SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Mount Saint Joseph $30,000 (Statement of Violation), for failure to protect residents from physical and verbal abuse. The 132-bed intermediate care facility for the developmentally disabled is located at 24955 North Highway 12 in Lake Zurich.

As part of an annual survey, Department surveyors learned the facility failed, as required by its policy, to take immediate action to remove three employees from resident care after allegations were made by other staffers that they had abused a total of six residents. In addition, the facility failed to notify the families of four of the abused residents or to inform the Department of these same incidents as required by state law.

One of the employees, who physically or verbally abused four residents, was disciplined on at least two occasions, including oral and written reprimands, but was never restricted from having contact with residents. His employment was terminated after he was observed forcefully holding a resident against a shower room wall while washing her with a large cleaning brush. The resident banged her head on the wall twice and was sent to the emergency department. The resident suffered bruising to her head.

Prior to this, he had screamed at two different residents, pinched the nose of one resident while forcing her to eat and pinched another resident's arm after she refused to eat her breakfast.

Surveyors also found evidence the facility failed to report or investigate two additional allegations of abuse. One resident reported than an employee choked her because her closet was messy and another resident alleged a different employee hit her.

A Department-ordered plan of correction required facility administration to immediately notify the guardian of a resident if the resident has been abused and to immediately inform the Department of any incidents or accidents that could affect the well-being of any resident.

Mount Saint Joseph requested a hearing on the Department's action. No hearing date has been scheduled.