SPRINGFIELD, IL – Cottonwood Health Care Center has been fined $10,000 (Statement of Violation) by the Illinois Department of Public Health for failure to properly supervise residents. The 97-bed intermediate care facility is located at 820 E. Fifth St. in Galesburg.

As part of an incident report investigation, Department surveyors learned a male resident with a history of aggressive behavior threw scalding water on another resident, causing first- and second-degree burns to her face, neck and chest. The injured resident was transferred to a hospital and the assailant was arrested. The male resident was transferred to another facility after the charges against him were dismissed.

The man had twice thrown cold water on the woman and made threatening remarks. The administrator said the residents were instructed to stay away from each other, but staff said they were unaware of problems between the residents and had not been told to keep them apart. The male resident's case manager said he was not informed the conflict was ongoing.

Per review of the resident's medical record, his aggressive behaviors were increasing and, a month prior to the incident, he picked up a chair and attempted to hit another resident. The resident was given medication, but there was no documentation that the cause of his anxiety was investigated or that other treatments, including behavior modification programs, were tried.

The Department-ordered plan of correction included requiring the facility to provide adequate supervision to meet the needs of residents, to have an up-to-date care plan for each resident and to train staff on how to prevent escalation of aggressive behavior between residents.

Cottonwood Health Care Center has not requested a hearing on the Department's action.