Real case examples

Stroke allegedly not diagnosed or treated at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Savannah

This complaint states as follows: The patient was brought to the emergency department at St. Joseph's Hospital in Savannah, Georgia, with symptoms consistent with a stroke. The emergency room physician, Dr. Michael A. Errico, failed to properly evaluate and diagnose the patient's stroke, and did not administer the appropriate treatment, including TPA. As a result, the patient suffered serious physical injury and ultimately died.

System
St. Joseph’s Hospital
Facility
St. Joseph’s Hospital
Providers involved
St. Joseph’s Hospital / Dr. Michael A. Errico / Emergency department
Pattern
Emergency stroke presentation followed by failure to diagnose and failure to administer TPA
Harm
Serious physical injury and death

Overview

This page concerns an emergency stroke presentation at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Savannah, where the complaint alleges that Dr. Michael A. Errico failed to properly evaluate and diagnose the stroke and failed to administer appropriate treatment, including TPA.

Chronology

  1. The patient was brought to the emergency department at St. Joseph's Hospital in Savannah, Georgia, with symptoms consistent with a stroke.
  2. Dr. Michael A. Errico allegedly failed to properly evaluate and diagnose her stroke.
  3. The appropriate treatment, including TPA, allegedly was not administered.
  4. The patient suffered serious physical injury and ultimately died.

Alleged failures

  • Dr. Michael A. Errico allegedly failed to properly evaluate a patient presenting with stroke-consistent symptoms.
  • The stroke allegedly was not properly diagnosed in the emergency department.
  • Appropriate stroke treatment, including TPA, allegedly was not administered in time.

Entities and tags

St. Joseph’s HospitalSavannah, GeorgiaDr. Michael A. ErricoEmergency departmentTPAStroke delayFailure to diagnoseTPA issueEmergency-room stroke missEmergency medicineStroke care

Questions this example answers

What does the St. Joseph’s Savannah stroke delay allege?

This complaint states as follows: The patient was brought to the emergency department at St. Joseph's Hospital in Savannah, Georgia, with symptoms consistent with a stroke. The emergency room physician, Dr. Michael A. Errico, failed to properly evaluate and diagnose the patient's stroke, and did not administer the appropriate treatment, including TPA. As a result, the patient suffered serious physical injury and ultimately died.

Who is identified in this public case example?

This public case example identifies St. Joseph’s Hospital, Dr. Michael A. Errico, and Emergency department. It also tags the source-supported entities St. Joseph’s Hospital, Savannah, Georgia, Dr. Michael A. Errico, Emergency department, and TPA.

What alleged failures are summarized here?

Dr. Michael A. Errico allegedly failed to properly evaluate a patient presenting with stroke-consistent symptoms. The stroke allegedly was not properly diagnosed in the emergency department. Appropriate stroke treatment, including TPA, allegedly was not administered in time.