SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Alden Park Strathmoor $10,000 (Statement of Violation) for failure to take the necessary precautions to prevent a resident's death. The 189-bed skilled care facility is located at 5668 Strathmoor Drive in Rockford.

Responding to a complaint, Department investigators discovered a resident died after he pulled out his tracheostomy breathing tube. The resident had a history of pulling out the tube and his physician had suggested he be fitted with hand mitts to prevent him from removing it.

Prior to the incident, the resident was able to remove or dislodge the breathing tube three times, once resulting in a trip to the hospital to reinsert it. Despite these incidents, the facility did not assess the effectiveness of the hand mitts in preventing the resident from removing the breathing tube.

The Department-ordered plan of correction required facility administration to ensure resident care plans are re-evaluated as necessary for behaviors or actions that may put them at risk of harm due to interference with airway management.

Alden Park Strathmoor has requested a hearing on the Department's action. No hearing date has been set.