January 9, 1998

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

• Alden-Poplar Creek Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, a 217-bed skilled care facility located at 1545 Barrington Road in Hoffman Estates.

• Alden-Princeton Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, a 225-bed skilled care facility located at 255 W. 69th St. in Chicago.

Alden-Poplar Creek Rehabilitation and Health Care Center was fined $20,000 for not properly monitoring an 82-year-old resident who fell down a half flight of stairs while strapped in a wheelchair. The woman suffered a fractured neck and head injuries.

The woman, who was at a high risk of elopement and falls, was to be in a high visibility area so she could be observed by staff at all times. The door leading to the stairs did have an alarm, but it only sounded when the door was open and it shut off when the door was closed. No one responded to the alarm when the woman entered the stairwell.

During an inspection, surveyors also observed residents in areas of the facility being remodeled that placed them at risk. Residents were walking and wheeling through corridors under construction that had exposed live wires, missing carpet and tiles that left the floor uneven, and unattended construction materials. Incident reports revealed residents had sustained falls in this area, but the reason for the falls were not noted. Although construction had been going on for more than a year, staff said there were no plans in place to address resident safety.

Alden-Princeton Rehabilitation and Health Care Center was fined $10,000 for failing to provide emergency care to a 96-year-old resident having difficulty breathing.

Responding to complaints, Department surveyors learned that when the man was found to be in severe respiratory distress staff took his temperature and called 911, but did not attempt to suction his airway and left him alone. When paramedics arrived they requested a facility suctioning machine, but it was not assembled and did not have the necessary tubing. One of the paramedics had to retrieve a suctioning machine from the ambulance.

Surveyors also found medical supplies were locked in a room and available only to a few staff members during the day shift. In addition, carts containing emergency equipment were not properly supplied.

Alden-Poplar Creek Rehabilitation and Health Care Center and Alden-Princeton Rehabilitation and Health Care Center 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