How Hospital Ratings Can Help Patients Choose the Best Care
Hospital rankings can be helpful for patients who want to know how their facility stacks up against others and the national average in terms of quality of care. However, it is important to keep in mind that no ranking system is perfect and that ratings should be used as one tool among many when making decisions about health care.
The following are some of the most popular hospital ranking systems and what patients need to know about them:
U.S. News & World Report: This publication rates hospitals on specialties including cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, gastroenterology and GI surgery, nephrology, orthopedics, pulmonology and lung surgery, and urology. In order to be included in the rankings, hospitals must meet certain criteria related to their size and the number of procedures they perform.
State of Illinois Hospital Report Card: This report rates hospitals based on measures of quality, safety, and efficiency. The report also includes information on hospital readmission rates, infection rates, and more.
What You Need to Know About John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County
Stroger Hospital is a 464-bed Level I trauma center located in Chicago’s West Side. The flagship of Cook County Health, Stroger Hospital began operations in 1857, and its current facility opened in 2002. Its emergency room is among the busiest in the city, with over 120,000 patients treated per year making it one of the more highly visited Cook County hospitals. Its contact information is:
U.S. News & World Report Ranking for John H. Stroger Hospital
To assist patients in deciding where to get care, U.S. News analyzes data on almost 5,000 hospitals to generate hospital rankings. A hospital must excel at caring for the sickest, most medically complex patients to be ranked nationally in a specialty.
John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County in Chicago, IL is rated high performing in 4 adult procedures and conditions. This general medical and surgical center also serves as a teaching hospital. It was also given 2 out of 5 stars for patient experience.
National Ranking: Unranked
Illinois Ranking: Unranked
Chicago Ranking: Unranked
High Performing: in 4 Adult Procedures and Conditions
Illinois Hospital Report Card
The Illinois Department of Public Health also rates hospitals on the Illinois Hospital Report Card and Consumer Guide to Health Care site. The purpose of the Report Card and Consumer Guide is to give Illinois consumers access to information about the quality of health care provided in the state. This information includes:
the types of services offered and how much they cost,
information about patient safety and the quality of health care services,
information about the staffing of the facility,
patient satisfaction ratings, and
info about Illinois consumer protection laws.
Illinois Designations
The state has given John H. Stroger Hospital in Cook County the following designations.
The Hospital Report Card Act (Illinois Public Act 93-563) requires Illinois hospitals to report a variety of infection types to the the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) surveillance system. These include:
surgical site infections (SSIs)
central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs)
Infections are common in hospitals, but they can often be prevented. If an infection was caused by unclean hospital conditions or surgical techniques, the institution may be held responsible for medical negligence. The CDC identified the following infections detected at Stroger Hospital:
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infections (2019): 10
Illinois Department of Public Health Patient Safety Info
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, Stroger Hospital readmitted 17.9% of pneumonia patients within 30 days, 23% of heart failure patients within 30 days, and 16.4% of heart attack patients within 30 days. Its pneumonia 30-day mortality rate is 13.9%.
Medical Malpractice Recoveries Against Stroger Hospital
Stroger Hospital has compensated victims of medical malpractice. Records show several notable settlements and verdicts. Here are a few:
$20 million for child who suffered irreversible brain damage after he went into cardiac arrest during surgery at Stroger Hospital.
$8.5 million for death of new mother after Stroger Hospital failed to treat massive bleeding as she gave birth to her child.
$4 million for a brain injury as a result of a botched pericardiocentesis – a type of heart procedure to remove excess fluid in the sac around the heart. As a result of the medical error, the patient’s brain-oxygen levels plummeted, and he suffered irreversible brain damage.
$6.45 million when a woman’s artery was cut during routine pacemaker surgery. The patient succumbed to her injuries on the operating table.
$1.5 million when Stroger Hospital doctors failed to treat patient’s epiglottitis (inflammation of the windpipe and surrounding cartilage) in time, causing to fall into cardiac arrest.
$3 million for wrongful death after patient died when botched adrenalectomy caused her to sustain massive bleeding.
These are examples of the results of medical malpractice lawsuits that were filed against the hospital. If you or a loved one has been injured while under the care of this Chicago hospital, you may be able to file a lawsuit for compensation. Speak with an experienced Chicago medical malpractice attorney to learn more about your legal options.
Other types of medical malpractice may include:
Failure to diagnose or patients treated incorrectly
Pregnancy complications or birth injuries
Surgical errors
Medical neglect and misdiagnosis
Medication errors
Bedsores and pressure ulcers
Anesthesia errors
Emergency room errors
Hospital-acquired infections
If you or a loved one has been injured while under the care of John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County, you may be able to file a lawsuit for compensation. Speak with a Chicago personal injury lawyer to learn more about your legal options.
How to Find Out if Your John H. Stroger Hospital Doctor Has Been Disciplined
If you want to find out if your doctor has been disciplined, you can perform a license search on the The Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR) website. The IDFPR investigates and tracks any disciplinary actions taken against Illinois licensed doctors.
IDFPR Physician License Search Step by Step Instructions
To perform a search for information about your medical practitioner:
Select “Medical Board” under the License Type dropdown menu
Enter your doctor’s first and last name
Press “Detail” button next to your doctor’s name to see details
If your doctor has been disciplined by the IDFPR, it will be listed under the Disciplinary Actions section. These actions could include: a reprimand; probation; suspension; summary or temporary suspension; revocation; refuse to renew; relinquished, surrendered, or permanent inactive; or fines.
Another way to check your doctor’s credentials is by visiting the American Board of Medical Specialties site to verify their certification.
What to do if your doctor has been disciplined and you suspect medical malpractice.
If you believe that you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice, you should speak with an attorney. Medical malpractice cases are complex and require handling by an experienced lawyer. An attorney will be able to review your case and determine if you have a valid claim. If so, they can help you navigate the legal process and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Don’t wait too long to speak with an attorney, as there is a statute of limitations in Illinois for filing medical malpractice claims. You will only have two years from the date of the injury or from the date that you discovered the injury to file a claim. If you miss this deadline, you will be barred from recovery.
How to Find Out if You Have a Medical Malpractice Case Against John H. Stroger Hospital
To find out if you have a medical malpractice case against Stroger Hospital of Cook County, you will need to gather as much information as possible about your experience there. This includes any medical records, bills, and letters or documents about your procedures and treatment from the hospital along with information about your doctors or nurses. You will also need contact information for any witnesses who can attest to what happened during your treatment.
If you believe you have a case, the next step is to contact a medical malpractice attorney. An experienced attorney from our law firm will be able to review your case and determine if you have a valid claim. If you do have a claim, we will guide you through the next steps in pursuing compensation for your injuries.
If you or a loved one has been injured by medical negligence, please contact our office today to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced Chicago personal injury attorneys.
What is Considered Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice is professional negligence by act or omission by a health care provider in which the care provided falls below the accepted standard of practice in the medical community and causes injury or death to the patient, with most cases involving medical error.
To win a medical malpractice case, patients must prove four things:
That the health care provider owed you a duty of care;
That the health care provider breached that duty;
That the breach caused your injuries; and
That you incurred damages as a result of your injuries.
Proving these elements can be difficult, which is why it is important to have an experienced medical malpractice attorney on your side.
What Are the Different Types of Medical Malpractice?
There are many different types of medical malpractice, and some of the most common include:
Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis;
Surgical errors;
Birth injuries;
Anesthesia errors;
Prescription drug errors;
Emergency room errors; and
Hospital negligence.
What Are the Most Common Injuries in Medical Malpractice Cases?
A variety of injuries can occur as a result of medical malpractice. Some of the most common include:
Birth injuries;
Brain injuries;
Spinal cord injuries;
Paralysis;
Organ damage;
Amputation;
Permanent disability; and
Wrongful death.
Common Types of Compensation in Medical Malpractice Cases
There are many different types of compensation available in medical malpractice cases. The most common types of damages include:
Pain and suffering
Mental anguish
Lost wages
Loss of earning capacity
Medical expenses
Physical disability or disfigurement
Emotional trauma
Wrongful death
These damages can be awarded if the victim can prove that the negligence of the hospital or doctor caused their injury. An experienced medical malpractice attorney will be able to help you understand what types of compensation you may be entitled to. We serve the greater Chicago area including Cook County, Lake County, DuPage County, and Kane County.
John H. Stroger Hospital Violations and Ratings
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June 3rd, 2022
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