SPRINGFIELD, IL – Good Samaritan Care Center has been fined $10,000 (Statement of Violation) by the Illinois Department of Public Health for failure to adequately supervise residents. The 94-bed skilled care facility is located at 2299 Metropolis St. in Metropolis.

As part of a complaint and incident investigation, Department surveyors learned a resident, who had previously tried to commit suicide, cut his wrists after being admitted to the facility. The resident was transferred to the psychiatric unit of a local hospital.

Prior to admission, a mental health worker recommended suicide precautions be taken despite the resident's insistence that he was not suicidal. According to the worker, the resident often made suicidal statements, including saying he would commit suicide if he was admitted to a nursing home.

Per interviews, staff did not institute any suicide precautions for the resident because they said they were not aware of the recommendation and because the resident told them he would not take his own life.

Another resident, who was assessed as being a high risk for falls, fell from her wheelchair and was injured three times in a five-month period.

The resident, who was wearing a restraint, was alone each time she fell and was not evaluated to determine why she was falling. After the second fall, a physical therapist recommended the use of a cushion to help her stay in the wheelchair, but it was not used until after the third fall.

The resident's care plan was not updated to reflect her injuries and treatment after the first fall, which resulted in a fractured hip, and it did not include any new approaches to prevent accidents from occurring.

A Department-ordered plan of correction required the facility to take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of its residents, to provide proper supervision and personal care to meet the needs of its residents and to have up-to-date care plans for each resident.

Good Samaritan Care Center requested a hearing on the Department's action. No hearing date has been set.