Chicago Hospital Infection Attorney
Patients who require procedures in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, and patients who must undergo lengthy stays in a hospital for treatment, should be able to expect that they will be provided with a reasonable quality of care to avoid acquiring an infection. Yet hospital infections are quite common, and most of them could be prevented with proper safety protocols and patient care. Most infections acquired in hospital settings in Chicago and throughout the country are known as healthcare-associated infections, and they can take many different forms.
If you developed an infection following a procedure or stay in a hospital setting, you should seek advice from one of our Chicago hospital infection attorneys about filing a medical negligence claim. The hospital itself, as well as its healthcare providers, may be liable for damages.
What is a Hospital Infection in Chicago?
Hospital infections are commonly known as healthcare-associated infections, or HAIs, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HAIs can take many different forms, and the CDC explains that these infections “can be associated with the devices used in medical procedures, such as catheters or ventilators.” According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, HAIs are “among the top 10 causes of death in the United States,” and each year they result in economic costs of more than $20 billion. In most cases, hospital infections are preventable when facilities and healthcare providers adhere to proper health and safety protocols, and when patients receive timely care.
Beyond infections caused by medical devices and procedures cited above, hospital infections can also result from negligent care during a hospital stay, such as a failure to provide appropriate and timely care to a patient at risk of developing bedsores, or failure to have adequate infection-control measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in a hospital setting. When patients receive inadequate care following a procedure, they can also develop surgical-site infections.
Common Types of Chicago Hospital Infections
Common infections in hospitals include but are not limited to:
- Central Line-associated Bloodstream Infection (CLABSI);
- Catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI);
- Surgical Site Infection (SSI);
- Ventilator-associated Pneumonia (VAP);
- Bedsores;
- Clostridium difficile; and
- Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
Liability for Hospital Infections in Chicago, Illinois
Who is responsible for a hospital infection in Chicago, Illinois? Many different parties may be liable, such as:
- Hospital or healthcare facility;
- Physician providing care and treatment;
- Nurse or nursing professionals providing care and treatment; and
- Hospital staff members responsible for monitoring patients.
If you acquired an infection as a result of a procedure or stay in a hospital, one of our hospital infection lawyers in Chicago can evaluate your case to help you determine which party or parties may be responsible for damages resulting from the harm you have experienced.
Contact Our Chicago Hospital Infection Lawyers for Assistance with Your Lawsuit
If you developed an infection in a hospital after undergoing a procedure, or during a prolonged hospital stay, it is critical to seek advice from one of our Chicago hospital infection attorneys as soon as possible to find out more about filing a claim for financial compensation. Contact Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman, LLC today to learn more about how our firm can assist you with a medical negligence claim in Illinois.
