Rush University Medical Center Malpractice & Violations

Hospitals across the US are expected to strive for high performance in patient care. This level of care requires a commitment to safety, quality service, and adherence to healthcare standards.

Rush University Medical Center is a hospital located in Chicago, Illinois. It is highly rated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and patients. This hospital is affiliated with Rush Medical College under the Rush University educational institution.

However, every hospital faces violations or deficiencies that can endanger patients. The more issues a hospital deals with, the more likely patients will suffer from medical negligence or malpractice.

Rush University Medical Center patients have the right to quality care, professional standards, and safety. If the nursing staff, administrators, or parent company fail to uphold these standards and patients are harmed, they could take legal action against the negligent party with the help of a Chicago medical malpractice lawyer.

About Rush University Medical Center

Located in Chicago, Rush University Medical Center is an acclaimed healthcare institution that integrates patient care, medical education, and cutting-edge research.

Overview

Rush University Medical Center is an academic hospital located in the medical neighborhood of downtown Chicago. It has a licensed capacity of 671 beds and is considered one of the country’s leading Level 1 trauma hospitals.

RUMC specializes in patient care, new therapies, education, and research. It also includes the Johnston R. Bowman Health Center, which provides rehabilitative care for older adults.

RUMC offers care services in cancer care, surgical interventions, cardiology, endocrinology, geriatrics, neurology, and orthopedics.

Ownership and Affiliations

RUMC is part of a network operating under the Rush University System for Health. This parent company also manages other medical affiliates in the Chicago area, including Rush Oak Park Hospital and Rush Copley Medical Center. The System Parent Board of Trustees manages operations at these three locations.

RUMC is a not-for-profit hospital founded in 1837. Rush University System of Health network is a hub for medical school training, scientific research, and patient care.

Reputation and Performance

RUMC has a reputation as a top academic medical center in the country. It consistently ranks among the best hospitals nationwide for medical and surgical specialties.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has given the hospital a five-star rating based on categories like mortality, safety or care, readmission, patient experience, and timely and effective care. Additionally, the patient rating recorded by CMS is four out of five stars [1].

According to US News, which reports on many healthcare clinics nationwide, RUMC has a patient experience rating of four stars. The hospital is nationally ranked in 11 adult care specialties and considered high-performing in 18 adult procedures and conditions [2].

Notable Legal Actions Against Rush University Medical Center

As one of Chicago’s leading healthcare providers, thousands of patients trust RUMC for their care every year. However, patient safety has been violated in the past, placing individuals in danger. Medical malpractice or negligence sometimes leads to lawsuits against the hospital and its staff.

Here are a few case examples where the hospital failed to provide the appropriate standard of care.

Brain Surgery Complication Leading to a Patient’s Death

In 2011, Billy Horne died two days after undergoing brain surgery at RUMC. The neurosurgeon was accused of failing to address a bleeding problem from neurosurgery to repair a brain aneurysm. The lawsuit was filed by the patient’s wife, Jeanette Horne. Her Chicago surgical error attorneys settled it for a $6 million payout [3].

Brain Damage From CT Scan Contrast Dye

One patient was injected with contrast dye in preparation for a CT scan. The dye caused an adverse reaction, leading to brain damage. Since she was not monitored adequately, she suffered respiratory distress, and oxygen to her brain was cut off. Chicago brain injury attorneys settled this case for $6 million.

Punctured Artery During Surgery

A child patient was undergoing an unproven surgical method when their pulmonary artery was punctured. This surgical error resulted in irreversible damage to the child’s brain and cerebral palsy. With the help of Chicago cerebral palsy attorneys, the family of the child received a settlement of $30 million from RUMC for the surgery outcome [4].

Inspection and Deficiency Reports at Rush University Medical Center

State and federal entities regularly inspect Rush University System of Health hospitals to search for deficiencies. Although RUMC is one of the most effective health care providers in the state and country, deficiencies still endangered patients in the past.

According to CMS reports, RUMC has fallen short of administrator and nursing excellence in several categories. Only 22% of patients received appropriate care for sepsis or septic shock, which is well below the national average of 61%.

Patients also spent significantly more time in the emergency department before leaving than the national average (322 minutes versus 196 minutes). Substance use treatment is also an area of weakness, with fewer patients receiving alcohol interventions than the national average and fewer tobacco users receiving counseling [1].

Illinois also inspects hospitals in the state and creates report cards for each one. These report cards include information about deficiencies or violations that the hospital has committed. According to RUMC’s report card, it has fallen short of professional standards in several ways.

First, bathrooms and patient rooms are not kept as clean as they should be. Patients report not receiving care or attention as soon as the national average. There is also a higher rate of infections after knee surgeries than the national average [5].

Understanding Medical Negligence and Your Rights

Medical negligence is a legal term describing a situation where a medical professional or institution fails to provide the expected standard of care for a patient. As a result of this failure, the patient is harmed.

Medical negligence or malpractice can lead to severe injuries or even death. If you have received care services at Rush University Medical Center, you have the right to receive this level of care.

Hospital negligence can take many forms. Surgical errors, misdiagnoses, improper monitoring, insufficient nutrition, unclean premises, defective medical devices, medication mistakes, and inadequate staffing are all common causes of negligence in a hospital.

Whether a physician gave you the wrong medicine or the nurses did not follow protocols when helping you move around the room, these instances of negligence could open the hospital to a lawsuit if you suffer legal damages.

Why Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Although RUMC is ranked for many services and even has a place on the hospital honor roll, you could be the victim of medical malpractice or negligence while receiving care. If so, you may file a lawsuit against the hospital or staff for violating patient safety and causing your injuries.

The most effective way to build a strong case and increase your chances of winning fair compensation is to hire a medical malpractice attorney.

We can help your case in numerous ways. First, our commitment is to you, not the hospital, so they will seek your interests. We will investigate your case to determine the facts behind the incident. With your help, we will gather evidence to prove negligence and assess damages suffered.

Potential damages in a hospital negligence case may include lost income, medical bills, emotional distress, physical pain, and loss of enjoyment of life. If negotiation is necessary for fair compensation, your attorney will level the playing field against the hospital and their insurance company.

Secure Expert Legal Representation!

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is a Chicago-based personal injury law firm ready to defend your rights in a hospital negligence case. If you have a medical malpractice claim against RUMC, it is essential to act quickly and file your claim with the help of an experienced lawyer.

The sooner you initiate your claim, the easier it will be to gather strong evidence that supports your case. Plus, if you wait too long to pursue legal action, the medical malpractice statute of limitations in Illinois could prevent you from securing a settlement.

We work on a contingency fee basis, which means there are no upfront legal fees for you to worry about. Instead, we only receive payment if we win your case. This arrangement makes it easier to pursue justice without going further into debt.

You can also schedule a free consultation with Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers to ask questions about your case. If you are unsure about the legal grounds for your claim or want to understand the claims process, we are happy to provide answers.

If you have suffered at the hands of Rush University Medical Center, call us today at 888-424-5757 or complete the contact form to request a free case review.

Resources: [1] CMS – Rush University Medical Center, [2] US News – Rush University Medical Center, [3] Inner Circle – Larry Rogers Jr., [4] Chicago Tribune, [5] Healthcare Report Card – RUMC

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.