September 11, 2001

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Golf View Rehabilitation & Living Center $5,000 (Statement of Violation) for failure to maintain a safe environment for its residents. The 105-bed skilled care facility is located at 2308 W. Nebraska Ave. in Peoria.

As part of an incident investigation, surveyors found about one-third of the facility's dining and activity room ceiling had collapsed earlier this year. Of the five residents eating in the area at the time, one received a bump to the head and a second was sent to the emergency room for evaluation.

On three previous occasions, portions of the facility's ceilings had collapsed -- in the lobby (1988), the south hall (1989) and in a resident's room (April 2000). After repairs in 2000, a structural engineer explained to the building owners that the design of the heating system, which consists of heating coil wires in the ceiling, causes areas to get hot and the surrounding building materials then bake and fail. While the facility was told the main dining and activity room ceiling was found to have the same heating setup, no corrective actions were taken.

A Department-ordered plan of correction required the facility to conduct a professional structural and mechanical assessment of the ceilings and to submit a plan to the Department to repair or replace the ceiling.

Golf View Rehabilitation & Living Center has requested a hearing on the Department's action. No hearing date has been set.