August 13, 1998

SPRINGFIELD, IL —The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Good Samaritan Healthcare Center $10,000 for failing to provide adequate nursing care for a 95-year-old female resident who died of a severe infection. The 120-bed intermediate care facility is located at 1910 Springfield Road in East Peoria.

Responding to a complaint, Department surveyors learned the woman had been lethargic, glassy eyed, running a fever and the skin on her arm was red and warm for nearly two days before facility staff sent her to the hospital.

One of the five facility nurses who was aware of the woman's deteriorating condition contacted a physician who was on-call, but admitted to not giving the doctor enough information regarding the resident's medical history.

As part of a mandatory plan of correction, the Department ordered the facility to review its policies, and to train its employees, on notifying physicians of changes in a resident's condition. In addition, facility staff must periodically demonstrate their ability to recognize residents' symptoms, to provide adequate nursing care and to notify physicians in a timely manner.

Good Samaritan Healthcare Center has requested a hearing on the Department's action. A hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 7.

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