SPRINGFIELD, IL – Burnham Healthcare has been fined $5,000 (Statement of Violation) by the Illinois Department of Public Health for failure to provide adequate supervision to prevent a resident from leaving the facility unsupervised. The 309-bed skilled and intermediate care facility is located at 14500 S. Manistee in Burnham.

Department investigators learned a resident had left the facility unnoticed. Staff began a search for the resident after noting her dinner had not been touched, and alerted Burnham police and area hospitals when the resident could not be found.

The resident was discovered the next day during the evening rush hour lying in the middle of a busy highway about 19 miles from the facility. The woman, who was awake but unresponsive, was transported to a local hospital by paramedics and the next day taken to a mental health facility.

The resident was listed as a "Jane Doe" for nearly two weeks until the state Guardianship and Advocacy Commission identified her as the missing Burnham resident and contacted the facility.

Staff were unable to explain how the resident left the facility unnoticed and told investigators the door alarm system was working.

In the months prior to the incident, staff said the resident had become restless and aggressive, but the facility did not take any steps to address the behavioral changes.

The Department-ordered plan of correction required the facility to properly supervise residents; to monitor changes in a resident's condition and treat accordingly; and to ensure all resident-accessible exterior doors are equipped with functional alarms or are closely monitored.

Burnham Healthcare did not request a hearing on the Department's action, and paid the fine.