June 18, 1997

SPRINGFIELD, IL — The Illinois Department of Public Health has taken disciplinary action against two Chicago-area nursing homes:

• Spaulding Terrace, a six-bed intermediate care facility for the developmentally disabled located at 16307 Spaulding Ave., Markham; and

• Altenheim, a 151-bed intermediate and sheltered care facility located at 7824 W. Madison St., Forest Park.

Spaulding Terrace was fined $10,000 for not providing the nursing services necessary to meet the needs of a 39-year-old resident, who died from an intestinal obstruction. The man, who could not talk, had vomited and staff said he appeared to have the stomach flu.

The facility's consulting nurse told staff to contact the man's physician and schedule an emergency appointment. The doctor, however, was not reached until almost 24 hours after the resident exhibited signs of illness and his condition had worsened. The physician instructed facility staff to take the resident to the hospital emergency department. While staff was arranging a van for transportation, the man was found lying in bed without a pulse. Paramedics were called and the man was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

Altenheim was fined $10,000 for failure to properly respond when an 85-year-old female resident wandered into a stairwell and fell down the steps. An employee arriving at the facility found the woman in the stairwell minutes later and the resident was taken to the hospital with severe head injuries.

Responding to complaints, Department surveyors learned that when the woman opened the door an alarm sounded, but staff merely reset the alarm and did not open the door to check the stairway.

Altenheim was ordered to review its policies and procedures regarding activated door alarms and to instruct staff about their duties when a door alarm sounds.

Spaulding Terrace and Altenheim have requested hearings on the Department's actions. No hearing dates have 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