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Delayed stroke treatment after repeated TIAs at Emory Johns Creek Hospital

This complaint states as follows: The patient suffered three transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) within 8 hours, which were not properly recognized or treated by the medical staff at Emory Johns Creek Hospital. Despite neurological monitoring orders and a neurology consultation request, the nursing staff failed to implement the monitoring for 16 hours. When a neurologist finally assessed the patient, the neurologist suspected a conversion disorder rather than stroke, missing the opportunity for urgent stroke treatment. As a result, the patient did not receive any treatment for the stroke he was suffering, which was confirmed by an MRI two days later. The multiple, repeated delays left the patient with significant permanent disabilities.

System
Emory Healthcare
Facility
Emory Johns Creek Hospital
Providers involved
Emory Johns Creek Hospital / Nursing staff / Neurologist
Pattern
Three TIAs in eight hours followed by delayed monitoring and missed stroke treatment
Harm
Significant permanent disabilities

Overview

This page concerns a stroke case at Emory Johns Creek Hospital in which repeated transient ischemic attacks allegedly were not properly recognized or treated, ordered neurological monitoring was not implemented for 16 hours, and a later neurology assessment suspected conversion disorder instead of stroke before MRI confirmation two days later.

Chronology

  1. The patient suffered three transient ischemic attacks within 8 hours while at Emory Johns Creek Hospital.
  2. Neurological monitoring orders and a neurology consultation request were entered, but the nursing staff failed to implement the monitoring for 16 hours.
  3. When a neurologist finally assessed the patient, the neurologist suspected conversion disorder rather than stroke.
  4. The patient received no treatment for the stroke he was suffering, and MRI confirmed the stroke two days later after repeated delays had left him with significant permanent disabilities.

Alleged failures

  • The medical staff at Emory Johns Creek Hospital failed to properly recognize and treat three TIAs within an eight-hour period.
  • The nursing staff failed to implement ordered neurological monitoring for 16 hours despite monitoring orders and a neurology consultation request.
  • The later neurology assessment allegedly missed the opportunity for urgent stroke treatment by suspecting conversion disorder rather than stroke.

Entities and tags

Emory HealthcareEmory Johns Creek HospitalNursing staffNeurologistMRITransient ischemic attacksStroke delayFailure to monitorMissed emergency escalationConversion disorder misdiagnosisEmergency medicineNeurology

Questions this example answers

What does the Emory Johns Creek stroke delay allege?

This complaint states as follows: The patient suffered three transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) within 8 hours, which were not properly recognized or treated by the medical staff at Emory Johns Creek Hospital. Despite neurological monitoring orders and a neurology consultation request, the nursing staff failed to implement the monitoring for 16 hours. When a neurologist finally assessed the patient, the neurologist suspected a conversion disorder rather than stroke, missing the opportunity for urgent stroke treatment. As a result, the patient did not receive any treatment for the stroke he was suffering, which was confirmed by an MRI two days later. The multiple, repeated delays left the patient with significant permanent disabilities.

Who is identified in this public case example?

This public case example identifies Emory Johns Creek Hospital, Nursing staff, and Neurologist. It also tags the source-supported entities Emory Healthcare, Emory Johns Creek Hospital, Nursing staff, Neurologist, and MRI.

What alleged failures are summarized here?

The medical staff at Emory Johns Creek Hospital failed to properly recognize and treat three TIAs within an eight-hour period. The nursing staff failed to implement ordered neurological monitoring for 16 hours despite monitoring orders and a neurology consultation request. The later neurology assessment allegedly missed the opportunity for urgent stroke treatment by suspecting conversion disorder rather than stroke.