How Hospital Ratings Can Help Your Search for Quality Healthcare
Hospital ratings can be a useful tool when you are searching for quality healthcare in Chicago, but it is important to understand how these ratings are determined and what they mean. Hospital ratings are typically based on a variety of factors and a comparison to the national average, including patient satisfaction surveys, mortality rates, and infection rates.
One of the most important things to keep in mind when looking at hospital ratings is that they are not always apples-to-apples comparisons. For example, a hospital might have a higher mortality rate because it treats more complex cases than other hospitals and therefore has a larger percentage than the national average.
Additionally, patient satisfaction surveys can be affected by factors such as the size of the hospital, the density of the Chicago neighborhoods it serves, or the quality of the food served in the cafeteria.
It is also important to remember that hospital ratings are just one tool that you can use when searching for quality healthcare. You should also consider other factors such as the experience of the staff, the location of the hospital, and your own personal preferences.
In this Article:
Weiss Memorial Hospital Overview
Founded in 1952, Weiss Memorial Hospital is a 236-bed for-profit hospital located in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood in Cook County. It is affiliated with the University of Chicago Hospitals system. It 2000, it underwent a significant expansion to its emergency services department.
Weiss Memorial Hospital
4646 N. Marine Dr.
Chicago, IL 60640
773-912-0737
www.weisshospital.com
U.S. News & World Report Ranks Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago
The U.S. News & World Report provides extensive ranking information about hospitals in the United States. Each hospital can be ranked and compared to the national average for specialties including cardiology, geriatrics, orthopedics, and more. Hospitals are included in the report based on certain criteria such as size and number of operations carried out.
U.S. News gives rankings based on information from nearly 5,000 hospitals. Hospitals that excel at treating the sickest and most medically complex patients in their specialty are nationally ranked for these treatment areas.
Louis A. Weiss Memorial Hospital is a general medical and surgical facility in Chicago, IL and is rated high performing in 1 adult procedure or condition. It was also given an overall rating of 2 out of 5 stars according to the patient experience survey.
- National Ranking: Unranked
- Illinois Ranking: Unranked
- Chicago Ranking: Unranked
Illinois Department of Public Health Hospital Report Card
As a Cook County hospital, it is also graded by the Illinois Department of Public Health on the Illinois Hospital Report Card and Consumer Guide to Health Care site. This site is dedicated to providing information about the quality of hospitals in Chicago to consumers and patients. This material includes:
- the cost and types of services provided at hospitals,
- info about patient safety and health care services quality,
- info about the staffing of hospitals,
- consumer satisfaction ratings, and
- information about Illinois consumer protection laws.
Illinois Designations
The state has given Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago the following designations.
CDC Infection Data
Hospitals are required by Illinois law and the Hospital Report Card Act (Illinois Public Act 93-563) to track and report certain types of infections to the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). These infections include:
- surgical site infections (SSIs)
- central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs)
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections
- Clostridium difficile infections
Although hospital-acquired infections are common, they may frequently be avoided. If a sickness was caused by unclean hospital conditions or surgical techniques, the institution could be held liable for medical malpractice.
Weiss Memorial Hospital reported the following infections:
- Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infections (2019): 0, although the sample size was low (less than 2,000)
- Surgical Site Infections (2019): 3
- Antibacterial-Resistant Bloodstream Infections (2019): 12
Illinois Department of Public Health Patient Safety Info
The Illinois Department of Public Health found that the rate of postoperative lung embolisms or deep vein thromboses at Weiss Memorial is statistically significantly worse than the state average.
The mortality rate for pneumonia patients was 15.7%, and 18% of pneumonia patients were readmitted within 30 days. For heart attack patients, the mortality rate was 11.9%, and 17.2% of heart attack patients were readmitted within 30 days.
Medical Malpractice Recoveries Against Weiss Memorial
Weiss Memorial has compensated victims of medical malpractice. Records show several notable settlements and verdicts. Here are a few:
$20.1 million recovery after woman suffered severe brain damage because she was given an overdose of pain medication.
$7 million for punctured vein during vascular surgery for aneurysm.
$6 million when woman suffered facial burns during minor surgery.
These settlements are examples of medical malpractice claims filed against the institution. If you or a loved one has suffered a similar situation with the care you received as patients at Weiss Memorial Hospital, you should consider consulting an attorney about your case.
Other sorts of medical malpractice that can happen to patients in Chicago during a hospital stay can include:
- Anesthesia errors
- Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis
- Birth injuries
- Surgical errors
- Emergency room errors
- Hospital-acquired infections
- Wrongful death
If you suspect medical malpractice, it is important to contact a Chicago personal injury attorney as soon as possible, as there may be time limits on when you can file a claim.
The Louis A. Weiss Memorial Hospital has been the site of multiple medical malpractice suits, including cases involving brain damage, facial burns, and punctured veins.
If you or a loved one has suffered similar injuries, you may be able to file a medical malpractice claim. Contact an experienced attorney to learn more about your legal options.
How to Find Out if Your Weiss Memorial Hospital Doctor Has Been Disciplined
If you want to find out if your Weiss Memorial Hospital doctor has been subject to disciplinary action in Illinois, you can perform an online license search for these records on the The Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR) site.
The IDFPR tracks and investigates actions taken against licensed medical practitioners in the state of Illinois. To start your search for information:
- Go to the IDFPR license search
- 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 appear under the Disciplinary Actions section. There are many types of disciplinary action that may appear including: a reprimand; probation; suspension; summary or temporary suspension; revocation; refuse to renew; relinquished, surrendered, or permanent inactive; or fines.
You can also visit the American Board of Medical Specialties website to verify the certification of your doctor.
What Should You Do If Your Doctor Has Been Disciplined Or You Suspect Medical Negligence?
If your doctor has been disciplined or you suspect medical negligence, it is important to contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney to discuss your case. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, and an attorney can help you understand your legal options and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Don’t hesitate to contact an attorney if you have any questions about your legal rights. The consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless you receive a settlement or award.
Do I have a case?
You may have a case if you were a patient at Weiss Memorial Hospital and suffered injuries due to the negligence of a doctor or other medical staff member.
To learn more about your legal options and whether you may be entitled to compensation, contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney.
What types of damages can be recovered?
If you have a valid medical malpractice claim, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, including medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
An experienced attorney will be able to evaluate your case and determine what types of damages you may be entitled to.
Damages in a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
If you lost a loved one due to medical negligence, you may also be able to file a wrongful death claim. Wrongful death damages can include funeral and burial expenses, loss of companionship, and more.
What is the statute of limitations?
The statute of limitations is the time limit you have to file a medical malpractice claim. Under Illinois law (735 ILCS 5/13-212), the statute of limitations for medical malpractice claims is two years from the date of discovery of the injury or four years from the date of the treatment that caused the injury.
There are some exceptions to this time frame, so it is important to discuss the details of your case with an attorney as soon as possible from the date your injuries were discovered.
Contact our law firm for a free consultation to discuss your case.
June 17th, 2022
(312) 223-1700