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Blessing Hospital Medical Malpractice Lawyers
Blessing Hospital is a 307-bed “not-for-profit” hospital located in Adams County, Illinois at:
Broadway at 11th St.
Quincy, IL 62301
(217) 223-5811
National Ranking
Compared to all other hospitals in the United States, Blessing Hospital ranks an overall “B” score in the 53rd percentile with areas of strength including emergency department flow and admitted patient length of stay. Areas of improvement include the cost per patient day and physician communications with patients. The facility ranks in the 28th percentile among every hospital in the United States for its inpatient cost efficiency.
Illinois State Designations
The state of Illinois provides a consumer guide to the level of health care each hospital and medical center provides. Many residents use this information to determine the level of care a loved one is receiving or could receive when under the care of doctors, nurses and nursing aides at the health center. This The facility has the following designations:
- Perinatal II – A level II perinatal hospital provides a level of care to pregnant women and their infants that have a risk of a medical complication. These facilities do not provide special care or offer a neonatal intensive care nursery.
- Trauma Center Level II - A level II trauma center is required to provide every essential service around-the-clock. In addition, the facility also must provide a helicopter landing area.
- Emergency Department Approved for Pediatrics – Every hospital that participates in the Illinois emergency medical system pursuant to the state’s Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Code Section 515.4 is required to provide optimal emergency services to children and have transfer mechanisms and agreements in place to ensure the pediatric patient receives all the necessary care to ensure their optimal well-being.
The information supplied by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and other agencies revealed that Blessing Hospital reported numerous medical errors that could be of concern to Hospital patients and their families that include:
Readmission Rates
A readmission is when a hospital patient recently staying at the facility must return to the facility due to one or more health condition issues. Some of these include:
- 17.6% of Patients with Pneumonia readmitted to the facility within 30 days – This measurement indicates all 30-day readmission rates for hospital patients who have been previously discharged from the hospital between 07/01/2014 and 06/30/2017.
- 22.1% of Patients with Heart Failure were readmitted to the facility within 30 days between 07/01/2014 and 06/30/2017
- 15.5% of All Patients Suffering a Heart Attack were readmitted to the facility within 30 days between 07/01/2014 and 06/30/2017.
Patient Safety Concerns
Hospitals must provide better processes of individualized care tend to reduce their short-term mortality rates indicating better quality compared other hospitals throughout the state. Areas of concern involving Blessing Hospital include:
- A health care facility onset incident rate of MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) from 01/01/2017 through 12/31/2017 – 2 infections out of 50,326 patient days.
- Healthcare Facility Onset Incident Rate of CDI for 2017 with 65 reported infections over 47,774 patient days.
Medical/Surgical Nurse Staffing
In a hospital facility, the nurses provide 24/7 care to patients. Their training and expertise are a crucial component to ensuring the patient’s level of quality care in a safe environment. Studies indicate that nursing staff failures are directly connected to patient outcomes. Blessing Hospital’s Nursing staff in the surgical and medical departments include:
- Total registered nursing hours for each patient’ day in the medical/surgical department between 01/01/2015 and 12/31/2015 were 5.79 hours, which is slightly lower than the Illinois state average of 6.65 hours.
- The total nursing hours per patient days that involve all nursing staff including Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses and Certified Nursing Assistants measured 8.67 hours compared to the state's average of 10.19 hours.
- The Registered Nurse Turnover Rate in the hospital’s surgical/medical unit throughout 2015 was 47.57%.
Critical Care Nursing Staff
The total number of hours the nursing staff in the critical care unit provides its patients is crucial to case outcomes. Blessing Hospital’s Total Registered Nurses Nursing Hours for each patient between 01/01/2015 and 12/31/2015 was 13.5 hours compared to the state average of 15.18 hours.
The total number of nursing hours including Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses and Certified Nursing Aides in the Critical Care Department for 2015 was 16.7 hours compared to the state average of 16.93 hours. The Registered Nurses Turnover Rate in the facility’s Critical Care Unit was 17.78 percent for 2015.
Preventing Infections
The state of Illinois mandates that every hospital develops, implements and enforces infection prevention and control programs. The spread of infection throughout Illinois hospitals is a significantly growing problem in both Illinois and throughout the United States. Effective measures can reduce the number of infections. Blessing Hospital infection protocol measurements include:
- 0.65 per 100 beds – The number of infection prevention and control staff per 100 beds between 01/01/2015 and 12/31/2015.
- 0.33 per 100 beds – The number of infection prevention and staff control per 100 beds who are certified in infection control (CIC) between 01/01/2015 and 12/31/2015.
Sample Medical Malpractice Claims & Settlements Against Blessing Hospital
$800,000 Settlement; Illinois Wrongful Death Lawsuit
The events of this malpractice and wrongful death case occurred at Blessing Hospital. The patient was a female, age thirty-four. She went to the emergency room because her head hurt, and she had a fever as well as the chills. She returned a few days later and had diagnostic tests performed. However, staff did not confirm the results of them with her until the following day. By that point, doctors had discovered that she had bacterial meningitis. She died just a few days after her original visit. Her spouse and children survived her. They sued for damages. They pointed to the diagnosis and other failures as proof of the defendant’s negligence. In a negotiated settlement, the hospital gave them $800,000 to end the matter.
$2,250,000 Settlement; Illinois Birth Injury Lawsuit
Plaintiffs brought this hospital lawsuit against Blessing Hospital after their baby was born with brain damage. The complaint offered that the defendants did not take into consideration the mom’s diabetes or look after the kid’s overall well-being. Also, they claimed that the defendants should have done a C-section in an expeditious manner. As a result, the child was born with a significant birth injury. The brain damage would affect his long-term quality of life, finances, and other aspects. They sought compensation for these damages and more. Insurers for the doctor and physicians group offered $2,000,000. The hospital offered $250,000. The plaintiffs accepted these sums to end the cause of action
$2,600,000 Settlement; Illinois Hospital Malpractice Lawsuit
A family brought this hospital malpractice case after their loved one-a husband and father to four-suddenly died of a pulmonary embolism. The man was just forty-four years old at the time of his passing. It all started when he received a relatively simple outpatient procedure. However, the wound site became infected, so he returned. He stayed in the hospital for a few years and was eventually discharged. At this time, the plaintiffs contended that he showed warning signs of a possible pulmonary embolism, but the defendants failed to diagnose it. He died of that the very next day (deep vein thrombosis). In court, the defendants denied this contention. They offered that if anyone saw it, there was nothing that could be done. It was too late to save him they replied. The jury disagreed. They awarded the plaintiffs $2.6 million-almost all of that was for the family’s pecuniary losses. The remaining $100,000 was for the man’s pain and suffering prior to passing away.
Quincy Illinois Medical Malpractice Lawyers
If your loved one was harmed or injured while a patient at Blessing Hospital, your damages may be related to medical malpractice. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC remain committed to providing protection to those harmed by medical errors in every hospital, nursing home or doctor office setting.
Contact our personal injury attorneys today at (888) 424-5757 to discuss the merits of your claim. All information you share with our offices remains confidential. Our lawyers will handle every aspect of your case including filing the necessary documents and paperwork for a case handled in Adams County.
Adams County Courthouse
521 Vermont St.
Quincy, IL 62301
Circuit Court Clerk Lori Geschwandner
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