CT showing a possible abscess. The recommended follow-up imaging in the radiology report allegedly was not pursued before discharge. The alleged failure to investigate the possible abscess exposed the patient to the risk of life-threatening sepsis.