SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The Lincoln Home has been fined $5,000 (Statement of Violation) by the Illinois Department of Public Health for failure to prevent a resident from leaving the facility unsupervised. The 152-bed skilled and intermediate facility is located at 150 N. 27th St. in Belleville.

Responding to a complaint, Department surveyors learned a resident left the facility unnoticed. A police officer returned the resident unharmed after finding him walking about a block from the facility.

The resident's records indicated he was an elopement risk and needed constant observation. The facility determined the resident probably left the facility through the patio, which does not have an alarm.

The Department-ordered plan of correction required the facility to provide adequate supervision and to ensure all resident-accessible exterior doors are equipped with functional alarms or are monitored by constant visual supervision.

The Lincoln Home has requested a hearing on the Department's action. No hearing date has been set.