BLOOMINGDALE FACILITY FINED FOLLOWING RESIDENT’S DEATH

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Alden Village Health Facility has been fined $50,000 (Statement of Violation) by the Illinois Department of Public Health for failure to provide sufficient staff for residents in need of constant supervision. The 109-bed skilled care facility for persons younger than 22 years of age is located at 267 E. Lake St. in Bloomingdale.

Responding to a complaint, Department surveyors learned a resident in need of “intense supervision” died after becoming wedged between the padding and mattress of his bed.

Staff found the resident’s body beside his bed and behind a toy box. An aide noted he was not breathing, but neither she nor another aide in the room initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Instead, she left the room to notify a nurse, who administered the procedure until paramedics arrived.

The resident was out of his bed and on the floor for approximately two hours before being discovered. During this time, several employees were in and out of the resident’s room, some even staying for a period of time to provide care to his roommates, but they did not notice the resident because of clutter surrounding his bed.

A Department-ordered plan of correction required the facility to review and revise, if necessary, its policy concerning the monitoring and care of residents during a medical emergency, and to ensure that residents’ needs are met through appropriate staff intervention in a timely manner

Alden Village Health Facility has requested a hearing on the Department’s action. No hearing date has been set.