When people in Illinois need medical treatment, it is important that they trust the medical professionals and the facilities that are providing it. Part of that is understanding the facilities’ safety records, how often patients are harmed by medical missteps and what is being done to improve outcomes.
A non-profit watchdog assesses hospitals from across the United States and ranks them based on their records. They receive letter grades ranging from A to F. For those in Illinois who need care and treatment, it is wise to be aware of how local hospitals were graded. Those who believe they were injured, became ill or lost a loved one due to a medical error should consider what to do in the aftermath.
Leapfrog results are worrisome for many local hospitals
According to the non-profit Leapfrog, Illinois came in 30th in the nation when it comes to hospital safety. Using various statistical calculations, it gauged what played a role in patient safety and good or poor outcomes. For example, it looked at how medical professionals communicated with patients; the response time; if patients were happy with the care they received, and more.
There were 111 statewide hospitals that received grades in this analysis. On a positive note, there were no Illinois facilities that were given an F. Still, eight in and around Chicago were given a D. Some hospitals in Chicago did improve from the previous rankings in autumn of 2023.
Patient safety should be a priority at any facility. Despite that, missteps are common. In Illinois in general and Chicago specifically, there are understandable concerns about the poor rankings of many hospitals.
Medical malpractice comes in many forms. Perhaps a doctor left a piece of medical equipment in a patient after surgery. There could have been a medication error. Or a misdiagnosis could have put a person in a worse situation than they should have been in.
Doctors and hospitals that make mistakes must be held accountable
Given the stakes when people are treated and face medical malpractice, it is imperative that those who have been harmed and their families are fully cognizant of what can be done to make a full recovery in every way. That includes getting the appropriate care, being compensated for personal and financial loss, and addressing the damage done to their daily lives. For these cases, it is wise to know how to proceed with a full investigation, gather evidence and pursue a claim.