SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The Illinois Department of Public Health has taken disciplinary action against two Chicago metropolitan area long-term care facilities:

• Highland Park Health Care Center, a 95-bed skilled and intermediate care facility located at 50 Pleasant Ave. in Highwood (Lake County); and
• Woodstock Residence, a 115-bed skilled care facility located at 309 McHenry Ave. in Woodstock (McHenry County).

Highland Park Health Care Center was fined $5,000 (Statement of Violation) for an incident in which a resident sustained scratches and bruises to her face and knees and was hospitalized overnight after leaving the facility undetected. The resident walked to a nearby house and the homeowner contacted police.

Staff said they did not hear an alarm sound at the time of the incident. The resident may have left through an ambulance door, which has an alarm that can be turned off by staff. Another resident was brought back to the facility through the door earlier that night and it may not have been relocked.

Woodstock Residence was fined $5,000 (Statement of Violation) for failing to properly supervise a resident who attempted to leave the facility at least 13 times in five weeks.

In the most recent incident, when the resident left the facility two nurses responded to a door alarm, but they only looked out the door and did not do a thorough check outside or conduct a headcount of residents as required by facility policy.

An employee coming to work saw the resident standing at the corner of a major intersection and returned her to the facility. Following the incident, the resident was transferred to another facility.

Both facilities have requested hearings on the Department's actions. No hearing dates have been set.