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

• Bjorklund House, a 16-bed intermediate care facility for the developmentally disabled located at 15841 Terrace Drive in Oak Forest; and
• Warren Barr Pavilion, a 271-bed skilled care facility located at 66 W. Oak St. in Chicago.

Bjorkland House was fined $5,000 (Statement of Violation) for failing to protect residents by not providing one-to-one supervision of a resident accused of sexually assaulting another resident while the allegation was under investigation.

A resident reported to facility administration he had been sexually assaulted by another resident on numerous occasions. The alleged attacker initially denied the allegation, but later admitted to having sexual contact with him and at least two other residents.

Warren Barr Pavilion was fined $5,000 (Statement of Violation) after a resident, who had problems with swallowing and recent episodes of choking, gagged on her food and died.

The resident’s physician had ordered that the resident receive a pureed diet, but her family requested her diet be upgraded to a soft diet and signed a waiver allowing the facility to serve her this type of food. However, after her diet was changed, the facility failed to alter the resident’s care plan to require close monitoring by staff while she was in the dining room.

Warren Barr Pavilion has requested a hearing on the Department’s action. No hearing date has been set. Bjorkland House did not request a hearing and paid the fine.