What do hospital ratings mean?
When you are looking for a hospital to get medical treatment or surgical procedure, you want to know that you are getting the best possible care. But what do hospital ratings mean?
There are a few different types of hospital ratings, and each one measures something different. Here are some of the most common types of hospital ratings that indicate how a hospital performs:
- accreditation
- patient satisfaction scores
- mortality rates
- infection rates
Accreditation is one of the most important hospital ratings. This is because it shows that the hospital meets certain standards of care. To be accredited, a hospital must go through a rigorous review process. This process includes looking at the hospital’s policies and procedures, as well as its patient outcomes.
Patient satisfaction scores are another important type of hospital rating. These scores show how patients feel about their care. To get these scores, hospitals ask patients to fill out surveys. The surveys ask questions about the quality of care, the cleanliness of the hospital, and the staff’s bedside manner.
Mortality rates are another important type of hospital rating. These rates show how often patients die while they are in the hospital. Infection rates are also important. These rates show how often patients get infections while they are in the hospital.
When you are looking at hospital ratings, it is important to remember that no rating is perfect. Each type of rating measures something different. So, it is important to look at all of the ratings before you make a decision about which hospital to choose. To that end, we have compiled information about Aurora hospitals and patient safety from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the US News and World Report.
About Mercy Medical Center Aurora
AMITA Health Mercy Medical Center Aurora is a 292-bed Level II Trauma Center in Aurora. Founded in 1911, it is now affiliated with AMITA Health. Its contact information is:
AMITA Health Mercy Medical Center Aurora
1325 N. Highland Avenue
Aurora, IL 60506
630-859-2222
U.S. News & World Report Rankings for AMITA Health Mercy Medical Center Aurora
The US News & World Report uses data from nearly 5,000 hospitals to produce rankings for hospitals in the United States. They compare the performance of each hospital in specialties including neurology, cardiology, and more. Medical facilities that receive a national ranking in a specialty are considered to be the best at taking care of patients with these conditions.
AMITA Health Mercy Medical Center Aurora in Aurora, IL is a general medical and surgical facility that is rated high performing in 1 adult procedure or condition. They were rated 3 out of 5 stars in the patient satisfaction survey.
- National Ranking: Unranked
- Illinois Ranking: Unranked
- Chicago Ranking: Unranked
IDPH Illinois Hospital Report Card on AMITA Health Mercy Medical
The IDPH ranks Illinois hospitals based on their performance and patient care in the Illinois Hospital Report Card and Consumer Guide to Health Care site. The information on this Illinois government website allows patients to compare hospitals. On the site, you can research:
- the cost and types of services provided,
- hospital safety grades,
- hospital staffing information,
- consumer satisfaction survey ratings, and
- information about Illinois consumer protection laws.
Illinois Designations
CDC Infection Data
According to the Hospital Report Card Act, hospitals must track and report certain types of infections to the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). Tracking these types of infections can help with identifying and reducing unsafe practices which means fewer infections and an increase in hospital safety. These infections include:
- surgical site infections (SSIs)
- central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs)
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections
- Clostridium difficile infections
The CDC identified the following infections detected at Mercy Medical Center Aurora:
- Two patients experienced surgical site infections associated with coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
- Twenty patients were diagnosed with antibacterial-resistant clostridium difficile infections.
Illinois Department of Public Health Patient Safety Info
According to the IDPH, the 30-day mortality rate for pneumonia patients at Mercy Medical Center Aurora was 18.7%, while the mortality rate for heart attack patients was 12.6%. Heart failure patients had to be readmitted to Mercy Medical Center Aurora within 30 days of discharge 20.7% of the time. 64% of patients would definitely recommend Mercy Medical Center Aurora to friends and family.
Medical Malpractice Recoveries Against Mercy Medical Center Aurora
Mercy Medical Center Aurora has compensated victims of medical malpractice. Records show several notable settlements and verdicts. Here is an example:
$6.5 million for a baby’s cerebral palsy and brain damage suffered when doctors failed to respond to his law heart rate and plummeting oxygen levels during labor.
If you have experienced something similar at Mercy Medical Center Aurora, you may want to speak with an attorney about your legal options.
How to Find Out if Your Mercy Medical Center Aurora Doctor Has Been Disciplined
The Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR) site allows you search for licensing information about your Illinois health care professional. This will tell you if your doctor is in good standing with Illinois. Search for information by:
- 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 may also visit the American Board of Medical Specialties website to verify the certification of your doctor.
What to Do If You Suspect Medical Malpractice at Mercy Medical Center Aurora
If you or a loved one has been a victim of medical malpractice at Mercy Medical Center Aurora, you should:
- Get copies of your medical records
- Get a second opinion from another doctor
- Speak with an experienced medical malpractice attorney
If you decide to file a lawsuit, you will need to prove that the hospital or doctor:
- Owed you a duty of care
- Breached their duty of care (i.e. made a mistake that a similarly situated professional would not have made)
- Caused you an injury
- You suffered damages as a result of your injury (e.g. medical bills, lost wages, etc.)
If you are successful in your lawsuit, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Loss of companionship or consortium
- Punitive damages (in some cases)
If you have any questions, or would like to speak with an attorney about your legal options, please contact us today.
The attorneys at The Kryder Law Group, LLC have represented many clients who have been injured by the negligence of healthcare professionals. We offer a free consultation to discuss your case and help you understand your legal options. Contact us today at 312-223-1700 or online to schedule your free consultation.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help
An experienced medical malpractice lawyer can investigate your case and gather evidence to support your claim. They will also handle all communication with the hospital or doctor’s office, freeing up your time so that you can focus on your recovery. In addition, a lawyer can negotiate with the insurance company on your behalf to try to reach a settlement agreement, and if necessary, take your case to trial.
If you or a loved one has been injured by medical malpractice, you need an experienced legal advocate on your side. The attorneys at The Kryder Law Group, LLC have represented seriously injured clients and recovered millions of dollars in compensation for their injuries. Contact us today for a free consultation.
What to Expect from Your Free Consultation
At The Kryder Law Group, LLC, our attorneys offer a free initial consultation to prospective clients. During this consultation, we will review your case and answer any questions you may have about the legal process. We will also explain our contingency fee agreement, which means that you do not owe us any attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for your injuries.
If you decide to hire us, we can:
- Gather evidence to support your claim
- Handle all communication with the insurance company
- Negotiate a settlement on your behalf
- Take your case to trial, if necessary
You focus on your recovery while we handle the rest. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
If you have been injured by medical malpractice, contact us today to schedule your free consultation. We represent clients on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not owe us any attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation for your injuries.