Authorities are investigating the death of a patient found unconscious on the roof of Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan, Ill., on Jan. 23, according to the Lake & McHenry County Scanner.
The 28-year-old woman was admitted to the community hospital Jan. 22 and went missing at an unknown time and date, according to authorities. She was found unresponsive on the hospital's roof wearing only a hospital gown around 8:45 a.m. Jan. 23. Hospital staff transported her to the emergency department for treatment, where she was pronounced dead around 11 p.m.
Hospital officials immediately notified the Lake County Coroner's Office, which then alerted local authorities. An autopsy was performed Jan. 24. The Lake County Coroner's Office determined that the woman died from hypothermia as a result of cold exposure, according to NBC 5 Chicago.
The Waukegan Police Department has initiated an investigation into the patient's death due to the "unusual circumstances," the coroner's office told the publication.
Vista Medical Center is also conducting an internal review, according to Faisal Gill, chief legal officer of Glendale, Calif.-based American Healthcare Systems, which owns the hospital.
"We deeply regret the incident that occurred at Vista Medical Center on Jan. 23. In accordance with HIPPA, the hospital is unable to comment on any patient’s specific circumstances," Mr. Gill said in a statement to Becker's. "We will be conducting our own internal investigation. Additionally, we have reported it to the regulatory agencies, and we are cooperating fully with them and with local law enforcement. We will have more comments once the investigation is complete."
The death comes about two weeks after the hospital, part of Waukegan-based Vista Health System, furloughed 69 staff members amid financial challenges.
Editor's note: This article was updated Jan. 27 at 5:015 p.m. CT to include additional information.