January 18, 2000
TWO CENTRAL ILLINOIS NURSING HOMES FINED
SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department to Public Health has fined two central Illinois nursing homes:
Asta Care Center was fined $10,000 (Statement of Violation) for an incident in which a staff member attempted to move a 75-year-old, 275-pound resident with a mechanical lift and dropped her, resulting in minor injuries. Instructions for the lift called for an assessment to be completed before its use to determine if it was appropriate for the resident and for two staff members to assist. No assessment was done and a staff member decided to attempt to move the woman alone because she had wet herself and wanted to be changed. Two other staffers were on duty at the time, but one was in another wing and the other was on a lunch break. After the incident, the resident complained of pain to her hand and arm, but no fracture was found.
The Department and Asta Care Center reached a consent agreement Dec. 30, 1999, on the disciplinary action. As part of the agreement, the facility withdrew a hearing request and the Department reduced the fine to $3,250.
Manorcare at Normal was fined $10,000 (Statement of Violation) for failure to adequately supervise a 95-year-old resident who wandered unnoticed from the facility and was injured in a fall. The resident was found 100 yards from the facility near a bike path lying on her back. She had a cut on her nose, which required eight stitches, and bruising to her face and wrist.
The Manorcare doors were equipped with alarms designed to sound if an unauthorized person left the facility, but, according to a facility investigation, no alarm sounded. The resident had access to two exits for which the push of a button deactivated the alarm.
Manorcare at Normal has requested a hearing on the Department’s actions. No hearing date has been scheduled.
  |
Illinois Department
of Public Health 535 West Jefferson Street Springfield, Illinois 62761 Phone 217-782-4977 Fax 217-782-3987 TTY 800-547-0466 Questions or Comments |