SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Rest Haven Manor $20,000 (Statement of Violation) for failure to report all incidents or allegations of abuse by a staff member. The 49-bed intermediate care facility is located at 120 W. Main in Albion.

During an annual inspection, Department surveyors found facility staff had knowledge of verbal and physical abuse of residents by an employee, but did not report the information to the administration.

A resident told surveyors that the employee had pushed her off her wheelchair and onto the toilet rather than placing her on the seat and transferred her out of bed by grabbing her arms, which resulted in bruises. The resident reported these incidents, but the allegations were never relayed to the administration.

There also were incidents of abuse that administrative staff were aware of but failed to investigate. Preventative measures, including removing the employee from resident care, were not implemented to protect residents.

On one occasion, a nurse witnessed the employee stomp her foot on a resident's left shin and the top of his foot, which left red marks and an impression of the employee's shoe. The nurse reported the incident to the administrator, who told surveyors that she thought the nurse was trying to get the employee fired and did not investigate.

Other employees told surveyors they witnessed acts of abuse by this employee – including grinding her knee into a resident's crotch while shaving him and verbally threatening residents – but did not report it because "it doesn't do any good."

The Department-ordered plan of correction required the facility to investigate allegations of abuse and to train staff on appropriate actions and interventions to prevent resident abuse and requirements for reporting abuse.

Rest Haven Manor did not request a hearing on the Department's action.