April 17, 1998

SPRINGFIELD, IL —The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Westabbe Health Care Center $10,000 for incorrectly providing a 76-year-old resident with blood thinning medication for a week after her physician had ordered the drug discontinued. The 175-bed skilled and intermediate care facility is located at 2301 W. Monroe St. in Springfield.

Responding to complaints, Department surveyors learned that when the woman was transferred to the nursing home her doctor prescribed a daily aspirin, but wrote instructions to no longer give her a blood thinner or anti-depressant. Facility staff, however, did not verify the doctor's order and continued to give her all three drugs.

According to a facility staff member, an admitting nurse "misread" the orders and did not verify them with the woman's physician as required by facility policy.

After receiving the three medications for a week, the woman began having bloody stools and the error was discovered. The next day she became weak and unresponsive and was transferred to a hospital where she died.

As part of a mandatory plan of correction, the Department ordered the facility to ensure all medications are administered as ordered by a physician, reevaluate its system of obtaining and checking the accuracy of physician orders and to train staff members on the proper administration of prescription drugs.

Westabbe Healthcare Center has requested a hearing on the Department's action. No hearing date has been scheduled.

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