SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Glenshire Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre $10,000 (Statement of Violation), for failing to properly assess a resident's medical needs and to immediately notify her doctor when her condition deteriorated. The 294-bed skilled and intermediate care facility is located at 22660 S. Cicero Ave. in Richton Park.

As part of a complaint investigation, Department surveyors learned a resident, who stopped eating and drinking for five days, was admitted to the hospital after losing more than 25 pounds in a week and going from being active and alert to being bedridden. She was diagnosed as suffering from severe dehydration.

The next day, she suffered respiratory failure, became unresponsive and had to be placed on a ventilator to assist her breathing.

According to facility records, on the day the resident ceased all nutritional intake, it was recommended that her physician be contacted to consider alternative forms of nourishment. The doctor, however, was not notified until four days later when the resident was hospitalized.

The resident's physician told surveyors the woman had been on a gastrostomy tube in the past to ensure adequate nutrition and hydration and, had he known the extent of her condition, he would have immediately started intravenous fluids and ordered the insertion of gastrostomy tube.

A Department-ordered plan of correction required facility administration to ensure its staff conducts comprehensive assessments of residents and, when a significant change of condition is observed, to ensure proper physician notification.

Glenshire Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre has requested a hearing on the Department's actions. No hearing date has been scheduled.