SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health fined Heartland Health Care Center - Galesburg $5,000 (Statement of Violation), for failure to take the necessary precautions to prevent an elderly resident from leaving the facility unsupervised. The 69-bed skilled care facility is located at 280 Losey St. in Galesburg.

As part of an incident report investigation, Department investigators learned a staff member did not intervene when a resident stated she was "going home now." The resident, who had a history of wandering, left the facility's dining room and exited the center. She was found by a motorist several blocks away and returned unharmed.

Facility staff told surveyors that a few minutes after the resident left the dining area, an exit door alarm sounded. An aide responded to the alarm and looked outside, but only conducted a partial search of the building's exterior.

A Department-ordered plan of correction required the home to provide residents with adequate and proper supervised nursing care and to search all areas inside and outside the facility when an exit door alarms sounds or a resident is reported missing.

Heartland Health Care Center - Galesburg has requested a hearing on the Department's action. No hearing date has been scheduled.