SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Zion Care and Rehab Center $10,000 (Statement of Violation), for failure to report significant changes in a resident's condition to his physician and to provide him appropriate care. The 116-bed skilled care facility is located at 1805 27th St. in Zion.

Responding to complaints, Department surveyors learned family members had to threaten to personally take the resident to the hospital before staff would call for an ambulance to transfer him to a local emergency department. Upon arrival at the hospital, the resident was in shock from a severe blood infection.

For several days prior to his hospitalization, the resident had been agitated, was in obvious pain and repeatedly attempted to remove his catheter. After family members reported the behavior and complaints, medication was given, but the resident was not assessed for the source of the problem.

When the resident's catheter was removed at the hospital, it was encrusted with debris and full of pus. An emergency department physician stated that the resident's condition was so critical he would have died without treatment.

The Department-ordered plan of correction required the facility administration to ensure its staff conducts comprehensive assessments of residents and, when a significant change of behavior is observed, to ensure proper physician notification. In addition, staff were ordered to follow the facility's policy on catheter care.

Zion Care and Rehab Center has requested a hearing on the Department's action. No hearing date has been scheduled.