South Shore Hospital Malpractice & Violations

Healthcare performance is rated based on patient satisfaction surveys, hospital deficiencies, previous and pending lawsuits, and organization ratings. A hospital may also receive deficiencies or violations for failure to offer good patient care.

When patients don’t receive a certain standard of care, the negligent hospital or healthcare center may be liable through a medical malpractice case. A Chicago medical negligence lawyer can help patients seek compensation following negligent medical care.

About South Shore Hospital

South Shore Hospital, serving Chicago’s South Side since 1912, is a community hospital committed to providing essential healthcare services to residents.

Overview

South Shore Hospital is a healthcare organization offering primary care and specialty medical care to patients of all ages. The hospital is a not-for-profit community system that provides compassionate healthcare for the local city. South Shore Hospital is located in Chicago, Illinois, and has 170 community beds.

The organization provides inpatient and outpatient services, including diabetes, heart health, sleep apnea, substance abuse, mental health, and orthopedics.

Ownership and Affiliations

The South Shore Hospital was founded in 1912 and gained prominence for being the first healthcare center in the community to open an HIV/AIDS clinic. It is currently led by CEO Leslie Rogers. Despite numerous votes, the administrators of South Shore Hospital have voted unanimously to maintain independent ownership.

Reputation and Performance

According to U.S. News & World Report [1], South Shore Hospital is not among Illinois’s top 10 healthcare organizations. The report includes a list of hospitals recognized as leaders in certain specialties.

Because South Shore Hospital is a smaller healthcare system, it’s unsurprising that patient surveys and ratings are limited. However, among the available ratings, South Shore Hospital has received a one-out-of-five-star rating for medical-surgical ICU services [2].

The community hospital has received an average of three out of five stars for heart attack and heart failure services and diabetes care. Patients have also rated their overall experience an average of one star, specifically reporting a low approval of the hospital overall and an unwillingness to recommend it to others.

The hospital system received slightly higher (two out of five stars) ratings for satisfaction with doctors’ communications and patient recovery involvement.

Notable Legal Actions Against South Shore Hospital

Hospitals that fail to follow quality standards may be subject to medical malpractice claims and lawsuits. The problem with medical negligence lawsuits is that they’re often settled outside of court to avoid negative publicity.

Information on South Shore lawsuits is limited. However, it was recently involved in a class-action lawsuit.

Failure to Properly Safeguard Patient’s Personal and Health Information

In December 2021, South Shore Hospital was at the center of a lawsuit alleging the community healthcare system failed to properly safeguard patients’ personal and health information from unauthorized access. Over 100,000 patients’ sensitive medical data was estimated to be breached in the incident [3].

This report doesn’t mean patients haven’t sued the community hospital for malpractice or negligence. The system has been named in various lawsuits. However, many were dismissed due to a lack of evidence or failing to meet appeal timelines.

Inspection and Deficiency Reports at South Shore Hospital

Inspection and deficiency reports can also provide useful insight into a hospital’s overall quality of care. Illinois issues a hospital report card based on patient surveys. These surveys measure various quality of care services compared to the state and national averages.

Approximately 48% of South Shore patients would recommend the facility to others, far lower than state and national averages [4].

The hospital also received lower ratings related to discharge information, cleanliness of the hospital, and access to a quiet room, which all fell below state and national average ratings.

However, readmission rates were lower than average, which refers to patients who return to the emergency department for a similar problem.

Understanding Medical Negligence and Your Rights

Medical negligence occurs when doctors, physicians, or nurses fail to meet the minimum standard of health care. Hospital staff negligence can lead to a worsening injury, prolonged hospital stays, or untimely death.

A wrongful death lawsuit may be filed against hospitals in which negligent behaviors of staff lead to a loss of life. In a wrongful death claim, family members may seek burial expenses and loss of wages on behalf of the patient.

Otherwise, a medical negligence case seeks compensation for medical bills, lost wages, lost work benefits, and future treatments.

Hospital negligence may include any of the following:

• Surgical Errors: Surgical errors can affect a patient’s quality of life, sometimes worsening their condition or failing to treat the initial issue.
• Medication Mistakes: Medication mistakes may include drug interactions or improper dosage and could affect a patient’s overall well-being.
• Failure to Diagnose or Treat: Delayed diagnosis or failure to diagnose or treat can worsen a patient’s condition.
• Improper Care: The improper care of a patient during services may be considered negligence if it doesn’t meet the minimum standards of care.

Medical negligence may also include defective surgical equipment, a failure to refer, poor management, or birth injuries. Medical malpractice can occur in any healthcare field, including community hospitals, emergency departments, orthopedics clinics, or outpatient services.

Navigating a medical malpractice case can be difficult, especially if you cannot access expert witnesses. A medical malpractice case requires proof that the physicians or doctors deviated from the expected standard of care. This negligence can be difficult to prove without an expert witness who can testify to the expected quality of care.

Why Hire a Medical Malpractice Lawyer

If you or a family member were the victim of negligence at South Shore Hospital, it may be worth discussing your case with a lawyer.

A medical malpractice and negligence lawyer will ensure you file your claim within the state’s time limits while gathering the evidence necessary to represent your case best. We’ll also work hard to negotiate the best offer and strive to close your case as promptly as possible.

Many medical malpractice cases result in a settlement offer. However, if the insurance company is unwilling to cover your expenses fairly, our team is prepared and skilled enough to represent you in a trial.

Secure Expert Legal Representation!

You expect to receive quality care when you visit the South Shore Hospital emergency department or medical office. When a visit to these medical services doesn’t provide you with the standard of care you deserve, you may be eligible for compensation. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers is dedicated to helping victims of medical malpractice hold negligent physicians and nurses accountable.

Our legal services are based on a contingency fee, meaning families owe us anything unless we win their case. We strive for excellence, aiming to represent South Shore victims and their families with compassion and experience.

Whether you were a victim of South Shore Health negligence or another Chicago area health care system, we have the legal skills you need.

Call us today at (888) 424-5757 for a free consultation with a Chicago personal injury attorney. Alternatively, you can fill out our contact form.

References: [1] U.S. News & World Report, [2] U.S. News & World Report, [3] Classaction.org, [4] The State of Illinois

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.