Louis A. Weiss Memorial Hospital Malpractice & Violations

Federal, state, and non-governmental rating systems help inform community residents about the quality of care and services provided at hospitals and warn patients about potential dangers. Low ratings and a history of serious violations can put every community patient at risk of harm or even death due to medical negligence.

Those harmed at Weiss Hospital have legal rights, including the right to seek compensation with the help of a medical negligence lawyer. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, a leading personal injury law firm in Chicago, can hold healthcare providers accountable and recover compensation for the injured.

About Louis A. Weiss Memorial Hospital

Overview

Weiss Memorial Hospital is located at 4646 N. Marine Dr., Chicago, IL 60640, on Chicago’s North Side. This 236-bed hospital offers emergency care, primary health care, and specialty treatment services.

Weiss Hospital’s specialty services include pain management, sports medicine, orthopedics, radiology, behavioral health, women’s health, and diabetes management. It has partnered with various organizations to support community health care, such as offering educational resources to senior citizens and providing free school supplies to children on Chicago’s North Side.

Ownership and Affiliations

Legally known as Weiss Memorial Hospital, Louis A. Weiss Memorial Hospital is owned by Resilience Healthcare, which also operates West Suburban Medical Center and its satellite facility in River Forest.

Resilience Healthcare purchased these hospitals from Pipeline Healthcare after the company started bankruptcy proceedings in 2022.

Reputation and Performance

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have rated Weiss Memorial Hospital with a 1-star quality rating and a 2-star patient rating, indicating below-average health care [1].

This hospital has a D Hospital Safety Grade from Leapfrog, suggesting its physicians and specialists are not prioritizing quality care and services [2].

US News and World Report ranks thousands of hospitals across the United States and does not rank Weiss Memorial Hospital for any conditions or practice areas.

It also notes that Black patients are less likely to recuperate at home after procedures like hip replacement or spinal fusion. Low-income individuals are less represented at this hospital than in comparable facilities nationwide and in the community[3].

Notable Legal Actions Against Louis A. Weiss Memorial Hospital

Wrongful Death After Surgery

On January 24, 2017, Jacqueline Umberger filed a lawsuit against Weiss Memorial Hospital after James H. Umberger passed away under their care. The wrongful death lawsuit alleged that the patient suffered physical injuries during and after a hemicolectomy surgery [4].

Poor Infection Control Resulting in Multiple Surgeries

Eric B. Anderson sued Weiss Memorial Hospital on September 29, 2017, after post-surgical infections left him needing multiple revision surgeries. The plaintiff explained that he underwent ACL surgery at the Chicago Bone and Joint Replacement Center, part of the hospital’s system.

Anderson alleged that the procedure was not done in a sterile environment, causing him to contract an infection. The doctor provided no follow-up treatment, and his knee became septic. He then needed multiple additional surgeries to treat the disease, causing significant pain and putting his health at risk [5].

Negligence Resulting in Pressure Ulcers

Beverly Peterson received care at Weiss Memorial Hospital from November 2011 to January 2013 due to multiple health conditions, including multiple sclerosis and peripheral artery disease. While there, she required assistance with all activities of daily living.

Starting in December 2011, Peterson developed pressure ulcers, also known as bed sores. Some of these became infected and worsened, resulting in significant pain.

Peterson filed a hospital bedsore lawsuit against the facility in 2014, claiming that her injuries could have been prevented if physicians and healthcare staff at the hospital implemented a skin treatment plan [6].

Inspection and Deficiency Reports at Louis A. Weiss Memorial Hospital

This Chicago hospital’s rate of blood infections was 2.401, which is over three times higher than the average performing hospital’s rate of 0.730. Blood infections can occur when a patient has a central line inserted to deliver medications, but the injection site is not properly disinfected. These infections can be life-threatening or cause severe health complications [7].

Another critical metric is the Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection rate.

MRSA is resistant to antibiotics and occurs in hospitals with poor infection control, such as doctors not washing their hands between visits or procedures. Weiss Memorial Hospital’s MRSA infection rate was 2.184, which is very high compared to the 0.793 rate for an average-performing hospital [8].

People who visit this hospital spend much more time waiting in the community emergency department for services than other health facilities.

The average time from admission to discharge is 231 minutes, compared to the 178-minute Illinois average and 162-minute national average. Patients spend almost one hour longer at Weiss Memorial, which can indicate inadequate staffing [9].

Patients have also complained about the poor communication at this Chicago hospital. Only 51% of people would recommend Weiss Memorial, which is 15% lower than the state average [10].

Only 50% of survey respondents said physicians always gave information about their health status, medications, and treatment plans, notably lower than Illinois and national averages [11]. When patients don’t learn what medications they’re being given, they cannot participate in their health care, making it harder for them to manage their diagnosis at home.

About 67% of patients said nurses always communicated well, and 71% said the same for doctors [12].

Both of these scores are lower than the state and national averages, which shows that clinicians are missing important opportunities to teach their patients about their care. It can also make patients feel dismissed and confused, making them less likely to adhere to their care plans.

Understanding Medical Negligence and Your Rights

Medical negligence happens when Chicago hospital staff fail to uphold standards of care for their specialty area or other services, which can put a person’s health and life at risk.

Examples of medical negligence include:

• Failure to Diagnose – A timely diagnosis ensures that a patient receives the correct treatment, including pain management and specific procedures. Missing important diagnostic signs, failing to explore potential issues by ordering more tests, or ignoring a patient’s concerns can lead to complications and death.
• Surgical Errors – During surgical procedures, doctors must be ready to respond to changing vital signs and complete all necessary steps to keep the patient safe. Surgical errors include improper monitoring, leaving debris inside a wound, or cutting the wrong body part.
• Medication Errors – Giving a patient the wrong medication or dosage may mean they don’t receive the full benefit of the drug, or it can kill them, depending on their condition. This can occur because nurses don’t check patients’ charts for important allergy information or double-check their dosage.
• Improper Care – Nurses and doctors are responsible for explaining a patient’s treatment plan to ensure everyone is on the same page. They must offer information about the person’s conditions and required services, as well as provide clear instructions for the next steps. Ignoring this key care element can mean patients can’t care for themselves, resulting in health complications.

Victims of medical negligence can explore their options for compensation with the help of a personal injury lawyer. Law firms like Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers will learn about your case and gather evidence such as medical reports and expert testimony. They will then negotiate with the healthcare providers and hospital to achieve a settlement.

While we can often secure compensation through negotiation, it is sometimes necessary to file a lawsuit. In this instance, we will guide you through the legal process and present evidence before a judge and jury.

Secure Expert Legal Representation!

The Chicago, IL, statute of limitations for medical negligence is only two years from the date of injury, so you must act quickly.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is a leading personal injury law firm holding healthcare providers, hospitals, and specialists accountable when they fail to offer quality care. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe us nothing for our services unless we can secure compensation.

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

References: [1] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [2] Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, [3] US News and World Report, [4] Cook County Register, [5] Cook County Register, [6] Cook County Register, [7] Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, [8] Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, [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.