JCIPatientSafety.orgHospital Quality Directory

Acute Care Hospitals · Voluntary non-profit - Other

Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital

5 / 5

At a glance

Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital carries a 5-star CMS overall rating — above the national norm. On healthcare-associated infection measures, it performs better than the national average on 6 and worse on 0. For 30-day readmissions, it beats the national rate on 1 measure and trails on 1.

Healthcare-Associated Infections

lower is better · 36 measures reported

Rates of infections patients can acquire while receiving care, such as central-line and catheter-associated infections, MRSA, and C. difficile.

MeasureScoreCompared to national
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Lower Confidence Limit0.021Same as national
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Upper Confidence Limit2.084Same as national
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection: Number of Device Days2796Same as national
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Predicted Cases2.367Same as national
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards): Observed Cases1Same as national
Central Line Associated Bloodstream Infection (ICU + select Wards)0.422Same as national
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Lower Confidence Limit0.221Same as national
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Upper Confidence Limit4.350Same as national
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Number of Urinary Catheter Days1601Same as national
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Predicted Cases1.519Same as national
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards): Observed Cases2Same as national
Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (ICU + select Wards)1.317Same as national
SSI - Colon Surgery: Lower Confidence Limit0.341Same as national
SSI - Colon Surgery: Upper Confidence Limit2.586Same as national
SSI - Colon Surgery: Number of Procedures148Same as national
SSI - Colon Surgery: Predicted Cases3.731Same as national
SSI - Colon Surgery: Observed Cases4Same as national
SSI - Colon Surgery1.072Same as national
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Lower Confidence Limit0.049Same as national
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Upper Confidence Limit4.864Same as national
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Number of Procedures129Same as national
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Predicted Cases1.014Same as national
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy: Observed Cases1Same as national
SSI - Abdominal Hysterectomy0.986Same as national
MRSA Bacteremia: Lower Confidence LimitSame as national
MRSA Bacteremia: Upper Confidence Limit1.169Same as national
MRSA Bacteremia: Patient Days64996Same as national
MRSA Bacteremia: Predicted Cases2.562Same as national
MRSA Bacteremia: Observed Cases0Same as national
MRSA Bacteremia0.000Same as national
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Lower Confidence Limit0.054Better than national
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Upper Confidence Limit0.409Better than national
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Patient Days61415Better than national
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Predicted Cases23.598Better than national
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff): Observed Cases4Better than national
Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff)0.170Better than national

Complications & Deaths

lower is better · 20 measures reported

Rates of serious complications (like hip/knee replacement problems or accidental cuts during surgery) and 30-day mortality rates for common conditions.

MeasureScoreCompared to nationalSample
Rate of complications for hip/knee replacement patients3.1Same as national144
Hybrid Hospital-Wide All-Cause Risk Standardized Mortality Rate2.8Better than national1711
Death rate for heart attack patients12.1Same as national130
Death rate for CABG surgery patientsNot available
Death rate for COPD patients7.1Same as national116
Death rate for heart failure patients5.5Better than national536
Death rate for pneumonia patients10.3Better than national473
Death rate for stroke patients9.1Better than national209
Pressure ulcer rate1.28Same as national5995
Death rate among surgical inpatients with serious treatable complications165.39Same as national44
Iatrogenic pneumothorax rate0.19Same as national7237
In-hospital fall-associated fracture rate0.28Same as national7490
Postoperative hemorrhage or hematoma rate1.84Same as national1036
Postoperative acute kidney injury requiring dialysis rate1.52Same as national458
Postoperative respiratory failure rate7.23Same as national425
Perioperative pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis rate3.92Same as national1119
Postoperative sepsis rate3.97Same as national438
Postoperative wound dehiscence rate1.61Same as national254
Abdominopelvic accidental puncture or laceration rate0.79Same as national1201
CMS Medicare PSI 90: Patient safety and adverse events composite1.08Same as national

Unplanned Hospital Visits & Readmissions

lower is better · 14 measures reported

How often patients return to the hospital unexpectedly within 30 days of discharge — a marker of care quality and discharge planning.

MeasureScoreCompared to nationalSample
Hospital return days for heart attack patients28.8Not available100
Hospital return days for heart failure patients-27.8Not available628
Hospital return days for pneumonia patients-14.2Not available467
Hybrid Hospital-Wide All-Cause Readmission Measure (HWR)14.7Same as national2894
Rate of unplanned hospital visits after colonoscopy (per 1,000 colonoscopies)11.8Same as national3079
Rate of inpatient admissions for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy14.2Worse than national434
Rate of emergency department (ED) visits for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy5.2Same as national434
Ratio of unplanned hospital visits after hospital outpatient surgery1.1Same as national775
Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) 30-Day Readmission Rate14.2Same as national100
Rate of readmission for CABGNot available
Rate of readmission for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients17.3Same as national127
Heart failure (HF) 30-Day Readmission Rate17.3Better than national628
Rate of readmission after hip/knee replacement4.1Same as national122
Pneumonia (PN) 30-Day Readmission Rate16.5Same as national467

Patient Experience (HCAHPS)

higher is better · 9 measures reported

What patients say about their hospital stay — communication with nurses and doctors, responsiveness, cleanliness, pain management, and whether they would recommend the hospital.

MeasureScoreSample
Nurse communication - star rating3643
Doctor communication - star rating3643
Communication about medicines - star rating3643
Discharge information - star rating3643
Cleanliness - star rating3643
Quietness - star rating3643
Overall hospital rating - star rating4643
Recommend hospital - star rating4643
Summary star rating3643

Timely & Effective Care

higher is better (unless a wait time) · 30 measures reported

How consistently hospitals follow recommended care processes — for example, giving heart-attack patients aspirin on arrival, or the average time spent in the emergency department.

MeasureScoreSample
Emergency department volumevery high
Global Malnutrition Composite Score
Global Malnutrition Composite Score: Malnutrition Diagnosis Documented
Global Malnutrition Composite Score: Malnutrition Risk Screening
Global Malnutrition Composite Score: Nutrition Assessment
Global Malnutrition Composite Score: Nutritional Care Plan
Hospital Harm - Severe Hyperglycemia
Hospital Harm - Severe Hypoglycemia12389
Hospital Harm - Opioid Related Adverse Events
Healthcare workers given influenza vaccination952652
Average (median) time all patients spent in the emergency department before leaving from the visit, including psychiatric/mental health patients and patients who were transferred to another facility. A lower number of minutes is better219403
Average (median) time patients spent in the emergency department before leaving from the visit, excluding patients transferred to another facility or psychiatric care/mental health patients. A lower number of minutes is better220384
Average (median) time psychiatric/mental health patients spent in the emergency department before leaving from the visit. A lower number of minutes is better20713
Average (median) time patients spent in the emergency department before being transferred to another facility. A lower number of minutes is better
Left before being seen375253
Head CT results
Endoscopy/polyp surveillance: appropriate follow-up interval for normal colonoscopy in average risk patients97227
Improvement in Patient's Visual Function within 90 Days Following Cataract Surgery
ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI)
Safe Use of Opioids - Concurrent Prescribing142046
Appropriate care for severe sepsis and septic shock60105
Septic Shock 3-Hour Bundle6939
Septic Shock 6-Hour Bundle10023
Severe Sepsis 3-Hour Bundle73105
Severe Sepsis 6-Hour Bundle9841
Discharged on Antithrombotic Therapy96102
Anticoagulation Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation/Flutter
Antithrombotic Therapy by End of Hospital Day 294117
Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis
Intensive Care Unit Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis

Maternal Health

lower is better · 4 measures reported

Measures of maternal outcomes and safe delivery practices, including severe complications during childbirth.

MeasureScoreSample
Cesarean Birth
Risk Adjusted Severe Obstetric Complications (All)
Risk Adjusted Severe Obstetric Complications (excluding blood-transfusion-only cases)
Maternal Morbidity Structural MeasureYes

Frequently asked questions

How is Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital rated?
Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital has a 5 out of 5 CMS overall star rating as of the latest CMS release.
Does Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital have emergency services?
Yes. Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital operates a 24/7 emergency department.
Where is Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital located?
Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital is located at 1000 N Westmoreland Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045.
What type of hospital is Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital?
Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital is classified by CMS as a Acute Care Hospitals facility (Voluntary non-profit - Other).

Data as of 2026-06-14. Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog. This is public data provided for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. See our methodology and editorial policy.

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