SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined La Harpe-Davier Health Care Center $5,000 (Statement of Violation) for failure to prevent a resident from leaving the facility unsupervised. The 49-bed skilled care facility is located at 101 B. St. in La Harpe.

As part of an incident investigation, Department surveyors learned a resident, who had a history of wandering and was outfitted with an electronic monitor, sustained a bruised face and multiple cuts after wandering away from the facility. A LaHarpe-Davier employee out on an errand found the resident lying on the ground about three blocks away and alerted staff.

The resident had previously tried to exit the facility five times in a four-month period. At the time of the resident's latest elopement, a door alarm sounded but, since staff thought it was a member of the clergy leaving the building, the facility's response to a possible missing resident was not initiated.

An auxiliary alarm that sounds when a resident wearing an electronic monitor is within 10 feet of the door also was activated, but staff thought another resident in the area triggered the alarm. They assisted that resident away from the door and resumed their duties.

The Department-ordered plan of correction required the facility to provide residents with adequate and properly supervised care and to search all areas inside and outside the facility when an exit door sounds or a resident is reported missing.

La Harpe-Davier Health Care Center did not request a hearing on the Department's action.