November 22, 2000

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Washington Heights Nursing Home $10,000 (Statement of Violation) for failure to properly administer physician-ordered medications to its residents. The 228-bed skilled care facility is located at 1010 W. 95th St. in Chicago.

Responding to an incident report and complaints, Department surveyors learned that two residents were not medicated as required by their personal care plans.

Surveyors found the facility, which was notified of a resident's diabetic condition and medication requirements two days prior to her arrival, did not follow the care plan outlined by the transferring hospital. Physician's orders for the resident required facility staff to monitor her blood sugar levels and to administer insulin twice a day.

Eight days after entering the facility, the resident was sent back to the hospital when a facility employee noticed she was lethargic and having problems breathing. Her blood sugar was six times higher than normal. After reviewing the resident's file, surveyors determined the resident had not been given her scheduled insulin or had her blood sugar tested.

In another instance, facility employees failed to properly follow a resident's discharge instructions. Through staff interviews, surveyors determined the resident's medication schedule had been mistakenly mixed in with other hospital records. Once the schedule was located – seven days after the resident had been at the facility – the resident was examined and the 10 medications resumed.

A Department-ordered plan of correction required the facility to review its policies and procedures for administering physician-ordered medications.

Washington Heights Nursing Home has requested a hearing on the Department's action. A hearing date has not been scheduled.