Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital Malpractice & Violations

Behavioral health facilities must uphold high standards in patient care, including safety, quality, and adherence to best practices.

State and federal agencies provide ratings that inform patients whether a treatment center offers excellent services. Low ratings and violations can lead to medical negligence or malpractice, risking patients’ lives and mental health.

If you’ve suffered medical negligence at Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can hold the treatment center accountable for their failures, including recovering compensation for your ongoing care.

About Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital

Overview

Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital is at 1650 Moon Lake Blvd, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169. This facility assists seniors, adults, and adolescents dealing with substance use disorders, eating disorders, PTSD, emotional issues, and other mental health problems.

This 141-bed hospital features addiction treatment specialists, nutrition counseling, group therapy, individual and family therapy, marriage counseling, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Patients at Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital can also choose an intensive outpatient program, also known as a partial hospitalization program (PHP), for substance abuse disorders and mental health challenges.

Additionally, Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital has specialized programs for children with school anxiety, such as those struggling to make friends or complete their work due to attention deficits.

Ownership and Affiliations

This facility’s legal business name is Ascension Alexian Brothers—Behavioral Health Hospital. It is closely affiliated with the neighboring Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village, IL, a general hospital that includes an emergency room and primary care. Patients who need intensive mental health or addiction treatment may be transferred to this facility instead.

Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital is owned by Ascension Healthcare, one of the largest Catholic healthcare networks in the United States. With 142 hospitals and 40 senior living facilities, it operates in 19 states plus the District of Columbia and has approximately 142,000 employees.

Reputation and Performance

Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital does not have a rating with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services because the hospital does not participate in its data collection programs [1]. However, the American Addiction Center rates the hospital 3.8 out of 5 stars, including a 3.7 in treatment effectiveness [2].

US News and World Report does not list Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital as highly rated in any discipline, but many disciplines involved in this ranking, such as cancer, are not practiced at Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Hospital [3].

In 2024, Becker’s Hospital Review listed Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital as one of 36 hospital systems with a good behavioral health or psychiatry program [4]. The review noted that the system tracks patients with comorbidities throughout their treatment so that they receive care for all co-occurring conditions.

The review also pointed out the hospital’s use of a practice kitchen for individuals with an eating disorder and their Behavioral Medicine Logistics Center that can triage patients to multiple facilities.

Notable Legal Actions Against Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital

Potential Violation of Patient Rights and Involuntary Hospitalization

An unnamed patient was admitted to Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital on December 27, 2019, after having a panic attack.

On the intake form, the social worker stated that she was suicidal but had no concrete plans, despite the woman saying she was not depressed or suicidal. The patient was also coerced into taking medication despite feeling she did not need it.

The Illinois Guardianship & Advocacy Commission found that staff at the Hoffman Estates, IL, facility may have coerced the patient into taking medication despite her reluctance. However, they did not believe her rights were violated. They noted the intake forms were not correctly filled out, and the social worker may have misrepresented the patient’s concerns [5].

Harassment of Patients

An anonymous patient filed a lawsuit against Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital after receiving threatening letters on hospital letterhead from Michelle Morrison, a former employee.

Morrison worked for the hospital from 2005 to 2010, when she was fired for performing personal internet searches on the hospital’s computers. Morrison stole records of at least 50 patients from the hospital and began mailing harassing letters printed on Alexian Brothers letterhead to a number of patients’ homes.

These letters continued for a year and a half before Morrison was identified and arrested. Her messages included personal details from patient files, even referencing the plaintiff’s previous childhood sexual abuse.

The patient, named Jane Doe in the suit, filed a lawsuit against Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, claiming the treatment center failed to take appropriate safeguards and perpetrated institutional neglect. The lawsuit made its way up to the appellate court before being decided in favor of the plaintiff in 2019 [6].

Medical Negligence Resulting in Infant’s Death

In 2011, Janet Keogh killed her 20-month-old son, Colin, while her husband, Beau, was out playing tennis. Keogh had been suffering from postpartum psychosis, which is a psychiatric condition that can affect women after giving birth.

She began seeking treatment six months after her son’s birth, but the physicians at Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital did not believe she posed a threat to her child. One of the doctors told her postpartum depression does not exist five months after giving birth and declined to diagnose her.

Instead of encouraging Keogh to receive help at an intensive outpatient program or be hospitalized, they recommended group therapy with other postpartum women. After Colin’s death, Keogh was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Her husband, Beau Keogh, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital in 2013 [7].

Inspection and Deficiency Reports at Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital

At Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, only 53% of inpatients who screened positive for substance use disorders received medication or a referral for further substance abuse treatment, compared to 70% of patients statewide and 72% of patients nationwide [8].

The statistics for tobacco substance use disorders were even lower. Only 37% of individuals who use tobacco were given both counseling and nicotine cessation medications during their stay, compared to the 40% national average and 55% state average [9].

Upon discharge from an inpatient treatment program, only 5% of those presenting with tobacco use were provided a referral for outpatient addiction treatment and a medication prescription. This is much lower than the 53% Illinois average and 58% national average [10].

Understanding Medical Negligence and Your Rights

Medical negligence occurs when physicians do not uphold the standards of care in their given specialty, potentially putting people at risk of worsening illness or death. Because of the unique treatment available in a behavioral health hospital, medical negligence may present differently than in general practice.

Common types of behavioral health hospital negligence include:

• Failure to Diagnose – Issues like PTSD, substance use disorders, anxiety, or an eating disorder may not always be evident to loved ones or the individual. Failing to screen for specific issues may worsen the patient’s condition without treatment.
• Medication Errors – Clinicians must be careful when prescribing psychiatric medications, especially if the person is in addiction treatment or has multiple comorbidities. Overdosing can lead to severe illnesses or even death.
• Improper Care – Failing to share essential details of an individual’s treatment plan with loved ones can mean they are not receiving proper follow-up, especially for adolescents or other vulnerable individuals.

Those who have suffered medical negligence at Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital or other facilities should speak to an attorney specializing in medical negligence. A Chicago law firm can negotiate with the treatment facility to receive appropriate compensation and hold clinicians accountable.

While it is often possible to obtain compensation without a lawsuit, our lawyers can take the case to trial if Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital refuses to offer a fair settlement. There, we will share your story with a judge and jury to ensure you receive compensation.

Secure Expert Legal Representation!

The Hoffman Estates, IL, medical negligence statute of limitations is 2 years after the date of injury, making it crucial that you speak to an attorney as soon as possible.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can hold Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital accountable. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you owe us nothing unless we win your case.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is a Chicago-based firm that proudly serves clients across Illinois and select cases nationwide. Our Chicago medical malpractice attorney team is here to help you navigate your case and fight for the compensation you deserve.

To schedule your free consultation, call (888) 424-5757 or use our online consultation request form.

References: [1] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [2] American Addiction Centers, [3] US News and World Report, [4] Becker’s Hospital Review, [5] Illinois Advocacy & Guardianship Commission, [6] Circuit Court of Cook County, [7] Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, [8] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [9] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [10] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

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.