February 11, 1998

SPRINGFIELD, IL —The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Abbey of Carbondale $10,000 for failure to provide medications and feed residents at prescribed times. The 235-bed skilled care facility and skilled care facility for residents under 22 years old is located at 120 N. Tower Road in Carbondale.

During an annual inspection, Department surveyors observed afternoon medication rounds and feedings. They found --

• A 16-year-old male resident with a seizure disorder did not receive four prescribed medications. One of the drugs was not given until five hours later because the medicine bottle was empty. The other three drugs were provided two or three hours later. The following day the man experienced uncontrollable seizures and was hospitalized.
• Staff were more than two hours late in giving three anti-seizure medications and two other gastrointestinal medications to a 15-year-old male resident.
• Two residents with feeding tubes were not fed according to their doctor's orders. A 6-year-old resident was to be fed every four hours, but the 3 p.m. feeding was not given until 5:20 p.m. A 13-year-old resident was to receive food at 3 p.m., but was not fed until 80 minutes later.

Facility medication administration records did not note the prescription drugs or the feedings were given late, nor were any of the residents' physicians informed, as required by the facility's policy.

As part of a mandatory plan of correction, the Department has ordered Abbey of Carbondale to provide training to its employees regarding dispensing medications, properly recording drugs given and keeping physicians informed.

Abbey of Carbondale 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