Hillsboro Area Hospital Medical Malpractice Lawyers

Hillsboro Area Hospital is a ‘not for profit’ 25-certified-bed hospital providing cares to residents of Hillsboro and Montgomery County, Illinois. The Facility is located at:

1200 East Tremont Street
Hillsboro, IL 62049
(217) 532-6111

http://www.hillsboroareahospital.org/

In addition to providing emergency services to the local community, Hillsboro Area Hospital also offers other services that include:

• Inpatient care
• Laboratory testing
• Diagnostic imaging
• Transitional care
• Surgery
• Physical therapy
• Specialty services
• Sleep clinic

National Ranking

In a comparative analysis involving all medical centers and hospitals throughout the US, Hillsboro Area maintains an overall “A-” score, ranking it in the 78^th percentile. The calculated ranking uses publicly available data including patient flow, patient satisfaction, physician/patient communication, nurse/patient communication, and reported complications. A low to median score might indicate a high percentage of medical malpractice, errors, and mistakes occurring at the facility.

The level of emergent and critical care provided by emergency rooms in Montgomery County is crucial to residents and visitors. Analytics MD collects publicly available data involving emergency rooms and medical centers and hospitals nationwide. This information is released as a ranking percentile to be used to compare the level of care every emergency room provides. Currently, the percentile ranking for Hillsboro Area Hospital in Montgomery County involves:

• Incoming Patient Flow (60^th percentile) – This percentile ranks the efficiency with which emergency room patients are initially evaluated upon arrival.
• Discharged Patient Flow (60^th percentile) – This percentile ranks the efficiency of how the medical team provides treatment to patients who are less sick and will be discharged from the ER.
• Admitted Patient Flow (60^th percentile) – This percentile ranks the efficiency of how the medical team provides treatment to sicker patients who will require admittance to the hospital from the ER.
• Frustrated Patients (50^th percentile) – This measurement ranks the level of frustration patients feel after leaving the emergency department.
• Overall Patient Satisfaction (97^th percentile) – This high measurement ranks the overall patient experience when receiving care in every department in the hospital.

Readmission Rates

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Hospital Compare website posts Readmission Rates every medical center and hospital nationwide. This data provides insight to determine whether the facility is providing the best care and services to prevent unexpected complications or ensure that the patient makes an easy transition from the hospital to a nursing home or their family’s home. However, a specific number will be re-admitted to the facility due to complications. The readmission rates for Hillsboro area between 07/01/2014 and 06/30/2017 include:

• Pneumonia Patients Who Require Agreements of the Hospital within 30 Days after Their Departure – 15.7 percent, which is nearly identical to the Illinois state’s average of 17.56 percent.
• Heart Failure Patients Who Require Readmittance Of The Hospital Within 30 Days After Their Departure – 22.2 percent, which is nearly identical to the Illinois state average of 22.09 percent.

Thirty-Day Mortality and Inpatient Mortality Rates

The information released on the HHS Hospital Compare website measures patient mortality rates involving individuals who died within 30 days after being admitted to the facility. Inpatient mortality data collected by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) help reveal the level of care the facility is providing in their effort to reduce short-term mortality rates. The measurable rates for this facility between 07/01/2014 and 06/30/2017 involve:

• Pneumonia Patients Who Died within 30 Days after Being Admitted to the Facility – 17 percent, which is slightly higher than the Illinois state’s average of 16.32 percent.
• Heart Failure Patient Thirty-Day Mortality Rate – 15 percent, which is slightly higher than the Illinois state’s average of 11.83 percent.
• Pneumonia Patient Risk-Adjusted Mortality Rate – 100.26 per 1000 or 4 deaths out of 77 patients. This risk-adjusted rate was more than four times the state’s average of 23.48 per 1000 patients. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) determined that this rate was “statistically significantly worse than the state’s average." This information was collected from 07/01/2012 and 06/30/2015.
• Congestive Heart Failure Patient Risk-Adjusted Mortality – 180.11 per 1000 or 2 deaths out of 36 patients. This risk-adjusted rate is nearly 9 times the Illinois state average of 20.74 per 1000 patients. The IDPH determined that this rate was “statistically significantly worse than the state’s average.” This information was collected from 07/01/2012 and 06/30/2015.

Sample Medical Malpractice Claims Involving Hillsboro

Unchecked Ulcer Leads to Complications and New Claim

Here, a man brought a case after he had a rough experience in an Illinois hospital (Hillsboro Area). He entered the facility in late June. He stayed there for a little over two weeks. During that time, he told staff he had cramps, abdominal pain, and constipation. Staff did a consultation and CT-scan. The results of that test showed he had a gastric ulcer. Nevertheless, they did not diagnose the issue or treat him in any way for the problem. This delay in treatment had serious consequences. Eventually, the ulcer cut open. He needed emergency care and even surgery. Even then, he was not able to prepare his bowels for the procedure. All of these developments led to a number of significant complications for the man. He brought a claim against the hospital, doctors, and other relevant parties because of that. He claimed their negligence and malpractice caused his damages including pain, expenses, and suffering. The complaint sought compensation for these losses.

Surgical Errors Causes Woman Major Injuries

This hospital claim targeted several doctors and medical facilities including Hillsboro Area Hospital. The woman alleged that her physicians botched her hysterectomy. The procedure was elective, meaning it was not required by any emergency medical issue. However, in the course of the procedure, the surgeons cut into her bladder and blood vessels. This had several significant ramifications. First, she began to lose a lot of blood. Second, she suffered bladder incontinence. Third, she experienced bowel disorder. Obviously, this caused her a lot of pain. Yet, it also raised the prospect of increased suffering long-term as well as costs and other losses associated with the events. To make up for this, she sued the parties involved in the affair. She claimed they were not sufficiently trained in obstetrics and gynecology. Further, she stated that they had no one monitoring them that was sufficiently trained in obstetrics and gynecology. This fact and their original surgical errors were the main examples of their malpractice that she highlighted. She sought compensation for the damages they caused her.

High Speed Ambulance Chase Sets Off Accident and Illinois Case

This hospital matter did not involve the facility per se but a decision it made. Specifically, Utlaut Memorial chose Hillsboro Area Ambulance to take the plaintiff from its hospital to another location in St. Louis, Missouri. Trouble arose along the way. Ambulance drivers hit speeds approaching 100 mph. Eventually, one of its tired blew out. Ambulance staff told the patient to exit the vehicle by himself. As he tried to do this, tubes for his IV and oxygen became disconnected. This subsequently led to a heart attack. The man brought an action against the original hospital, Utlaut. The claim stated that its actions amounted to negligence and malpractice. In particular, the claim offered that the facility should not have chosen Hillsboro Area Ambulance to carry out the patient transfer. The suit plead for damages related to the man’s pain, suffering, and costs.

Hillsboro Illinois Medical Malpractice Lawyers

If you and your family believe that your loved one died prematurely or suffered serious injury by medical malpractice while a patient at Hillsboro Area Hospital, contact Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC today. For years, our Hillsboro attorneys have successfully resolved Illinois medical malpractice cases. Our experience can ensure a positive outcome in your claim for compensation against those who caused your loved one harm.

Allow our legal team to handle all the necessary medical mistake paperwork and file essential documents in the appropriate court. In Montgomery County, that courthouse is located at:

100 South Main Street
Room 115
Waterloo, Illinois 62298
(618) 939-8681
Circuit County Clerk Lisa Fallon

Schedule your free, no-obligation comprehensive financial claim review today by calling our Montgomery County medical malpractice law offices at (888) 424-5757. You are not required to make any upfront payments because our law firm accepts all medical malpractice cases through contingency fee agreements. This means our fees are paid only after we have successfully won your case in a jury trial or negotiated your out-of-court settlement on behalf of your family.

Sources:

• Hillsboro Area Hospital
• Website