SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Anna Henry Nursing and Rehabilitation Center $5,000 (Statement of Violation) for failing to take the necessary precautions to prevent a resident from leaving the facility unsupervised. The 114-bed skilled and intermediate care facility is located at 637 Hillsboro Road in Edwardsville.

Responding to a complaint, Department investigators learned a resident, who had a history of wandering, left the center unnoticed. A motorist spotted the woman walking along a highway about a half mile away from the facility and took her to a police station. The police notified the facility of the resident's whereabouts one hour after she was last seen in the facility and returned her unharmed.

Facility staff were unable to determine how the resident, who wore an electronic monitor, was able to exit the facility without an alarm sounding. All exit doors are equipped with alarms and the front entrance has an alarm that is activated by electronic monitoring devices.

A Department-ordered plan of correction required the facility to review its policies and procedures regarding residents at risk for wandering and to develop and implement interventions to prevent residents from wandering. In addition, the facility was ordered to maintain all exit door alarms or to ensure exit doors are monitored by constant visual supervision.

Anna Henry Nursing and Rehabilitation Center has requested a hearing on the Department's actions. No hearing date has been scheduled.