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

• Ballard Nursing Center, a 231-bed skilled care facility located at 9300 Ballard Road in Des Plaines (Cook County); and
• Oak Brook Healthcare Centre, a 156-bed skilled and intermediate care center located at 2013 Midwest Road in Oak Brook (DuPage County).

Ballard Nursing Center was fined $5,000 (Statement of Violation) for failing to supervise a resident who left the facility through a back exit door that had a disabled alarm. The door locked behind the resident and she was unable to get back into the facility until an employee heard her knocking. While outside, the resident sustained two bumps on her head and a cut elbow. The facility was unaware the door alarm was disabled.

Oak Brook Healthcare Centre was fined $10,000 (Statement of Violation) for neglecting to have nursing staff monitor vital signs of two residents, to report changes in condition to their physicians, and to identify their fluid needs and monitor fluid intake for dehydration.

Despite the declining health of both residents, staff did not notify their physicians until after their families expressed concerns. One resident died and the other was hospitalized.

Ballard Nursing Center requested a hearing on the Department's action. No hearing date has been set. Oak Brook Healthcare Centre did not request a hearing.