February 9, 2001

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Skyview Terrace $10,000 (Statement of Violation) for failure to provide adequate nursing care and for not keeping a resident's physician informed of significant changes in his condition. The 113-bed skilled care facility is located at 1021 N. Church St. in Jacksonville.

Responding to a complaint, Department surveyors noted staff contacted the resident's physician late one night to report he was experiencing seizures and they were unable to administer his medication. The resident continued to have seizures and was unresponsive through the night, but the physician was not called again until the next morning when the resident was found dead.

The physician had ordered staff to closely monitor the resident, to give medication when alert and, since he had only recently been admitted to Skyview Terrace, to obtain a complete medical history. Department surveyors learned that staff did not attempt to contact the resident's previous facility for a medical history.

Upon entering the resident's room to check his condition the morning after seizures started, a nurse discovered the resident was not breathing and had no pulse. Although it is facility procedure to initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in such cases, no attempt was made to revive the resident.

A Department-ordered plan of correction required facility administration to ensure guidelines are in place for properly assessing residents' conditions and for notifying residents' physicians when there is a change in their condition.

Skyview Terrace has requested a hearing on the Department's action. No hearing date has been set.