Rush University Medical Center Violations and Ratings

Why Chicago Hospital Ratings are Important to Consumers

When choosing a hospital, it is important to be an informed consumer. Many people choose their hospital based on recommendations from friends or family, but sometimes these may not be the best option for your individual needs.

Additionally, your health insurance company may have a preferred provider network (PPN) which includes hospitals that give them the best deals, but again, these may not be the best option for you. With so many choices, how can you make an informed decision?

A Hospital’s Rankings Can Be Helpful

One way to start is by looking at hospital ratings. These provide a snapshot of how a hospital is performing in various areas. While no rating system is perfect, they can give you a good idea of which hospitals are providing high-quality care and which ones may have some problems.

There are many reasons you may be researching Rush University Medical Center to look at past violations, current ratings compared to the national average. Maybe you live in the Chicago area and Rush is one of your PPN hospitals. Or, perhaps you or a loved one has been treated at Rush in the past and you want to see how they compare to other hospitals in Cook County.

Whatever your reason, it is important to know how to find and interpret hospital ratings so that you can make the best decision for your health care needs by finding the right medical center for you.

Rush University Medical Center at a Glance

Rush University Medical Center is a 664 bed academic medical center located in Chicago’s Near West Side. Rush Medical traces its history back to 1837 and currently has an endowment of over $500 million.

Where It’s Located

Rush University Medical Center
1620 W. Harrison St.
Chicago, IL 60612
312-942-5000
www.rush.edu

U.S. News & World Report Ranking for Rush University Medical Center

Hospitals are ranked by U.S. News according to data from nearly 5,000 hospitals in order to assist patients in selecting where to get care. A facility must excel at caring for the sickest, most medically complex patients in order to be nationally recognized in a specialty.

Rush University Medical Center is ranked on the Best Hospitals Honor Roll and is number 19. It’s a general medical and surgical center and also serves as a teaching hospital. It is also ranked the #2 hospital in the Chicago metro area and in all of Illinois.

The scores from U.S. News for Rush University Medical include nation-wide, Illinois, Chicago regional and specialty rankings as follows.

• National Ranking: 19
• Illinois Ranking: 2
• Chicago Ranking: 2
• High Performing: in 9 Adult Specialties and in 14 Procedures or Conditions

Hospital Report Card from Illinois Public Health

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) also rates hospitals on the Illinois Hospital Report Card and Consumer Guide to Health Care site. The aim of the Report Card and Consumer Guide is to provide Illinois residents with information regarding the quality of health care delivered in the state. This extensive data is made available to assist consumers in making more informed and improved healthcare decisions and includes the following statistics on Illinois hospitals:

• the number and cost of services in hospitals and outpatient surgery centers,
• data on quality of health care and patient safety,
• staffing data for nurses,
• surveys on patient satisfaction, and
• information about Illinois consumer protection laws.

Illinois Designations

The state of Illinois has given Rush University Medical Center the following designations:

• Magnet Recognition
• Emergency Department Approved for Pediatrics
• Comprehensive Stroke Center
• Perinatal III

CDC Infection Data

The Hospital Report Card Act (Illinois Public Act 93-563) requires hospitals in Illinois to report surgical site infections (SSIs) as well as central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs).

Hospitals must also report Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections and Clostridium difficile infections. These infections are tracked via the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) system.

Infections are a prevalent yet oftentimes preventable issue at hospitals. If an infection was caused by unsanitary hospital conditions or surgical procedures, the hospital may be liable for medical malpractice. The CDC identified the following infections detected at Rush University Medical Center:

• Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infections (2019): 7
• Surgical Site Infections (2019): 20, including 19 associated with total knee replacement surgery, which the Illinois Department of Public Health considers statistically significantly above average.
• Antibacterial-Resistant Bloodstream Infections (2019): 58

IDPH Patient Safety Info

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, Rush University Medical Center readmitted 15.3% of pneumonia patients within 30 days, 25.4% of heart failure patients within 30 days, and 17.5% of heart attack patients within 30 days. Its pneumonia mortality rate is 12.1%, and one percent of its patients developed a blood clot but did not receive treatment that could have prevented it.

Medical Malpractice Recoveries Against Rush University Medical Center

Medical malpractice lawsuits are one way that patients can recover compensation after being harmed by a hospital’s negligence. Rush University Medical Center has compensated victims of medical malpractice.  Records show several notable settlements and verdicts.  Here are a few:

$6 million when a patient suffered brain damage after being injected with contrast dye for a CT scan. The patient was inadequately monitored for adverse reactions, and she suffered respiratory distress, cutting off oxygen to her brain.

$10 million for wrongful death due to cardiac arrest when patient’s preexisting heart condition was inadequately monitored by Rush University Medical Center doctor.

$30 million when a child’s pulmonary artery was punctured while undergoing an unproven surgery. He was left with irreversible brain injuries and cerebral palsy.

These recoveries represent examples of medical malpractice lawsuits filed against Rush University Medical Center. If something similar has happened to you or a loved one, you should consider having an attorney review your case.

Other forms of medical malpractice can include:

• Bedsores
• Misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis,
• Birth injuries,
• Medication errors, and
• Surgical errors.

Medical malpractice claims normally involve complex medical issues and require thorough review. If you suspect medical malpractice, call our offices to discuss your situation. Our law firm has a long history of successfully handling these cases.

Get Help From The Kryder Law Group, LLC

If you or a family member has been harmed by medical negligence during a hospital stay, you may be entitled to compensation. To discuss your case with an experienced medical malpractice attorney, please contact us today.

We offer free, confidential consultations where we protect your sensitive information, and we will only charge a fee if we recover compensation for you.

How to Find Out if Your Rush University Medical Center Doctor Has Been Disciplined

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) investigates and tracks any doctor’s license sanctions imposed in the state. The IDFPR keeps an online database of all licensed Illinois physicians.

The database includes information on medical licensees status, the expiration date of their license, and any disciplinary actions taken against their license.

Step by Step IDFPR License Search Instructions

You can search for your Rush University Medical Center doctor by name or license number to see if they have been disciplined in the past. To see if your physician has been disciplined by the state:

1. Go to the IDFPR license search
2. Under the License Type dropdown menu, select “Medical Board”
3. Enter your doctor’s name
4. Press “Detail” button next to your doctor’s name

If your physician has been subject to a disciplinary action, 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.

1. You can also visit the American Board of Medical Specialties website to check your doctor’s credentials and verify their certification.

What to do if your doctor has been disciplined, and you believe he or she has committed medical malpractice.

If you believe that your doctor has committed medical malpractice, even if he or she has not been disciplined, you should 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 navigate the complex legal process.

When you call, we will ask you some questions about your case and review your options with you. If we believe you have a claim, we will investigate further and determine how to proceed. We will keep you informed of our progress and answer any questions you may have along the way.

You should not have to suffer because of your doctor’s negligence—and you shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s mistakes. Our attorneys are here to help you get the compensation you deserve.

Find Out if You Have a Medical Malpractice Case Against Rush University Medical Center

If you or a loved one have been injured or a loved one has been killed due to the negligence of a Rush University Medical Center doctor or medical center staff, you may be entitled to compensation.

To find out if you have a case, please contact our offices today for a free, confidential consultation. Our law firm has a long history of successfully handling these cases, and we will only charge a fee if we recover compensation for you.

When a hospital or doctor makes a mistake, it can have devastating consequences for the patients and families involved. If you believe that you or a loved one has been the victim of medical negligence, you should 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 navigate the complex legal process.

Types of Compensation You May Be Entitled to in a Medical Malpractice Case

If you are successful in your medical malpractice case, you may be entitled to compensation for your economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages are those that have a specific monetary value, such as:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Future lost earnings

Non-economic damages are those that do not have a specific monetary value, such as:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of companionship
• Wrongful death

If you have concerns about the care you or a loved one received at Rush University Medical Center, contact our medical malpractice attorneys to discuss your case.

We offer free, confidential consultations, and we will only charge a fee if we recover compensation for you.

The experienced medical malpractice attorneys at our firm have a long history of successfully handling these cases and can help you get the compensation you deserve. Call us today to discuss your case.