UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital Malpractice & Violations

Hospital performance metrics are essential in patient care, demonstrating how well staff prioritize safety and adhere to healthcare standards. The quality of care patients receive directly impacts their recovery and outcomes. A hospital’s history of serious violations may indicate increased risks of medical negligence or malpractice incidents.

If you’ve been mistreated at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, IL, a medical negligence lawyer can help you recover maximum compensation for your needs. Personal injury lawyers like Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers hold hospital systems accountable for their failures, demanding they adhere to best care practices.

About UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital

UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital is a community healthcare facility that joined the University of Chicago Medicine Health System in 2016.

Overview

UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital is at One Ingalls Drive, Harvey, IL, 60426. This 485-bed hospital serves the suburban Chicago community, including Harvey, Tinley Park, South Holland, and Riverdale.

This Harvey, IL, hospital offers emergency medicine, inpatient rehabilitation services, obstetrics and gynecology, oncology, radiology, neurology, hospice care, and psychiatry.

UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital also has a family medicine department that treats adults and pediatric patients and offers several services for women, such as breast imaging.

Ownership and Affiliations

Ingalls Memorial Hospital is legally known as UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital. It is a part of the University of Chicago medical system, which provides healthcare services at 48 locations throughout Indiana and Illinois.

As part of the UChicago Medicine network, Ingalls Memorial Hospital is a teaching facility with a medical residency program in its pharmacy department.

Reputation and Performance

US News and World Report notes that UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial is high-performing in four adult specialties, including heart attack, heart failure, diabetes, and kidney failure [1]. However, significant concerns exist about the facility’s ability to care for its patients, particularly in services outside these specialty areas.

Despite being part of the prestigious UChicago Medicine network, Ingalls Memorial Hospital has a 2-star rating with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal hospital rating system [2].

The hospital’s patient survey rating is only 1 out of 5 stars, much below average [3]. Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade also gave the hospital a C score, meaning it performs below average in several important factors [4].

Notable Legal Actions Against UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital

Healthcare facilities may face legal actions related to patient care and safety concerns. Here are notable cases involving UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital.

Forcible Treatment of an Involuntarily Hospitalized Woman

In July 2018, Danielle Leroy was involuntarily committed at Ingalls Memorial Hospital’s psychiatric department after visiting a UChicago Medicine emergency room for sleep deprivation and stress.

When she arrived at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital, she was forcibly given psychotropic medication and told she could not leave. Leroy asked for a lawyer but was refused. The physicians also told her that they would force her to stay longer if she did not sign an authorization for the release of her medical records.

A nurse also tried to slam a door on her foot when she asked for water. The victim filed a lawsuit, Leroy v. Ingalls Memorial Hospital, on June 30, 2020 [5].

Failure to Monitor a Patient Leads to Wrongful Death

The 2018 case Daley v. Teruel alleged that nursing staff at UChicago Medical Ingalls Memorial Hospital failed to monitor Rosalie Galmore Jones’ blood glucose in November 2013. She subsequently passed away a year later due to injuries caused by their negligence.

The negligent supervision claim also notes that some files presented during discovery were irrelevant to the filing, and some were created in January 2014, months after the incident [6].

Negligence During Caesarian Section Resulting in Lifelong Disability

In April 2018, Johnnie Watkins filed Watkins v. Ingalls Memorial Hospital on behalf of Johnnice Ford, who was rendered permanently disabled by mistreatment at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Hospital in Harvey, IL. [7]

Ford gave birth to her daughter, Jaiyana Ford, at the hospital in 2008 after an emergency C-section in the labor and delivery department. However, the doctors and nurses failed to diagnose several severe conditions caused by the surgery, including Wernicke’s encephalopathy, dry beriberi, and pseudobulbar palsy.

The conditions mentioned all involve the nervous system; dry beriberi is a neuropathy caused by inadequate nutrition, specifically the nutrient thiamine. Because thiamine is critical during pregnancy, Ford’s thiamine levels should have been tested as standard procedure [8]. These missed diagnoses resulted in Ford becoming bedridden and unable to care for herself.

Inspection and Deficiency Reports at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital

According to the Illinois Hospital Report Card, only 40% of respondents would recommend UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital, which is 26% lower than the state average [9].

Only 8% of patients received appropriate care for sepsis or septic shock at this facility, which is dramatically lower than the 61% national average and 60% state average [10]. Sepsis can cause organ failure or death if not treated quickly.

While the emergency department had shorter visit times than the national and state average, 9% of visitors left without being seen, much higher than the 3% national average and 6% state average.

Patient surveys suggest that they are not getting proper care and communication. Only 36% of UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital respondents said they always received help as soon as needed, compared to the 66% national average and 63% state average [3].

Understanding Medical Negligence and Your Rights

Medical negligence is when medical professionals fail to uphold standards of care while offering treatment. Common types of medical negligence include:

• Failure to Diagnose – Prompt treatment is critical for protecting a patient’s health. Failing to run routine tests, dismissing a patient’s concerns, or missing a vital sign that should have been obvious are types of failure to diagnose.
• Surgical Errors – These can include not running presurgical checks to ensure the patient is healthy enough for surgery, operating on the wrong organ, or leaving debris inside the incision.
• Medication Errors – Examples of medication errors are giving adult dosages of medicines to pediatric patients, giving medications to pregnant women that may harm the fetus, or providing the wrong drug.
• Improper Care – This neglect can include not asking pertinent questions about the patient’s health or sending the patient home without appropriate aftercare instructions.

If you’ve experienced medical negligence, a personal injury lawyer can help you negotiate with the hospital’s insurance company for a fair settlement that will cover your medical needs and future costs.

A lawyer can also take your case to trial if necessary, representing you in front of a judge and jury who will determine appropriate compensation.

Secure Expert Legal Representation!

If you have been mistreated at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital, you must act quickly, as the statute of limitations is only two years after the date of injury.

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 a free consultation with an attorney, call (888) 424-5757 or complete our contact form.

References: [1] US News and World Report, [2] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [3] Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, [4] Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, [5] United States District Court Northern Illinois Division, [6] Circuit Court of Cook County, [7] Casetext, [8] PubMed, [9] Illinois Hospital Report Card, [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.