November 13, 1997

SPRINGFIELD, IL — The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Blossom Hill Health Centre $10,000 for failure to provide proper nursing care, not properly assessing resident medical conditions and not keeping residents' doctors informed of changes in conditions . The 202-bed skilled and intermediate care facility is located at 1050 Jeffrey St., Kankakee.

Responding to complaints, and during an annual inspection, Department surveyors found —

• A 78-year-old resident's leg was amputated due to an infection caused by a bed sore on her heel. The infection was first diagnosed by a hospital emergency department physician and the facility was told to treat the woman with antibiotics. The woman became lethargic, but staff waited four days before trying to reach her doctor, who did not respond to a page. Staff did not attempt to contact the doctor about the resident's condition again until six days later. The doctor prescribed antibiotics, but less than three hours later her condition had deteriorated and she was transferred to the hospital where her leg had to be amputated above the knee.

• During an examination of a 77-year-old resident, bed sores were found to be infected and new areas of skin breakdowns noted. Upon checking the woman's chart the next day, surveyors discovered the physician had not been contacted and no treatment orders obtained. After this was pointed out to the facility's director of nursing, the woman's physician was contacted.

• A facility dietician recommended vitamin supplements for a 96-year-old female resident to aid in the healing of numerous bed sores, but the resident's physician was never notified. Surveyors also observed the woman for four days and noted she was always lying on her back, despite a serious bed sore on her buttocks.

Other findings against the facility include staff not following proper infection control by washing hands and sterilizing instruments between treating bed sores; lack of fluids, incorrect meat portions and omission of other menu items necessary to promote healing of bed sores and prevent others from developing; failure to treat bed sores on six other residents; and not providing proper nourishment to four residents who were losing weight.

As part of a mandatory plan of correction, the Department ordered Blossom Hill Health Centre to ensure each resident's physician is kept informed, to provide nursing care to meet the needs of its residents, and to develop a program to prevent and treat bed sores.

Blossom Hill Health Centre 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