Chicago has a reputation as being a metropolitan area with excellent medical services available. In years past, Chicago area hospitals have ranked among some of the top in the nation. The nonprofit organization the Leapfrog Group reviews information about hospital...
Medical Malpractice
What should a medical provider tell you after surgery?
While many patients understand what to ask before they go into surgery, one of the things they may not know is what their medical provider should be disclosing after a surgery is complete. Many patients do ask themselves if a surgeon would tell them if something went...
Questions to ask before surgery
Illnesses and injuries are stressful. Often the treatment and recovery phases are long and come with many limitations. When surgery is part of your treatment, it can make the process feel even more stressful. You may feel overwhelmed with questions, or you may not...
Why do doctors use permanent markers on patients before surgery?
The process of getting ready for surgery requires a lot of extra effort from a patient. They may need to abstain from food and even drinks for hours before the procedure. Some people may require testing, and most everyone undergoing general anesthesia and significant...
How good are Chicago-area hospitals?
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...
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...