SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Pleasant Hill Village $5,000 (Statement of Violation) for failure to take the necessary precautions to prevent a resident from leaving the facility unsupervised. The 98-bed intermediate care facility is located at 1010 W. North St. in Girard.

A Department investigation determined a resident, who had history of wandering and falling, sustained a fractured arm and finger and a bruised eye after leaving the facility unnoticed. Neighbors found the resident lying beside a nearby road and called for an ambulance.

The resident was wearing an electronic monitoring device, but the alarm did not sound when she exited the facility. Staff determined the resident's long-sleeved sweater covered the device and prevented the signal from being transmitted.

The Department-ordered plan of correction required the facility to provide adequate supervision of residents, to document changes in residents' conditions and to take all necessary precautions to assure the residents' environment remains free of hazards. In addition, the facility was ordered to ensure that the alarm system is properly functioning at all times.

Pleasant Hill Village did not request a hearing on the Department's action.