Patient Spent Nearly 7 Hours on Medical Clinic Roof Before She Was Found and Resuscitation Attempts Began: Coroner

Mar. 15, 2025

Chelsea Adolphus.Photo:Facebook

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Chelsea Adolphus, a patient at an Illinois medical center, was pronounced dead 14 hours after she wasfound unresponsive on the hospital’s roof. Now officials are shedding more light on what happened.

Adolphus, 28, was admitted as a patient to Vista Medical Center East in Waukegan on Wednesday, Jan. 22, at about 4 a.m., local time, seeking “medical treatment and help,” Lake County coroner Jennifer Banek said at apress conferenceon Monday, Jan. 27.

The coroner, who couldn’t disclose the reason why Adolphus had been admitted due to the ongoing investigation, said that around 2 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23, Adolphus left her room — and she wasn’t discovered for nearly seven hours, when she was found on the hospital’s rooftop at 8:45 a.m. wearing only her hospital gown

For the next 14 hours, staff attempted to resuscitate her, but she was pronounced dead at 11:03 p.m.

According to preliminary autopsy findings, she died of hypothermia. A final determination will be made pending toxicology results.

When Adolphus was first taken to the hospital’s emergency department, it was determined that her body temperature was 50 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Banek.

Banek went on to share that due to the “unusual circumstances" surrounding the patient’s death, they were the ones to notify the Waukegan Police Department.

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At another point during the press conference, Banek shared that they believe the door Adolphus exited “did not have alarms” on it, nor was it possible to “return back inside” after it closed.

In her remarks, Banek, who formerly worked at Vista as an anesthesiologist, said that since Dec. 2023, she had previously voiced her concerns about the lack of care and safety measures at Vista.

“Most recently,” she added, “Vista Medical Centerfurloughed 69 employees, including sitters who are staff members that sit and watch to monitor to ensure patients are safe when they are most vulnerable.”

Banek also referenced that she spoke at a February 2024 press conference in which she stated that “lives were at stake.”

“I had warned during a February 2024 press conference that lives were at stake,” she added. “American Healthcare Systems [the owner of Vista] must be held accountable to provide safe, quality healthcare to Waukegan and its surrounding communities.”

In a statement shared with ABC affiliateWLS, the hospital said in part: “Our sincere condolences go out to the family during this difficult time. During an ongoing investigation and in accordance with HIPAA regulations, the hospital will not disclose any patient’s specific health information.”

Additionally, a hospital spokesperson said that an internal investigation has been launched.

In a press conference held on Wednesday, Jan. 29, Kevin M. Spiegel, FACHE, CEO of Vista Health System, said that " we are unable to comment on any specific health information due to HIPPA, we can confirm that Vista reported the incident to state and regulatory agencies in timely manner, and are cooperating fully with them, as well as local law enforcement."

The CEO went on say they’ve filed a request for an “emergency injunction to have her removed from this investigation."

Chelsea Adolphus.Facebook

Speaking briefly at Tuesday’s press conference, Paul Adolphus, Chelsea’s brother, said that the family is going through a “horrible time."

“We want to know exactly what happened from when my sister stepped foot in that facility," he added. “The family needs answers and we need answers immediately.

The following day, attorney Ben Crump held a separate news conference to announce the Adolphus family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit. “We want surveillance to be released, we want 911 calls to be released, we want reports of her medical reports to be released so that the family will know the whole truth of how Chelsea, this beautiful young woman, ended up dying,” he said. “She had her whole life ahead of her.”

PEOPLE reached out to the Waukegan Police Department, Vista Health System and Vista Medical Center East for additional comment but did not immediately receive a response.

source: people.com