Your child falls while at the playground and you think his or her arm may be broken. You are doing yard work and while bending over to lift something, your back spasms and you are suddenly unable to move. While at the local pool your spouse forgets to put on sunscreen and suffers a severe sunburn. If any of these summer time scenarios happen to you or your family, your first inclination is most likely to hop in the car and head directly to your local hospital emergency department or walk-in clinic for immediate treatment. But what most people are not aware of is that when you head to the doctor or hospital may impact the level of care you receive.
There is a phenomenon that is referred to as the “July Effect.” The July Effect refers to the theory that a person who visits a clinic or hospital during the month of July, receives a lower quality of care than if he or she had visited the same facility during one of the other eleven months of the year. Why July you wonder? July is the month when medical students, who graduated in May, typically begin their residencies at local teaching hospitals and clinics. The theory is that since the more experienced residents have moved on and now been replaced with virtually inexperienced residents, that the level of patient care worsens and more mistakes are made.
While research has been done over the years to see if the “July Effect” is more of a myth or if the phenomenon has a scientific basis, the answer to the question depends on who you ask. One doctor who analyzed two decades worth of data found that when he focused on the bigger and better studies, there was some support for the “July Effect”. He found that during the month of July, there was an increase in patient mortality and a decrease in the efficiency of patient care. That being said, another doctor, who uses a 2013 study for his basis, opines that it is probably more myth than fact. The doctor points to the fact that residents are not running around a hospital completely on their own—they are being supervised. Resident programs start with resident receiving very little autonomy. Then with experience and performance, a resident’s responsibilities increase.
Doctors are not the only ones with insights into whether the “July Effect” exists. Medical personnel such as nurses, are also witness to the influx of new residents during July. Nurses in particular acknowledge the huge learning curve that new residents must undergo. One nurse who writes about healthcare, feels that regardless of whether the data supports it, that more mistakes are made in July.
But even doctors who find some truth to the “July Effect” state that medical care should not be delayed simply because it falls during the 7th month of the calendar year. Rather, if a person is worried about the level of care he or she may receive, that it best for him or her to bring a friend or family member with them, who can help advocate on his or her behalf. Again, residents are supervised, and a patient can always request to speak with the resident’s attending physician.
If you believe that you or a loved one was a victim of medical malpractice it is important that you seek out an experienced Kansas City Medical Malpractice Attorney. To succeed in proving that your injury was caused by hospital or doctor error you need a seasoned Kansas City Medical Malpractice Attorney. Only a skilled Kansas City Medical Malpractice Attorney has the capability to fully investigate your case and make sure that you receive appropriate compensation for your injuries. At Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P., you can trust our attorneys to provide you with the highest degree of legal services. Call our office today at (816) 472-4673 to schedule an initial consultation.
