SPRINGFIELD, IL – Concord Extended Care has been fined $5,000 (Statement of Violation), by the Illinois Department of Public Health for failure to prevent a resident from leaving the facility. The 134-bed skilled care facility is located at 9401 S. Ridgeland Ave. in Oak Lawn.

As part of an incident investigation, Department surveyors learned a resident, who had a history of wandering and wore an electronic monitor, left the facility undetected. The resident was found unharmed about a half mile from the facility by an employee of a neighboring long-term care facility.

The resident had made four previous attempts to leave the facility, the last one occurring two days prior to the elopement. Nursing staff told surveyors that the resident, who was confused and anxious, had to be watched frequently and monitored every two hours. There was no evidence this was done.

Staff did not hear the resident's alarm sound when he slipped out of the facility. Following the incident, staff determined the resident left through one of two back doors. One door had an audible alarm and the other was equipped with a sensor to detect electronic monitors. Maintenance was called to check the alarm on one of the back doors, but failed to ensure that all facility doors were functioning properly. During the investigation, a surveyor observed the testing of another facility door with an electronic sensor.

The alarm was only audible when standing near the door. The Department-ordered plan of correction required the facility to provide residents with adequate supervision and to ensure all resident-accessible exterior doors are equipped with functional alarms or are monitored by constant visual supervision.

Concord Extended Care has requested a hearing on the Department's action. No hearing date has been set.