Palos Community Hospital Violations and Ratings

Knowledge is key when it comes to receiving quality healthcare. Knowing about the hospital’s violations and ratings can help you make an educated decision on where to receive medical care. By understanding the violations and ratings of Palos Community Hospital, you can ensure a comfortable and safe experience for yourself or your loved ones.

In this series, we cite hospital rankings from US News and World Reports and the IDPH to bring you an informative picture of how hospitals and healthcare centers all around Chicagoland are performing, what their ratings are, and any violations they may have. The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers can provide you with the help you need if you think you may be the victim of medical malpractice. This article focuses on Palos Community Hospital.

Palos Community Hospital Overview

Palos Community Hospital is a 425-bed nonprofit hospital located in Palos Heights. Currently affiliated with Northwestern Medicine, its emergency room department treats over 60,000 patients per year. Palos Hospital’s contact information is:

Palos Community Hospital
12251 S. 80th St.
Palos Heights, IL 60463
708-923-4000

U.S. News & World Report Rankings for Palos Community Hospital

Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital in Palos Heights, IL is rated high performing in 11 adult procedures and conditions including colon cancer surgery, heart attack, heart failure, heart bypass surgery, diabetes, kidney failure, stroke, hip replacement, knee replacement, COPD, and pneumonia. It is a general medical and surgical facility. It is also rated average in 9 other procedures and conditions. The patient experience rating is 3 out of 5 stars.

• National Ranking: Unranked
• Illinois Ranking: 14
• Chicago Ranking: 14

IDPH Report Card for Hospitals

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) vigilantly assesses hospitals and healthcare facilities to judge them on quality, safety, and patient satisfaction. This information is available on the Illinois Hospital Report Card and Consumer Guide to Healthcare website. By utilizing these insights, patients and their families can now evaluate the level of care being provided at various medical facilities. You have access to essential information like:

• medical and surgical services that may be provided,
• information about patient safety,
• staffing information,
• ratings regarding patient satisfaction, and
• protection laws concerning Illinois consumers.

Illinois Designations

• Perinatal II

CDC Infection Data

Tragically, hospital-acquired infections are a common occurrence, yet entirely preventable. If someone catches an infection due to inadequate hospital sanitary standards or faulty surgical practices, then the medical organization may be held responsible for their negligent actions. The CDC identified the following infections detected at Palos Hospital:

• Two patients suffered a central line associated bloodstream infection in the adult medical/surgical ICU in 2018.
•  One patient suffered a surgical site infection associated with coronary artery bypass graft surgery in 2018.
• Two patients were diagnosed with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus blood stream infections in 2019.
• Sixty-two patients were diagnosed with clostridium difficile infections in 2019.

Illinois Department of Public Health Patient Safety Info

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, Palos Hospital patients suffered statistically significantly higher rates of postoperative lung embolism or deep vein thrombosis (clotting) and postoperative hemorrhage or hematoma. The mortality rate for heart attack patients was 12.1%, while 18.4% of heart attack patients that were discharged were readmitted within 30 days.

Medical Malpractice Recoveries Against Palos Community Hospital

Examples of financial recoveries in medical malpractice claims can give you an idea of past issues in a hospital. Palos Community Hospital has compensated victims of medical malpractice. Records show several notable settlements and verdicts.

• $23.2 million verdict for a Tinley Park family whose baby daughter suffered permanent brain damage during birth because her doctors and nurses failed to take action when fetal monitors showed abnormal heart rates and blood oxygen levels.
• $14.9 million for a patient who suffered permanent brain damage because nephrologists (kidney doctors) failed to monitor her sodium levels. As a result, the patient’s electrolyte levels dangerously fluctuated, causing her to slip into a coma and suffer brain damage.
• $4.25 million for wrongful death of a child because the hospital’s treaters failed to properly monitor a toddler who had an upper airway infection. As a result, the child stopped breathing and went into cardiac arrest before he passed away.

These recoveries represent examples of medical malpractice lawsuits filed against Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital. 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
• Medication Errors

If you believe medical negligence has taken place, our practice is here to guide you. Our lawyers will examine your circumstance and offer a comprehensive analysis of the intricate medical matters at hand. Contact us today for more information.

What to Do If You Suspect Medical Malpractice

It can be difficult to put your trust in a doctor or other medical professional after an injury or illness. If you believe that the care provided by a hospital, physician, nurse, or other healthcare provider at Palos Community Hospital was negligent and resulted in harm to you or loved one, then it is important to know your rights. The attorneys of The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers are here to help. We are experienced in handling medical malpractice cases and will use our knowledge to ensure that you receive justice for the negligence inflicted upon you. Contact us today for more information about how we can assist with your case.

How to Search IDFPR License Info to Find Out If Your Doctor Has Been Disciplined

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) allows patients and their families to access their database that consists of all the licensed doctors in Illinois. You can use this resource to look up your doctor’s licensing information and see if they have been disciplined by the state.

How to Search IDFPR License Info

Search for information by:

• Going 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

Examples of Disciplinary Actions You May Find

If your doctor has had disciplinary action taken against them, it will appear under the Disciplinary Actions section of the search. There are many different types of discipline actions that may appear: a reprimand; probation; suspension; summary or temporary suspension; revocation; refuse to renew; relinquished, surrendered, or permanent inactive; or fines.

More Resources to Research Your Doctor

Are you seeking to confirm your healthcare provider’s reliability and competence? The American Board of Medical Specialties’ website offers a convenient, straightforward tool for verifying a doctor’s professional qualifications.

Contact The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers

Our attorneys are dedicated to helping you seek fair and just compensation for any medical malpractice or negligence that you or your loved one may have experienced at Palos Community Hospital. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help with your case.

Remember, it is important to do your research before making a final decision on where and who should be providing healthcare services. When the worst has happened and you think you or a loved one might be the victim of medical malpractice, The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers can help get justice for you. We understand the impact a medical mistake can have on someone’s life, which is why our focus is on getting you the best results possible. Contact us today for more information.