September 27, 1995

WAUKEGAN NURSING HOME FINED

SPRINGFIELD, IL -- The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Northshore Terrace, a 274-bed skilled and intermediate care facility located at 2222 14th St. in Waukegan, $10,000 for failure to provide adequate nursing care and failure to follow physician orders.

As the result of a complaint investigation, Department surveyors found a 63-year-old resident did not receive laboratory blood tests ordered by her physician to monitor a blood thinner she was receiving; a staff pharmacist failed to note during a monthly audit of the resident's medical care that the anticoagulant studies were not being performed; and the resident was not scheduled for surgery for a cardiac condition as directed by her physician.

Over a two-week period, a review of facility records found the woman fell three times, which resulted in various bruises to her head, face, arm, back and leg, and in a head laceration that required stitches.

After the third fall, a laboratory test determined the resident's blood was dangerously thin. She was transferred to the hospital in respiratory distress and placed on life support for four days. The resident subsequently underwent three surgeries for bleeding and fluid pressure on the brain. Her physician said the pressure on the brain was likely the result of trauma to the head.

The Northshore Terrace administration was ordered to review its policies and procedures for anticoagulant studies and how it supervises and controls laboratory tests ordered by physicians, and to educate staff on the facility's policies and procedures.

The facility has requested a hearing on the Department's action. No hearing date has been set.

Illinois Department of Public Health 535 West Jefferson Street Springfield, Illinois 62761 Phone 217-782-4977 Fax 217-782-3987 TTY 800-547-0466 Questions or Comments