Rush Oak Park Hospital Malpractice & Violations

Hospital patients rely on the professionalism of staff to handle their care needs. Hospitals are expected to perform efficiently, especially in patient care, safety, quality, and adherence to healthcare standards.

Many hospitals struggle with violations and deficiencies that put patients at risk. When these clinics and staff fail to meet high standards, patients could face poor care, infections, injuries, illnesses, or even death. These consequences can open medical professionals and clinics to potential lawsuits from the victims and families who suffer.

If you have been a patient at Rush Oak Park Hospital, you may have experienced medical negligence. If this negligence caused you harm, you can file a lawsuit and pursue compensation for legal damages. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can guide you through the legal process and increase your chances of success.

About Rush Oak Park Hospital

Overview

Rush Oak Park Hospital is located at 520 South Maple Ave. Oak Park, IL, 60304. This medical center operates 185 staffed beds, and providers specialize in cardiovascular care, cancer care, orthopedic care, various therapies, general surgery, gastroenterology, and primary care. People in the community can easily access the facility via public transportation.

The campus includes a 55,000-square-foot emergency department with 22 private rooms, serving roughly 40,000 patients annually. With such a high volume of patients, Rush Oak Park Hospital should be able to meet the expected standard of patient care.

Ownership and Affiliations

This hospital’s legal business name is Rush Oak Park Hospital, and it belongs to the Rush University System of Health network. This system manages three hospitals in the Chicago community, including Rush Oak Park Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, and Rush Copley Medical Center.

Numerous outpatient clinics within this network are not attached to hospitals. The Rush University System of Health is considered one of the top networks in Illinois and the city of Oak Park, IL.

Reputation and Performance

Rush Oak Park Hospital has a decent reputation in the Chicago community. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has given the hospital a four-star overall rating, which makes it above average.

Based on patient feedback, CMS displays a patient satisfaction rating of three stars, which is considered average [1]. However, only 57% of patients stated they received help as soon as they wanted, indicating poor patient care at the Oak Park hospital.

Notable Legal Actions Against Rush Oak Park Hospital

Patients who have suffered from hospital negligence or malpractice have brought lawsuits against Rush Oak Park Hospital and its staff in the past. Some of these cases have resulted in settlements for the victims to cover their legal damages.

Many lawsuits against the Oak Park clinic are ongoing or have yet to be made public with their resolutions. Here are some cases that have been brought against this Oak Park, IL, hospital.

Staff Failed To Protect Patients From Disease

In 2019, Joyce Walker contracted Legionnaires’ disease while staying at Rush Oak Park Hospital. She alleged that the staff did not take proper precautions to prevent the infection from spreading among patients. Additionally, the lawsuit claimed that the hospital staff did not notify her that she was exposed to the disease. Walker sought a jury trial at the time of reporting [2].

Catheter Complications For a Male Patient

In 2016, a male patient named Robert Bale was experiencing bladder discomfort and continuous pain. Rush Oak Park Hospital staff attempted to put a catheter in the patient multiple times. Bale alleged that this medical malpractice resulted in urethral trauma and ongoing pain.

Additionally, he claimed various complications resulted from his treatment, forcing him into an extended hospital stay. Bale sought $50,000 in damages for this medical malpractice suit [3].

Inspection and Deficiency Reports at Rush Oak Park Hospital

Hospital inspections are common nationwide. These inspections, conducted by state and federal entities, often reveal deficiencies that put patients at risk. Based on data from CMS and the Illinois Hospital Report Card, below are some issues discovered at Rush Oak Park Hospital.

• A lower rate of patients would recommend Rush Oak Park Hospital to friends and family than the national and state average.
• Patients state their rooms in the Oak Park facility were not kept clean enough compared to the national average.
• Fewer patients understood their patient care when they left the Oak Park hospital than the state and national average.
• A lower percentage of patients are highly satisfied with their care than the national and state average [4].
• 44% of patients received adequate care for sepsis at the Oak Park facility compared to 61% nationally.
• 62% of patients displaying stroke symptoms received brain scans within 45 minutes compared to 69% nationally.
• Patients spent a median time of 231 minutes in the emergency department before leaving compared to 211 minutes nationally.
• 5% of patients left the Rush Oak Park Hospital emergency room before being seen compared to 3% nationally [1].

In addition to these deficiencies, Rush Oak Park Hospital is not recognized as one of the top hospitals in Illinois. Though its system counterpart, Rush University Medical Center, is considered a top hospital in the state, Rush Oak Park Hospital falls well outside the top 20 [5].

Understanding Medical Negligence and Your Rights

Since hospitals like Rush Oak Park Hospital are expected to uphold professional standards, medical negligence has legal implications. Negligence occurs when medical professionals fail to provide the expected standard of care. These shortcomings can have devastating consequences for the patient, including injury, infection, a worsening condition, or death.

Medical negligence can manifest in several ways in a hospital. Surgical errors, misdiagnoses, failure to diagnose, medication errors, improper care, insufficient monitoring, and understaffing can all be medical negligence. Facilities are often responsible for the doctors who practice on the premises unless they are a third-party contractor.

Hiring a medical malpractice and negligence lawyer may be necessary if you or a loved one experience these negligence issues. Legal expertise from a professional attorney can make a significant difference in your lawsuit. Seasoned attorneys are familiar with what is considered standard practice and what constitutes medical negligence.

You will need their knowledge to build a solid case, gather compelling evidence, negotiate for fair compensation, and represent you in a trial if necessary. The primary objective of your lawyer is to secure maximum compensation for legal damages, which may include lost income, medical bills, emotional distress, physical pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Secure Expert Legal Representation!

When you suffer at the hands of a healthcare practice, it is essential to act quickly if you want to take legal action. Waiting to file a lawsuit could have several consequences. Your case may be dismissed due to the statute of limitations. Collecting evidence to support your claim will be more challenging.

When this hospital in Oak Park, IL, causes you or a loved one harm due to medical negligence, you can rely on Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers to help with your case. Our team has vast experience with hospital malpractice cases and knows what it takes to win fair compensation. With the right law firm on your side, your chances of recovering legal damages are significantly higher.

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.

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, we work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay zero upfront costs for our legal services. Instead, we only receive payment from the settlement if we win your case.

This reduces the financial burden on the client, who may already be struggling with high medical expenses. We also offer a free consultation so you can ask questions about your case and make an informed decision.

Call our office today at 888-424-5757 or complete the online form to request your free case review.

Resources: [1] CMS – Rush Oak Park Hospital, [2] WTTW News – Woman Sues Rush Oak Park Hospital, [3] Cook County Record – Patient Claims Procedure Complications, [4] Healthcare Report Card – Rush Oak Park Hospital, [5] US News – Best Illinois Hospitals

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.