March 1, 1996

CHICAGO NURSING HOME DISCIPLINED

SPRINGFIELD, IL -- The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Kenwood Healthcare Center, a 318-bed skilled and intermediate care facility located at 6125 S. Kenwood, Chicago, $10,000 for failure to fully assess and identify a resident's medical needs.

Responding to a complaint, a Department investigation found a 42-year-old resident with a history of respiratory problems died after experiencing respiratory distress.

When first notified the resident was in need of assistance, a staff member responded by saying the nurse was at lunch and would be back in 15 minutes. Once the nurse was alerted, she attempted to administer oxygen and medication rather than follow facility procedure to immediately call for an ambulance.

Chicago Fire Department paramedics, who attempted to resuscitate the resident, said he had been in cardio-respiratory arrest for 15 to 30 minutes before they arrived and had no vital signs. He was pronounced dead on arrival at a Chicago hospital.

The resident's care plan failed to indicate his respiratory status could deteriorate rapidly or the importance of early medical intervention or to note to call an ambulance before attempting treatment. The nurse who attempted to treat the resident said she was unaware he had respiratory problems.

Department surveyors also discovered that the facility did not administer medications and treatments to the resident according to the physician's orders. For two months, the resident received medication and breathing treatments on an as-needed basis, instead of every four hours and as needed as directed by his physician.

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

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