Ideally, your physicians and trusted medical professionals would always provide quality care and excellent treatment plans. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Medical malpractice is a real issue that faces many patients. When an injury or death is caused due to the negligence of a health care professional, it could be considered malpractice. With the help of reliable medical malpractice experts, you can determine whether or not your issue falls into one of the following situations.

• High deductible health plan issues. With the increasing cost of health care, many patients choose to enroll in high deductible plans. Because of this, they often put off necessary health care due to financial concerns. Even though a patient has chosen to postpone care, physicians can still be held liable should they neglect to provide vital preventive tests.

• Clinical guideline shortcomings. Typically, physicians draft guidelines to uphold their practice. While they may seem like a great way to prevent malpractice suits, they are often unreliable. If you feel that your doctor has acted negligently but is protected by specific guidelines, consult with a malpractice professional. Your claim may have merit.

• Accountable Care Organizations. ACOs are dedicated to providing healthcare for less cost. While this seems like a noble cause, it presents increased malpractice issues. In some cases, patients may expect a higher quality of care than doctors are willing to give.

• Team health care. Whether you’re facing a cancer diagnosis or dealing with a broken bone, having a team of licensed health care professionals treating you may seem like a plus. While collaborative care can improve your quality of treatment, it can also cause problems. In some cases, important details fall through the cracks. Whether a physician or a team member is responsible for an error, it could merit a malpractice suit.

• Technology in the workplace. Tablets and smartphones are an excellent tool for health care providers. They allow access to databases and information instantaneously. However, they can also be distracting. In some cases, health care professionals allow their phones to interfere with the attention that their patients need.

• Social media. The increase of social media has created an increase of malpractice suits. Physicians and other health care professionals are required by law to protect patient information. If stories or other private details are posted on a social media site, the physician or facility could be held liable.

• Electronic health records. EHRs were a huge technological milestone in the healthcare industry. They allowed patient information to be shared between physicians and easy access to health history. Like all technology, though, errors are possible. Issues with electronic health records could be grounds for a malpractice case, depending on the situation.

• Telemedicine. Many companies now allow doctors to meet with patients via video conferencing. While this saves time and money, it can also lead to serious problems. If the physician isn’t careful, a misdiagnosis is possible. In some cases, the issues related to telemedicine could merit a malpractice suit.

No matter what the situation may be, a possible malpractice suit is serious. It’s important to meet with a medical malpractice expert to review the details of your case. With their guidance, it’s easier to determine what your next step should be.