OSF Saint James Hospital Malpractice & Violations

Hospital performance determines the level of care patients receive. A few of the best ways to evaluate hospital performance include safety and quality guidelines, patient surveys, and adherence to healthcare standards.

Hospital violations and deficiencies may indicate negligence on the part of hospital staff, which puts patients at risk. Injured patients may suffer worse symptoms and even lose their lives.

If you were injured due to hospital staff negligence, you may be eligible for a medical malpractice lawsuit. Filing a lawsuit against the negligent hospital allows you to recover damages while also holding the facility accountable.

About Saint James Hospital

Saint James Hospital is a comprehensive medical facility that provides essential healthcare services as part of the OSF health system.

Overview

Saint James Hospital is a 42-bed hospital located at 2500 West Reynolds Street, Pontiac, IL, 61764. The hospital offers health care to the Livingston County area, including behavioral/mental health, women’s care, diabetes, occupational health, primary care, urgent care, and women’s health.

Ownership and Affiliations

Saint James Hospital is part of OSF HealthCare, a nonprofit Catholic healthcare system that manages hospitals, healthcare clinics, and other facilities throughout Illinois and Michigan.

Some of the hospitals included on the OSF list of facilities are OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center, OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center, and Saint James Hospital.

Saint James Hospital is often referred to as the John W. Albrecht Medical Center, which helps distinguish it from other hospitals in the portfolio.

The OSF HealthCare company was started in 1876 when the OSF Sisters parish served patients in their homes. Until the 1990s, OSF Healthcare clinics worked independently without collaboration. After shifting priorities to cover teamwork and cooperation, the healthcare affiliation now includes over 65 medical care offices.

Saint James Hospital is fully accredited by The Joint Commission.

Reputation and Performance

Hospital reputation and performance can be measured using patient surveys and feedback. The U.S. World News and Report tracks these rankings and gives Saint James Hospital a four-star rating based on patient experience [1].

The healthcare facility is not rated for many services, including neurology and gynecology. It received lower-than-average ratings for services like hip and knee replacement procedures.

However, patients give the hospital average to good ratings. Patients report a three out of five-star rating for overall satisfaction and willingness to recommend it to others. They also give the hospital a four-star rating for both doctor and nurse communication.

Notable Legal Actions Against OSF Saint James Hospital

Legal actions taken against a healthcare facility can provide further information about overall performance expectations. Here are a few notable legal actions taken against OSF Saint James Hospital.

Employment Discrimination During Medical Leave

In Collins v. OSF Healthcare System (2003), Richard Collins filed a lawsuit on behalf of his deceased wife, Patricia Collins, a former OSF Saint James Hospital employee.

The suit alleged that during her medical leave in June 2000, the hospital changed her job description to prevent her return to work, discriminating against her based on disability (ADA), age (ADEA), and violating the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). While the court allowed the FMLA claim to proceed, it dismissed other claims with leave to amend [2].

Discrimination Against Disabled Patients

In 2013, 17 plaintiffs filed a federal lawsuit against OSF Healthcare System, alleging ADA violations at multiple facilities, including OSF Saint Francis, St. Joseph, and St. James Medical Centers.

The suit, which originated from a 2012 protest over the treatment of deaf and hard-of-hearing patients, claimed the hospitals failed to provide adequate accommodations such as sign language interpreters, Braille materials, and wheelchair-accessible equipment [3].

Settlements are common in medical malpractice cases to avoid negative public relations disasters. This confidentiality can make it difficult to track down information related to all legal actions taken against a health facility.

Inspection and Deficiency Reports at Saint James Hospital Health Care Facility

Inspection and deficiency reports also provide useful information about hospital performance measurements.

The Illinois Hospital Report Card and Consumer Guide to Health Care report that 62% of patients would recommend OSF Saint James Hospital to others. Based on standardized surveys, this is slightly lower than the national average [4].

Patients report low satisfaction with room quietness and discharge information. However, the hospital received higher than state and national average ratings for staff explanations regarding medications and for nurses’ communication skills.

Medicare also issues annual ratings of the nation’s hospitals and gives Saint James Hospital a three-star rating. However, patient survey ratings give Saint James Hospital a four-star rating [5].

The organization’s lower rating is based on average mortality rates, low safety of care, average readmission, and high patient experience. Patient experience ratings are based on hospital staff communications, the ability to receive prompt assistance, medication explanations, and clean rooms.

Understanding Medical Negligence and Your Rights

Patients deserve a certain standard of care when they visit a hospital or health care center. Medical negligence is a phrase used to describe a negligent situation in which patients don’t receive the care they need. In a hospital environment, this may include any of the following:

• Surgical Mistakes: During surgical procedures, errors may be due to a lack of training or failure to monitor patient records.
• Medication Mistakes: Staff who fail to monitor health conditions or drug interactions can cause unnecessary patient harm.
• Failure to Diagnose or Delayed Diagnosis: Medical providers who fail to diagnose or diagnose too late limit patients’ time to receive medical care.
• Improper Care of Patients: Improper patient care is often considered negligence, and it may include failure to provide necessary discharge information.

When medical negligence occurs, patients can suffer injuries or worse. Compensation may be available to cover things like medical expenses and lost wages. However, recovering compensation due to medical negligence requires filing a lawsuit.

It’s best to work with a personal injury lawyer when seeking compensation and justice through a lawsuit. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers offers comprehensive legal assistance services that include case evaluation, evidence collection, insurance negotiations, and trial representation. If you suffered injury due to staff negligence, it may be worth exploring your legal options.

Secure Expert Legal Representation!

If you or a family member were injured due to negligence at Saint James Hospital, consider contacting Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers. Our legal team has the skills necessary to build a strong case and prove liability. We charge nothing unless we recover compensation for your case. This arrangement means there is no risk in asking questions and learning more about your options.

Keep in mind that there is a limited time to file a medical malpractice lawsuit, which is determined based on your injury and the state you live, so reach out to a law firm as soon as possible.

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.

Contact a medical malpractice and negligence lawyer today at (888) 424-5757 or fill out our online form.

References: [1] U.S. News and World Report, [2] Justia, [3] Journal Star, [4] Illinois Hospital Report Card, [5] Medicare

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.