SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Dogwood Health Care Center $5,000 (Statement of Violation) for failure to prevent a resident with Alzheimer's disease from leaving the facility unsupervised. The 63-bed intermediate care facility is located at 902 E. Arnold St. in Sandwich.

As part of an incident report investigation, Department surveyors learned a resident, who had a history of wandering, left the facility unnoticed. The resident was found about two blocks from the facility by a neighbor who notified staff.

The door alarm sounded when the resident left, but staff only looked out the door and did not conduct a thorough search. In addition, surveyors found the facility did not have a plan to monitor or supervise the resident despite the woman's numerous attempts to leave the facility.

The Department-ordered plan of correction required the facility to revise care plans to reflect residents' current needs, to educate all staff in their role of providing care to and monitoring of residents and to document any change in a resident's behavior.

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