Navigating Broken Systems
Attorneys are experts at navigating broken systems.
When managing medical cases, you often have to maneuver through multiple systems designed to disempower your client. At Integrity, we ensure you don’t face this challenge alone. We help you strategize through the barriers stacked against your client and their caregivers.
Dr. Edwin Leap’s Story
I highly recommend this article by Dr. Edwin Leap, a board-certified emergency physician with 30 years of experience. He shares a story about a particularly difficult night in the emergency department (ED), where he was the only physician, supported by just one nurse practitioner. Together, they were responsible for over 20 patients, including 10 holds and 17 in the waiting room.
His story highlights some of the ways our medical system is failing patients and providers alike.
One of the most critical issues Dr. Leap describes is boarding, the practice of holding patients in the ED because there are no available inpatient beds. Boarding has become a nationwide crisis with far-reaching consequences.
The Consequences of Boarding
Research shows that boarding increases mortality rates for elderly patients and can lead to agitation and delirium in vulnerable populations.
As boarded patients fill the ED, new patients are forced to wait longer in overcrowded waiting rooms. Some leave without being seen, not because they aren’t sick, but because they’re drained and distressed. Tragically, some of these patients may die as a result.
Meanwhile, nurses and physicians are stretched thin, trying to care for both boarded patients and new arrivals. The constant strain leads to burnout, turnover, and a cycle of understaffing that only exacerbates the problem.
And then there’s the loss of privacy and dignity. Patients are often treated in chairs or hallways, which can force nurses to administer incomplete care because they lack the proper equipment to do so.
Dr. Leap’s story uncovers the systemic causes of boarding, which include nursing shortages, limited rehab and nursing home beds, and an abundance of people who need care. In some cases, patients board because there aren’t enough ambulances or helicopters to transport them.
Translating Medical Records into Human Stories
If you’re working on a case where your client was failed by the system, chances are their provider was too. So, how do we hold the leaders of the medical industry accountable?
For attorneys, it starts with telling the human story behind the injury, the pain, or the wrongdoing that was caused. This requires translating complex medical data into a meaningful timeline. This is how we shine a light on a broken system. From there, we demand corrective action, and slowly work toward building something better.
At Integrity, we specialize in helping you do just that. From analyzing medical records and identifying future costs to securing signed declarations from busy doctors, we provide the strategic support you need to build a compelling case. We partner with attorneys across the greater Pacific Northwest, including Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska, and beyond.
Please read Dr. Leap’s story. Then, if you’re navigating a medical case and need expert guidance, schedule a free consultation with our experts. Together, we can ensure your client is well-supported—and that the systems responsible for their pain are held accountable.