SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Paris Health Care Center $10,000 (Statement of Violation), for failure to properly assess a resident's medical needs and to notify her doctor when her condition deteriorated. The 128-bed skilled care facility is located at 1011 N. Main St. in Paris.

Responding to complaints, Department surveyors learned facility staff failed to provide emergency treatment for 12 hours after a resident, who had developed a blood clot, became unresponsive and flaccid on her right side.

Staff did not call the resident's physician for nearly eight hours after the resident was found unresponsive. When the physician could not be reached at home, staff did not call the physician on duty at the time. Approximately one hour later, staff left a message on the answering machine of the resident's daughter, who arrived at the facility and requested that her mother be taken to the hospital.

According to nurse's notes, an ambulance was called immediately after the daughter made her request. However, ambulance records revealed the call was not placed until an hour and 40 minutes later. The emergency department physician said if the resident had gotten to the hospital sooner, a blood thinner could have been administered.

Following the incident, surveyors observed that the resident's face drooped on the right side and she was unable to talk or swallow. She also had paralysis of her right arm and leg.

The Department-ordered plan of correction required the facility to notify a resident's physician in a timely manner of any accident, injury or significant change in condition, and to record such changes in a resident's condition in the resident's medical record.

Paris Health Care Center has requested a hearing on the Department's action. No hearing date has been scheduled.