April 21, 1998

SPRINGFIELD, IL —The Illinois Department of Public Health has given notice that it intends to revoke the nursing home license of Countryview Living Center, Main Street and Route 121 in Latham, and has fined the facility $40,000 for failing to meet the nursing needs of residents. This is the third time in less than a year that the state has disciplined the 110-bed intermediate care facility for the developmentally disabled.

Countryview Living Center has requested a hearing to contest the Department's action. As a result, the Department's move to revoke the facility's license will be delayed until the hearing has been held. A hearing has been scheduled for May 26.

While investigating complaints and incident reports, Department surveyors found instances of residents not being provided proper care, of failure to prevent injuries, of physicians not being notified of changes in residents' condition and of poorly trained staff:

• Facility staff did not perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on an 85-year- old resident who did not have a pulse, incorrectly believing the woman had a "Do Not Resuscitate" order. The facility called 911, but not until 19 minutes after the woman was found not to be breathing and no request was made for emergency services. The nurse on duty admitted he was not certified to perform CPR and had not been trained by the facility to handle emergencies or who to call.
• A resident rolled off a stretcher, knocking out a front tooth, because side safety rails were not in place and the staff member assigned to watch him was not paying attention. The aide was a new hire and had not been trained properly.
• A resident's catheter and skin condition were not monitored by staff, which resulted in urinary tract infections and the need for a surgical circumcision. After surgery, facility employees did not perform a follow-up urine test ordered by the man's doctor and did not change his catheter because the facility did not have the necessary equipment.
• A resident was left alone in the tub room and slipped and fell, requiring stitches to the forehead. An aide who was assisting the resident had gone to talk to another staff member.
• A resident with a muscular disorder was unable to wear arm and leg splints as ordered by his doctor because the facility did not have splints.
• Some residents who required staff assistance did not have emergency call systems in their rooms. When questioned why one resident did not have a call light, staff acknowledged the facility did not have batteries.

Department surveyors also learned facility staff failed to protect several residents from abuse by other residents, did not properly treat or prevent bed sores for three residents and failed to perform lab work on time.

Countryview Living Center was fined $10,000 in April 1997 and again in June 1997 for not meeting the nursing needs of residents. The facility has requested a hearing regarding the June 1997 discipline. The hearing has also been scheduled for May 26.

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