For two days, Olive View ER patient wasn't assigned a doctor, memo says

In a series of mistakes described as a “Swiss cheese” event by a hospital official, a patient recently admitted to Olive View-UCLA Medical Center was not assigned a doctor for two days.

The patient was admitted to the county teaching hospital in Sylmar by an emergency room medical student, who filled out admitting paperwork incorrectly, despite help from an attending physician in the emergency room.

Although a doctor’s name was placed on paperwork, the doctor was never called about the assignment, according to a memo by Dr. Mark Richman, who said he was the attending physician who helped the student with the paperwork. The memo was sent to hospital staff Oct 12.