SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Bel-Wood Nursing Home $10,000 (Statement of Violation), for failure to properly assess a resident's condition and to provide nursing services in accordance with the resident's needs. The 300-bed skilled care facility is located at 6701 W. Plank Road in Peoria.

Responding to a complaint, Department investigators learned a resident, who was under doctor's orders to only eat pureed food, was fed food from a regular dinner tray.

About 90 minutes later, staff noted the resident was coughing and making gurgling noises, but no attempt was made to clear her airway or to provide oxygen as required by facility policy. Emergency medical personnel suctioned her airway en route to the hospital and were able to remove chunks of food. The resident was hospitalized for five days and died a day after she was returned to the nursing home.

A Department-ordered plan of correction required the facility to ensure that enough qualified staff are available to take care of residents, to ensure staff abide by residents' dietary restrictions and to train staff on how to recognize changes in residents' conditions.

Bel-Wood Nursing Home did not request a hearing on the Department's action.