Hospital ratings are important because they provide a way for patients to compare the quality of care at different hospitals and against the national average. They can also be used by health insurance companies to determine which hospitals to include in their networks.
Quality of care can include many factors, such as the number of medical errors, the infection rate, and the mortality rate.
Hospital ratings are also important because they can help to improve the quality of care at a particular hospital. When hospitals know that their performance is being compared to other hospitals, they may be more likely to make changes to improve their quality of care.
There are many reasons why you might be interested in the ratings for Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Maybe you live in Chicago and you’re considering this hospital for your care. Maybe you’re looking at health insurance plans and you want to make sure that the plan you choose includes a high-quality hospital. Or, maybe you or a loved one has been treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in the past and you want to know how it compares to other hospitals.
What You Should Know About Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Northwestern Memorial Hospital is an 894-bed Level I trauma center with its main campus located in Streeterville on Chicago’s North side. It is affiliated with Northwestern University and handles both primary care as well as patients with acute and chronic injuries and conditions. It was founded in 1972, and its current campus was substantially updated in 1992.
U.S. News & World Report Ranking for Northwestern Memorial Hospital
U.S. News ranks hospitals by analyzing data from nearly 5,000 facilities to assist patients in determining where to receive treatment. To be nationally ranked in a specialty, a facility must excel at caring for the sickest, most medically complex patients.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital is ranked on the Best Hospitals Honor Roll and comes in at #10. It’s a general medical and surgical center as well as a teaching hospital. It also ranked as the #1 hospital in Illinois and the Chicago metro area.
The scores for Northwestern Memorial Hospital include nation-wide, Illinois, Chicago regional and specialty rankings as follows.
National Ranking: 10
Illinois Ranking: 1
Chicago Ranking: 1
High Performing: in 1 Adult Specialty and in 17 Procedures or 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 extensive data is provided to help consumers make more informed and better health care decisions and includes:
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 has given Northwestern Memorial Hospital the following designations.
The Hospital Report Card Act (Illinois Public Act 93-563) requires Illinois hospitals 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 reports are made via the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) surveillance 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 Northwestern Hospital:
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infections (2019): 20
Illinois Department of Public Health Patient Safety Info
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, Northwestern Memorial performs statistically significantly worse than the state average for pressure ulcers, wound complications in abdominal wall surgery, and postoperative lung embolism or deep vein thrombosis (clotting).
Medical Malpractice Recoveries Against Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Northwestern Memorial Hospital has compensated victims of medical malpractice. Records show several notable settlements and verdicts. Here are a few:
$4.75 million when a patient with renal failure developed nephrogenic systemic fibrosis due to a botched injection with contrasting dye for an MRI.
$14 million when Northwestern Hospital and the doctor failed to diagnose lung cancer despite a clear x-ray results showing its presence.
$14 million and $50.3 million for two separate cases of failure to prevent brain damage in newborns despite uncomplicated pregnancy.
$19.5 million for a botched routine tracheostomy exchange that resulted in permanent brain damage.
These recoveries represent examples of medical malpractice lawsuits filed against the hospital and/or physicians. 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:
Failure to diagnose
Pregnancy complications
Botched surgeries
Medical neglect and misdiagnosis
Failure to monitor
Bedsores
Medical malpractice claims normally involve complex medical issues and require thorough review. If you suspect medical malpractice, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible to have them review your case and determine if you have a claim. Call today for a free consultation.
How to Find Out if Your Northwestern Memorial Hospital Doctor Has Been Disciplined
The Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR) investigates and tracks any disciplinary action taken against any doctors licensed to practice medicine in Illinois. To see if your doctor has been disciplined:
Under the License Type dropdown menu, select “Medical Board”
Enter your doctor’s name
Press “Detail” button next to your doctor’s name
If your doctor has been disciplined, 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.
You can also check your doctor’s credentials by going to the American Board of Medical Specialties website and verify their certification.
What to do if your doctor has been disciplined and you suspect medical malpractice.
If your doctor has been disciplined and you think you may have been a victim of medical malpractice, you should speak with an attorney as soon as possible. An experienced medical malpractice attorney will be able to review your case, gather evidence, and help you get the compensation you deserve.
How to Find Out if You Have a Medical Malpractice Case Against Northwestern Memorial Hospital
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed due to what you believe is medical negligence, contact an experienced Chicago medical malpractice attorney as soon as possible. An attorney will be able to review your case and determine if you have a claim against the hospital. If so, they can help you recover the compensation you deserve.
The Kryder Law Group, LLC has decades of experience fighting for patients’ rights against Illinois hospitals and their insurance companies. If you have been injured due to a medical error or medical negligence, call today for a free consultation. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
Common Types of Compensation
Common types of financial compensation in medical malpractice or wrongful death personal injury cases includes:
Past and future medical bills
Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Loss of companionship or consortium
Punitive damages (in some cases)
If you or a loved one has been injured due to medical malpractice, time is of the essence. There is a statute of limitations, or deadline, for filing a medical malpractice lawsuit in Illinois. If you miss this deadline, you will be forever barred from pursuing a claim.
Negligence from medical procedures such as lung surgery, cardiac arrest, heart surgery, GI surgery, or total knee replacement surgery, for example, can have some serious or even deadly consequences. Do not wait to call an attorney today. The sooner you call, the sooner a legal team can begin investigating your case and working to get you the compensation you deserve.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital Violations and Ratings
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May 20th, 2022
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