SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Regency Nursing Care Residence $20,000 (Statement of Violation - PDF) for failure to ensure bed rails function properly to prevent residents from falling out of bed. The 99-bed skilled, intermediate and sheltered care facility is located at 2120 W. Washington St. in Springfield.

Responding to a complaint, Department surveyors learned three residents had been injured after falling out of bed, including one resident who later died.

The deceased resident fell four times in the six weeks after being admitted to the facility. The resident's daughter told surveyors she complained repeatedly of malfunctioning bed rails and a review of the facility's maintenance logs showed numerous entries regarding bed rails not operating properly.

During a tour of the facility, surveyors noted five bed rails fell after they ran a hand along the rails. Staff told surveyors there had been bed rail problems for years.

A Department-ordered plan of correction required the facility to provide a safe environment for residents by ensuring bed rails function properly and residents receive adequate supervision and assistance to prevent accidents, and to assess all residents for the need of bed rails.

Regency Nursing Care Residence requested a hearing on the Department's action. No hearing date has been scheduled.