SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Ford County Nursing Home $10,000 (Statement of Violation) for failure to provide proper nursing services to a resident burned when she spilled hot chocolate. Two months after the accident, the resident died from respiratory failure and complications due to the burns. The 69-bed skilled care facility is located at 1240 N. Market St. in Paxton.

Responding to a complaint, Department investigators learned that a month after the resident received second degree burns on her abdomen and thighs, she was transported to the hospital with a high temperature, leg infection and compromised nutritional health.

Based on record review and interviews, it was determined that a medication request had been faxed to the resident's physician, but the order did not arrive until four days later. Facility staff told surveyors they did not follow up with the doctor's office because they often could not get a response.

Two weeks later, a nurse practitioner reportedly examined the resident's burns and noted they appeared to be healing with no infection. Department investigators, however, could not find records to show the resident's physician had been updated on her condition.

According to the resident's care plan, she had a history of pressure sores. Five months prior to the incident, a registered dietician had recommended she take two vitamins that would help promote wound healing. Surveyors could find no documentation to support that the resident's physician was notified of this recommendation or that the dietician had been contacted for a re-evaluation of the resident's nutritional health after she was burned and subsequently lost her appetite and refused to eat.

The resident was admitted to the hospital after her temperature and pulse suddenly increased. She had second degree burns over approximately 10 percent of her body and the injured areas were covered with scabs and dead tissue that needed to be removed.

A Department-ordered plan of correction required facility administration to review its rules and regulations to ensure any change in a resident's condition is properly assessed and, if the change is serious or may threaten the health of the resident, that a physician is notified immediately.