SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Mercy Nursing Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center $10,000 (Statement of Violation) for failure to provide adequate and emergency nursing care to prevent a resident death. The 259-bed skilled care facility is located at 19000 Halsted St. in Homewood.

Responding to a complaint, Department investigators learned facility staff did not immediately notify a resident's physician of her deteriorating condition and, when the woman became unresponsive, did not perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), incorrectly believing the woman had a "Do Not Resuscitate" order. The resident expired.

A review of the resident's record found family members noticed she was not eating and had become increasingly lethargic. The family requested a physician evaluate her condition and she was to be seen the next time a doctor was at the facility.

Records indicate facility staff did not notify the resident's physician of her declining condition for more than 17 hours and did not send her to the hospital after her doctor did not immediately respond to a page.

The facility failed to follow its policy to contact the resident's physician or the facility's medical director or to send the resident to the hospital when a significant change in a resident's condition occurs.

A Department ordered plan of correction required the facility to train its staff on proper resident monitoring and procedures to immediately notify a physician when there is a significant change in a resident's condition.

Mercy Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center has requested a hearing on the Department's actions. No hearing date has been scheduled.