January 11, 1995

CHICAGO NURSING HOME FINED

SPRINGFIELD, IL -- The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Alden Nursing Center-Morrow, a 192-bed skilled care facility located at 5001 S. Michigan Ave. in Chicago, $10,000 for failure to provide adequate nursing care to a resident and to promptly notify a resident's doctor and next of kin about a significant change in condition.

Responding to a complaint, Department investigators found an 80-year-old female resident had complained about the shower water temperature and about 15 minutes later facility staff noted the resident's right arm, chest, abdomen and breast were red and the right side of her face was peeling.

When the resident's physician was contacted more than five hours later, he instructed facility staff to have the woman taken to a local hospital emergency department for evaluation, but the transfer did not take place for another five hours. The resident's next of kin were first notified of her condition approximately 16 hours after the incident.

Alden was ordered to ensure both a resident's physician and family are notified immediately of any accident, injury or significant change in condition. The facility also was instructed to ensure adequate and properly supervised care are provided to meet each resident's needs.

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