Informatics 470

Linda Smith

ALEXANDER INJURY CASE PRESENTATION

APRIL 24, 2010• Ms. Alexander was driven to the pharmacy by her niece to pick up prescription medication

for high blood pressure.

• After entering the store she sustained injuries from a fall resulting from tripping over a stack of shelving left on the floor in one of the isles by an employee of the pharmacy.

• She was aided by employees and bystanders and told by the assistant manager of the pharmacy that she should go to the hospital and get evaluated at the pharmacy’s expense.

• Three days later Ms. Alexander went to the hospital and was found to have many remarkable injuries as a result of the fall and needed surgery after which she developed pneumonia and required additional hospitalization.

• As a consequence, Ms. Alexander who is self-employed as a graphic designer, was unable to work and lost clients as a direct result of her injuries.

• Although Ms. Alexander submitted her medical bills to the pharmacy, they have not paid Ms. Alexander’s bills and her account has been sent to a collection agency.

Graphic ArtMs. Alexander’s Passion and Livelihood

A Graphic ArtistSomeone who creates and develops art for the purpose of display or commercial use.

Ms. Alexander is a Graphic ArtistSince she was a child she has used art to express herself and her love of nature, form and figure.

Graphic Art Requires Long Hours at the Computer or Drawing Board

Although Ms. Alexander started her career with pen and canvas, the advent of computers drew her into a new medium and she met the challenge with determination to create at a different level of control and ideology.

Form and Function

Ms. Alexander used her talents to start her own graphic design business in which she worked with local and national organizations developing logos and other products.

But her life’s work has been interrupted and may never return to what it once was.

Ms. Alexander has lost her ability to sit at her computer or drawing board for prolonged periods and has lost the use of her left arm until her injuries heal.

Her injuries have resulted in the inability to do graphic design work and the loss of clients.

58' 7"

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On April 24, Ms. Alexander sustained injuries when she tripped and fell over shelving left on the floor of the pharmacy.

After entering the pharmacy, Ms. Alexander went to the pharmacy counter in the back of the store, picked up her high blood pressure medication and proceeded to the candy isle to get a package of butter mints.

Here in the candy isle, Ms. Alexander tripped over a stack of shelving left in the isle by an employee of the pharmacy .

The fall resulted in 3 broken ribs, a mild concussion, a broken arm with torn ligaments and considerable bruising on her arm and leg.

If the shelving had been properly stacked and barricaded, Ms. Alexander may not have tripped over the shelving.

CAUTION

A: End Rack B: End Rack

CAUTIONCAUTION

CAUTIONCAUTION CAUTIONCAUTION

Instead the boards were left carelessly strewn unevenly while the employee took a break in the back room.

Left Upper Arm Bruising developed on the upper left posterior arm after falling in the pharmacy.

Ms. Alexander’s Injuries due to falling.

Left ArmPosterior upper left arm bruising and anterior arm centrally located bruising.

Ms. Alexander’s Injuries due to falling.

Bruising of the Left LegInterior surface of the left posterior calf.

Ms. Alexander’s Injuries due to falling.

Fracture-broken or cracked bone

Ligaments-elastic-like tissue connecting bones to bones

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI)Also known as concussion-”bruising” of brain tissue due to severe blow to the head

Contusions-bruising of skin to various depths

Ulna (arm bone) fracture

INJURY TIMELINE

Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun4/18 4/19 4/20 4/21 4/22 4/23 4/24 4/25 4/26 4/27 4/28 4/29 4/30 5/1 5/2 5/3 5/4 5/5 5/6 5/7 5/8

4/18 4/25 5/2

Mrs.Alexanderfalls at thepharmacy,April 20th.

Initial injuriesassessed

April 22nd.

Pain continueswithout relief.

Mrs. Alexanderreturns to the

hospital forre-assessment.

During 2ndassessment, a

broken bone in herarm and torn

ligaments werediscovered.

Mrs. Alexander is admitted tothe hospital for surgery torepair damage to her arm

requiring a 3 day stay. Mrs. Alexanderdevelops pneumoniarequiring another 3

days stay in thehospital totaling 6

days in the hospital.

Mrs.Alexander is

released fromthe hospital.

Hospital Acquired Pneumonia (HAP)Hospital Acquired Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that occurs during a hospital stay (National Institute of Health)

Prolonged stress suppresses the immune system and further stress was put on Ms. Alexander by an invasive surgical procedure to repair the damage that resulted from her tripping and falling over the shelving at the pharmacy.

Patients 65 and older are at higher risk for developing complications due to infections as a direct result of hospitalization (National Institute of Health).

At 64 years old, Ms. Alexander is at higher risk for developing hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) which can be quite severe for high risk patients.

If Ms. Alexander had not been hospitalized she might never have gotten the pneumonia which extended her stay in the hospital and added extra expense to an already high hospital bill.

EXPENSES

Hospital Bills Total $58,965.48Lost Income $42,000.00Pain & Suffering $399,034.52

Total Compensation Sought $500,000.00

After Ms. Alexander fell the assistant manager of the pharmacy told her to get examined by a physician at the pharmacy’s expense. Now the pharmacy is refusing to pay the bills.