SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Prairie Manor Health Care Center $5,000 (Statement of Violation), for failure to investigate an allegation of abuse and to immediately take steps to protect its residents. The 146-bed skilled care facility is located at 345 Dixie Highway in Chicago Heights.

Responding to a complaint, Department surveyors learned a resident signed herself out of the facility against medical advice after telling a supervisor that she was abused by three staff members and was afraid to stay at the center. The resident told surveyors that she reported sustaining bruises after staff physically held her down.

The supervisor said she did not believe the bruises were caused by staff so she did not initiate an investigation nor did she report the allegation to her superiors.

The facility also failed to immediately remove the employees suspected of abuse from resident care.

The Department-ordered plan of correction required the facility to train its employees on reporting incidents of suspected abuse and to protect residents from harm.

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