Daniel E. Holloway
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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

The complaint alleges as follows:

  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

The complaint alleges the following 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 DepartmentCommunication or follow-up failureDelayed treatmentEmergency medicineRadiologyPrimary care communication