SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Oak Park Healthcare Center $10,000 (Statement of Violation) for failure to properly supervise a resident, to provide nursing services in accordance with resident needs and to take the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of a resident. The 204-bed skilled and intermediate care facility is located at 625 N. Harlem Ave. in Oak Park.

Responding to a complaint, Department surveyors learned a resident was smoking unsupervised when his pants accidentally caught on fire. The resident, who cannot talk, was unable to get the attention of staff and sustained second- and third-degree burns to the lower half of both legs. Another resident screamed for help and an employee rushed in and used a bucket of water to douse the flames. The resident was hospitalized for a week to treat the burns and to undergo skin grafts.

Approximately a month prior to the incident, the resident was assessed as being a potentially unsafe smoker. The resident's care plan stated he was at risk for injury and accidents – more – add 1 due to his non-compliance to the smoking policy, and needed to be closely monitored and supervised while smoking.

A Department-ordered plan of correction required the facility to provide residents with adequate and proper supervised nursing care and to take all necessary precautions to assure that the residents' environment remains free of accident hazards.

Oak Park Healthcare Center has requested a hearing on the Department's action. No hearing date has been set.