Provident Hospital of Cook County Malpractice & Violations

The federal government, Illinois Department of Public Health, and Cook County Department of Public Health carefully monitor Chicago’s medical facilities to ensure they meet all standards of excellence in health care.

Ratings provided by government and non-governmental agencies can warn patients that hospitals may not offer quality care, putting them at risk of medical negligence or malpractice. Substandard treatment can potentially harm patients, significantly impacting their quality of life or leading to death.

If you’ve been mistreated at Provident Hospital of Cook County, a Chicago medical negligence attorney can hold medical providers and the facility accountable for their failures.

About Provident Hospital of Cook County

Overview

The Cook County Provident Hospital is located at 500 E 51st St, Chicago, IL 60615, and serves Chicago’s South Side. The Joint Commission accredits this 48-bed hospital and features a Regional Health Care Center with diagnostic services, cardiac care, neurology, pain management, and rehabilitation.

Provident Hospital of Cook County was the country’s first Black nurses’ training facility. It was founded in 1891 after nurse Emma Reynolds was denied admission to training programs at other hospitals. Dr. Daniel Hale Williams envisioned it as a combined hospital and training facility at a time when Black physicians were denied access to quality medical education.

The hospital moved to its current site in 1933, closed in 1987, and reopened in 1993. While it was initially started to serve the Black community, its current patient population is diverse, and it provides more charity care than other hospitals in the area [1].

Ownership and Affiliations

Provident Hospital of Cook County is a public hospital operated by the Cook County Health Foundation (CCH Foundation). In addition to Provident Hospital of Cook County, Cook County Health operates the John H. Stroger Hospital, John H. Stroger Jr. Children’s Hospital, and 15 health centers across the county.

Cook County Health operates CountyCare, the area’s most extensive Medicaid care plan, and the Cook County Department of Public Health.

Reputation and Performance

Provident Hospital of Cook County does not have a rating with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), meaning they have not submitted adequate data on patient outcomes and surveys [2].

Provident Hospital of Cook County did not submit data to Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, the independent hospital safety rating organization [3]. According to US News and World Report, this facility is not highly ranked in any specialty or practice [4].

Notable Legal Actions Against Provident Hospital of Cook County

Spinal Cord Injury Due to Medical Negligence

On August 16, 2016, Adelaida Delgado filed a lawsuit against Provident Hospital of Cook County after a doctor injured her spinal cord during a medical procedure [5]. Chicago spinal cord injury lawyers helped her case ultimately settle in April 2017 for $2.5 million [6].

Improper Care Results in Brain Injury

In September 2006, 11-year-old Donail Weems suffered breathing difficulties and was brought to Provident Hospital of Cook County. He had asthma and had been using at-home treatments, which stopped working.

Doctors at the hospital placed him on a ventilator before deciding to transfer him to the University of Chicago Hospital’s pediatric intensive care unit, where a dedicated team of specialists could provide him with further treatment.

He was taken by ambulance to the other hospital, where he went into cardiac arrest. Weems ultimately suffered a brain injury due to lack of oxygen and died seven years later in 2013.

Weems’ mother, Denise Bass, filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against Provident Hospital of Cook County and the University of Chicago Hospital in 2008, alleging that they did not properly treat his respiratory failure and administered the wrong medicine. However, the case was ultimately decided in favor of the hospital in 2015 [7].

Inspection and Deficiency Reports at Provident Hospital of Cook County

Only 46% of Cook County Provident Hospital patients received the proper sepsis treatment compared to 60% of Illinois hospitals and 61% nationwide [8].

Provident Hospital of Cook County has a low approval rating with patients. Only 51% would recommend the hospital, which is 15% lower than the state average [9]. Additionally, only 44% of patients understood their treatment plan after their appointment, far less than the state and national average [10].

The facility also had a low staff immunization rate, which could put both returning and new patients at risk of infection. Just 76% of staff received the influenza vaccine last quarter [11].

Understanding Medical Negligence and Your Rights

Medical negligence occurs when physicians fail to uphold standards of care, putting people at risk of complications or death. Examples include refusing to listen to a patient’s account of their symptoms, potentially missing a critical symptom, or failing to wash their hands before performing an examination.

Common types of medical negligence include:

• Improper Care – Medical providers may provide improper care if they don’t explain a patient’s treatment plan, ignore their concerns, or do not obtain informed consent before beginning a procedure. This can also include discriminating against marginalized individuals.
• Surgical Errors – Whether in emergency medicine or outpatient procedures, physicians must take all necessary precautions to prevent injury during surgeries. Surgical errors include cutting the wrong body part, not cleaning the incision site, or leaving foreign objects like gauze inside a patient.
• Medication Errors – The wrong medicine may not just fail to treat an issue; it could seriously injure or kill the patient. This can include overdosing the individual or giving them a medicine they are allergic to.
• Failure to Diagnose – A missed diagnosis can lead to worsening health or a terminal illness. This can include not ordering the correct tests, missing necessary diagnostics, or ignoring a patient’s symptoms.

Those who suffer from medical negligence can work with a lawyer to receive compensation. Our lawyers will negotiate with Provident Hospital of Cook County on your behalf, investigate your case, and present evidence to their insurance company.

While we can often settle cases out of court, we can also submit a lawsuit and argue your case before a judge and jury to achieve a settlement. We will guide you through the entire personal injury lawsuit process and ensure you can recover comfortably.

Secure Expert Legal Representation!

The Chicago, IL, medical negligence statute of limitations is only 2 years after the date of injury, making it vital that victims contact a lawyer as soon as possible.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is a leading personal injury firm in Chicago fighting for victims’ rights. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe us nothing unless we successfully recover compensation.

To schedule your free consultation with an accomplished medical negligence attorney, call us 24/7 at (888) 424-5757 or use our online consultation request form.

References: [1] US News and World Report, [2] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [3] Board of Directors of the Cook County Health and Hospitals System, [4] US News and World Report, [5] Cook County Record, [6] Cook County Board of Commissioners, [7] Bass vs. Cook County Hospital, [8] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [9] Illinois Hospital Report Card, [10] Illinois Hospital Report Card, [11] Illinois Hospital Report Card,

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.