Medical Malpractice
Righttime Medical Care (“Righttime”) began as Nighttime Pediatrics, which provided after-hours and urgent care for children. The company eventually expanded this after-hours pediatric care format to adults as the need for urgent care facilities skyrocketed and became Righttime. Righttime allowed patients to walk in without an appointment for both urgent and primary care. Each location could perform on-site X-rays and some basic lab work, giving patients the convenience of being examined and diagnosed in one visit. Services also included a patient portal and electronic health records, which were easily shared with patients’ primary care doctors and specialists.
MedStar Health acquired Righttime Medical Care on December 1, 2020. The acquisition included 19 Righttime urgent care centers in Maryland, which were subsequently integrated into the MedStar Health Urgent Care network. The Righttime name is no longer used for these urgent care locations.
Righttime had 15 locations in Maryland, including: Annapolis, Arundel Mills, Catonsville, Columbia, Crofton, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Olney, Pasadena, Pikesville, Rockville, Silver Spring, Waldorf, and Gambrills. Righttime locations were open for walk-in care 365 days a year from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm. Righttime was managed by a group of fairly prominent doctors, including its founder and CEO Robert G. Graw, M.D.
Venue for Righttime and MedStar Health Medical Malpractice Lawsuits
Righttime had locations in several Maryland counties, including Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Howard, Frederick, Montgomery, and Charles counties. Righttime was therefore potentially subject to jurisdiction in a number of these counties. Whether by coincidence or not, Righttime had no locations in Baltimore City or Prince George’s County, the two jurisdictions most favorable to victims in Maryland. In fact, in at least one case (Mandairy v. Nighttime Pediatrics et al., Balt. City Cir. 24C11005058) plaintiff’s counsel filed suit in Baltimore City and counsel for Righttime successfully moved for dismissal on the grounds that Righttime was not subject to jurisdiction in the City. The case was later refiled in Anne Arundel County.
Righttime was actually a trade name which was owned by Harcart Health Holdings LLC – a Maryland limited liability company.
The venue analysis can be different for treatment provided after MedStar acquired Righttime. Where a current malpractice case should be filed depends on the location of the treatment, the defendants involved, and the entity responsible for the care.
Example Malpractice Cases Against Righttime
- Kibler v. Righttime (Balt. County): The patient came to Righttime with chest and abdominal pain; they gave her a gastrointestinal drug cocktail without performing labs or ordering an electrocardiogram. The patient actually asked to be transferred by ambulance to an emergency room. Her requests were denied. She later drove herself to the hospital where a heart attack was immediately suspected. Stents were placed in her heart but she later died from complications. Her survivors sued Righttime for negligence in failing to initially diagnose her heart condition, resulting in a delay in proper treatment leading to her death.
- Estrada v. Righttime (Montgomery County): medical malpractice action involving pediatric care for a child. The case was apparently settled within a few months without any discovery.
- Nakov v. Righttime (Frederick County): negligence action defended for Righttime by Cynthia Maskol of Wilson Elser. Defense counsel responded to the complaint with a motion for dismissal or summary judgment. The motion was denied.
- Wright v. Righttime (Anne Arundel County): medical malpractice case involving pediatric treatment rendered by Righttime. The case was presumably settled as a stipulated voluntary dismissal was entered 3 months after the complaint was filed.
- Mandairy v. Righttime (Anne Arundel County): Righttime sued for negligence where a very obese patient was placed in an examination chair that flipped over on her because it could not support her weight, causing injury. Case appears to have been settled after some limited discovery.
Righttime and MedStar Defense Counsel
Gregory McKee, now with Wharton Levin Ehrmantraut & Klein, defended Righttime in at least three malpractice cases. Attorneys with Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP also defended Righttime in other cases. Wilson Elser seemed to be somewhat more aggressive in its defense strategy, moving for immediate dismissal in one case.
Since MedStar acquired Righttime, the defense lawyers are more likely to come from the firms MedStar regularly uses in medical malpractice cases. Goodell DeVries is one of MedStar’s primary medical malpractice defense firms in Maryland. MedStar has also used Gleason, Flynn, Emig & McAfee and Wharton Levin Ehrmantraut & Klein.
A number of the older Righttime cases ended with stipulated voluntary dismissals. Most likely, at least some of those cases settled. None of the Righttime malpractice cases we found went to trial.
Righttime Is Now MedStar Health Urgent Care
MedStar Health acquired Righttime Medical Care in December 2020. The acquisition included 19 Righttime urgent care centers in Maryland. Those former Righttime locations were integrated into the MedStar Health Urgent Care network and no longer operate under the Righttime name.
For someone investigating an older malpractice claim, the distinction can matter. Treatment provided before the acquisition may involve Righttime and Harcart Health Holdings LLC. Treatment provided later at the same location may involve a MedStar entity.
Requesting Medical Records From a Former Righttime Location
One important initial step in evaluating whether you may have a malpractice claim involving a former Righttime Medical Care location is reviewing your medical records.
Righttime’s old Authorization to Release Medical Records form, Annapolis mailing address, and records telephone number are no longer the current instructions. MedStar Health now provides the records process for MedStar Health Urgent Care. Current requests can be directed to:
MedStar Health 10980 Grantchester Way, 7th Floor Columbia, MD 21044 Attention: MMG Admin Team Re: Medical Record Release Request
Phone: 443-692-1263
Fax: 410-657-1998
Contact Us
If you or a family member believe you might have a case involving a former Righttime location or MedStar Health Urgent Care for negligence or medical malpractice, we are here to help you get the justice you deserve. Call Miller & Zois today at 800-553-8082 or submit a request for a free consultation.