October 28, 1997

SPRINGFIELD, IL — The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Bartmann Nursing Home and Sheltered Care Facility $10,000 for not properly assessing the medical conditions of residents or informing physicians of changes in their patients' conditions. The 87- bed intermediate and sheltered care facility is located at 2282 1275th Ave., Atlanta.

During an annual inspection, surveyors learned facility staff waited more than nine hours to notify an 82-year-old resident's physician that blood had been found in her urine and then failed to get the physician's order for a urinalysis until a day later. Staff did not take the woman's vital signs or do a comprehensive assessment of her condition until she collapsed while eating lunch. She died four days later from a severe infection.

The facility also did not observe changes in the condition of a 73-year-old resident who fell and struck his head three times within 10 days. After the first fall, the resident displayed signs of a head injury, but his physician was not contacted until he fell a second time. After the third fall, the man had seizures, lacked an appetite for food and lost nearly 43 pounds over four months. During that time, the facility did not develop a plan to address his weight loss.

Surveyors discovered five other residents had significant weight loss, but their physicians were not notified and no plan was made to deal with the weight loss.

As part of a mandatory plan of correction, the Department ordered the facility to ensure physicians are promptly notified of changes in resident conditions, to train staff in assessing residents and to develop a care plan for each resident.

Bartmann Nursing Home and Sheltered Care 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