There are a lot of things not to like about being in a hospital: green Jell-O, the lack of privacy … . But in some Hampton Roads, Virginia (VA), hospitals, excess noise will not be one of them. What significance does noises have in a hospital? For one thing, it makes it hard for patients to sleep and rest, which are two of the most important things a patient should be doing to recover. Noise in hospitals is so important, in fact, that a new study shows patients in noisy hospitals increase their use of pain medications and have longer stays.
As a Virginia (VA) medical malpractice attorney, I’m glad to hear that several of our area hospitals in Portsmouth, VA –CarePlex and Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center — were among the best-rated.
I’m glad that area hospitals are being proactive about taking better care of patients. How can patients be proactive when choosing doctors? While you can never find out every small detail about your doctor or surgeon, there are a few things you can do to make a better informed decision. First and foremost, ask questions. For example
- Where did you go to medical school?
- What American Board of Medical Specialty Certifications do you have?
- How long have you been practicing?
- Are there any disciplinary actions outstanding against you?
All of these are perfectly legitimate questions to ask. Do not hesitate. If you’d like to learn more about surgical safety, medical negligence and ways not to become a victim, download our free report.
CT
About the Editors: The Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm, which has offices in Virginia (VA) and North Carolina (NC), edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as pro bono services.
Rick Shapiro has practiced personal injury law for over 30 years in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeastern United States. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (ABA Accredited) and has litigated injury cases throughout the eastern United States, including wrongful death, trucking, faulty products, railroad, and medical negligence claims. During his three-decade career, Shapiro has won client appeals before the VA Supreme Court, VA Court of Appeals, NC Supreme Court, SC Supreme Court, WV Supreme Court, TN Supreme Court, and three times before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, underscoring Shapiro’s trial achievements. In addition, he and his law firm have won settlements/verdicts in excess of $100 million. His success in and out of the courtroom is a big reason why he was named 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” in railroad law in U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers publication (Norfolk, VA area), and he has been named a “Best Lawyer” and “Super Lawyer” by those peer-reviewed organizations for multiple years. Rick was also named a “Leader in the Law, Class of 2022” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (total of 33 statewide honorees consisting of lawyers and judges across Virginia). And in September 2023, Rick was selected as a recipient of the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) 2023 President’s Award. Although many nominations were submitted from across the country, Rick was just one of eight attorneys chosen by the prestigious National Board which certifies civil trial attorneys across the U.S. Rick was also recently named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly 2024 Virginia’s Go To Lawyers Medical Malpractice. The attorneys awarded this honor are nominated by their colleagues and chosen by a panel from the publication.
Comments for this article are closed.