The Chicago area has some of the finest hospitals in the country, and a recent study from a Washington-based nonprofit supports that claim. In our region, most patients can rely on the medical care and services they receive. Even though patients and their families...
Medical Malpractice
The unseen dangers of polypharmacy and medication errors
While many people equate medical malpractice with egregious errors such as surgical mistakes and missed diagnoses, the negligence can often be traced to numerous unexpected sources. What many patients consider a simple process can become a dangerous hazard. In these...
Common mistakes hospitals make with patient care
When you go into the hospital for treatment or an operation, you want to be sure that the doctors and nurses are correctly assessing your condition, accurately diagnosing you and providing proper treatment. But many hospital patients would be truly alarmed if they...
These 4 illnesses are commonly misdiagnosed by doctors
There are many health conditions that are misdiagnosed. Unfortunately, depending on the misdiagnosis, a patient could suffer serious consequences or even death as a result.As a patient, it's important to seek second opinions and to find out if your test results or...
Anesthesiologists need to monitor patients’ oxygen levels closely
You needed to go through general anesthesia because of the significant surgery that had been planned for you. You trusted that the anesthesiologist would do what was right for you and give you the medications needed to keep you stable.What you never could have...
2019’s Leapfrog Group ratings grade local hospitals
Hospital safety ratings can matter. Being able to know how well your medical providers are performing can be important when making healthcare choices. If you knew a hospital had a D rating, would you go there? Would you risk suffering an injury if you could spend...
Understanding the risks and dangers of anesthesia
The safety record for anesthesia has improved dramatically in recent times.However, if you are facing a procedure that requires anesthesia, it is essential to understand the risks. Decreasing the odds of a bad outcomeIf you have concerns regarding anesthesia, bring...
Why and how pharmacy errors may occur
There's a pivotal scene in the movie "It's a Wonderful Life" where the pharmacist, Mr. Gower -- who is insane with grief after learning that his son has died from influenza and who has gotten drunk as a result -- almost poisons a young customer's medicine with...
Pfaff, Gill & Ports, Ltd. reaches $3 million settlement for cauda equina syndrome case
J.T., a 30 year‐old Chicagoland woman, presented to the Emergency Department at a local Chicago hospital with severe back pain. She was admitted to that hospital under the care of H.A., M.D., a hospitalist employed by United Elite Hospitalists, LLC.While an...
Chicago is home to risky hospitals
When you go to a hospital, you expect to receive the best care possible. However, depending on the exact hospital you go to, you could face a greater risk of suffering from medical malpractice. The Leapfrog Group recently released its finding of potentially...