June 25, 2004

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Asta Care Center of Rockford has been fined $5,000 (Statement of Violation - PDF) by the Illinois Department of Public Health for failure to prevent a resident from leaving the facility unsupervised. The 130-bed skilled and intermediate care center is located at 707 W. Riverside Blvd. in Rockford.

As part of an incident report investigation, Department surveyors learned a resident left the facility undetected. A private citizen observed the resident trying to get into cars at a mall parking lot and notified facility staff. In order to get to the mall, the resident crossed a heavily traveled four-lane road.

Staff did not recall hearing a door alarm sound at the time of the incident and the resident was not wearing her electronic monitoring device.

Department surveyors noted the alarm code was posted on the door next to the alarm keypad and residents were observed entering the code and exiting the building without the alarm sounding.

The facility also failed to maintain the safety of at least three other residents, including a man who had expressed concerns his call light was difficult for him to use. The resident's tracheostomy clamp came loose one evening and he was unable to contact staff for several hours. The facility indicated they were in the process of acquiring a touch call light for the resident.

A Department-ordered plan of correction required the facility to provide adequate supervision; to review its policies on resident assessment, care planning and wandering; and to train staff on appropriate actions and interventions to prevent residents from leaving the facility unsupervised.

Asta Care Center of Rockford has requested a hearing on the Department's action. No hearing date has been set.