August 17, 1999
TWO CHICAGO-AREA NURSING HOMES FINED
SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has taken disciplinary action against two Chicago-area nursing homes:
Brentwood North was fined $10,000 for not providing treatment to an 86-year-old resident in a safe manner, which resulted in the woman receiving first and second degree burns. According to a Department investigation, the resident, who is totally dependent on staff for movement, was placed in a sitz bath for treatment as directed by her physician. When the woman seemed “restless,” she was returned to her bed and staff noted her buttocks had a layer of skin peeled off. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment of first and second degree burns.
The water used in the sitz bath had been obtained from a coffee-tea urn located in the kitchen and surveyors noted the water temperature measured 180 degrees the day after the resident was burned. Staff said they checked the water temperature in the sitz bath and it was 106 degrees. (Statement of Violation)
Little Angels Nursing Home was fined $10,000 for failing to ensure that two clients with tracheotomies were provided the nursing services to meet their needs and for not properly administering medications.
In one case, a 6-year-old mentally retarded resident, who had a history of problems with his tracheotomy tube, was found in his bed unresponsive and with his tracheotomy tube out. He was pronounced dead at an area hospital due to acute airway obstruction. The boy had a history of dislodging his tracheotomy, and, on several occasions, paramedics had to be called. At no time did the facility notify his mother, as required by its policy and as requested by the mother. Little Angels’ staff also did not develop a specific monitoring and medical plan to address his problems with the tracheotomy. His physician said the resident should have been looked in on at least twice an hour but, when found unresponsive, it had been 1 hour and 40 minutes since he had been checked.
In another case, a 27-year-old mentally retarded resident was found with her tracheotomy tube removed. Staff could not recall when the resident had last been checked and surveyors learned the facility did not have a monitoring system in place for the resident.
Department surveyors also noted that two residents received incorrect doses of medication. A 2-year-old resident was administered 10 times the ordered dosage and required emergency treatment at a local hospital. A 1-year-old resident received three doses of medication at dosages less than what her doctor prescribed before the problem was identified and corrected. (Statement of Violation)
Brentwood North and Little Angels have requested hearings on the Department’s actions. Hearing dates have not 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 |