November 15, 2001

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Countryside Healthcare Center $30,000 (statement of violation) for failure to supervise a resident, to provide nursing services in accordance with resident needs and to properly assess a resident’s condition. The 197-bed skilled and intermediate care facility is located at 1635 E. 154th St. in Dolton.

Responding to complaints, Department surveyors learned that a resident, who could not sit upright without assistance, was left alone for three minutes while taking her bath. Upon returning to the bathroom, staff told surveyors the resident was coughing, had white secretions coming from her mouth and had trouble breathing. She was transferred to the local emergency department where she died.

A coroner’s report revealed the resident had water in her stomach and lungs and listed her cause of death as asphyxia due to drowning.

In a separate complaint, Department investigators learned facility staff failed to ensure residents received nursing care to prevent the development of pressure sores and to ensure residents with pressure sores received appropriate treatment to promote healing and to prevent infection.

One resident developed 16 sores during a two-month period and had to be hospitalized for treatment. A review of nursing notes and hospital records revealed insufficient documentation of the resident’s pressure sores, a discrepancy in the resident’s weight and a failure to implement a dietician’s nutritional recommendations.

Surveyors also found the facility neglected to properly assess the same resident’s condition after she broke her hip. Facility medication administration records indicated the resident, who was on a pain management program, was given medication sporadically and did not receive any medication on at least six days, although she was reportedly in pain.

A Department-ordered plan of correction required facility administration to ensure proper supervision of its residents while bathing; to re-evaluate pressure sore prevention and treatment programs; and to review its policies addressing resident pain assessment and pain management.

Countryside Healthcare Center has requested a hearing on the Department’s action. No hearing date has been set.