SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Convalescent Care Center - Mattoon $5,000 (Statement of Violation) for failure to prevent a resident from wandering away from the facility unnoticed. The 178-bed skilled care facility is located at 1000 Palm Ave. in Mattoon.

As part of an incident report investigation, Department surveyors learned an 84-year-old resident was discovered on a railroad bridge, which crosses a ravine and is located more than 100 yards away from the center, with her leg and a foot stuck in a gap in the bridge's wooden ties.

Staff members were not aware the resident, who had a history of wandering, was missing until a local citizen notified them he had seen an elderly woman walking along the railroad tracks. The woman was taken to the hospital where she was treated for cuts and bruises.

Facility staff and surveyors determined the resident left through an exit door that was to sound an alarm when opened, but the door latch was not working properly and the alarm did not sound.

A Department-ordered plan of correction required facility administration to ensure residents with wandering behaviors are properly monitored and all exit door alarms are working properly or are under constant visual supervision.

Convalescent Care Center - Mattoon has requested a hearing on the Department's action. No hearing date has been scheduled.