SPRINGFIELD FACILITY FINED AFTER RESIDENT SUSTAINS BURNS

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Taylor House has been fined $10,000 (Statement of Violation) by the Illinois Department of Public Health for failure to maintain safe hot water temperatures in resident-accessible areas and to have enough staff on duty to meet resident needs. The 16-bed intermediate care facility for the developmentally disabled is located at 3021 Taylor Ave. in Springfield.

Responding to complaints, Department surveyors learned a resident sustained first- and second-degree burns while bathing and died a week later.

The resident was assessed as being able to start her bath water and to bathe herself, but she needed assistance with regulating the water temperature. An employee said she was busy helping other residents at the time the woman began her bath and the only other direct care worker had left the facility to take a resident to the store.

After helping the resident from the bathtub, staff clothed her and put slippers on her feet, which had skin missing. The woman was driven to the hospital by staff rather than being transported by an ambulance. This caused the resident further discomfort and placed her at risk of infection, and left the only other direct care worker alone with residents for several hours.

Following the incident, the facility did not safeguard other residents from potential hot water burns and did not begin checking water temperatures or secure bathrooms until the next day.

It was determined that a mixer valve was faulty and needed to be replaced. During the 10 days it took to order and receive the part, the water continued to be poorly regulated.

Taylor House has requested a hearing on the Department's action. No hearing date has been scheduled.