November 16, 1999
MOMENCE NURSING HOME FINED
SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Momence Meadows Nursing Center $5,000 (Statement of Violation)for failure to provide adequate supervision to a resident with a history of wandering. The 140-bed skilled facility is located at 500 S. Walnut in Momence.
A Department investigation found that three separate times the resident was able to leave the facility without staff noticing. On one occasion, with temperatures below 20 degrees, the resident was helped by a citizen who found him three blocks away from the facility not wearing a coat. Another time, when temperatures were around 15 degrees, an unknown person called to say the resident was walking eight blocks away in downtown Momence. The third time, he only made it to the facility parking lot before running into a staff member.
A check of facility exits found all door alarms working properly. Staff was unable to explain how he might have left without an alarm sounding or someone noticing him leaving. The Department was not notified of all the elopments and the resident’s physician was not told of two of the incidents.
The facility was ordered to implement a plan of correction to maintain visual control or some other method of supervision to assure safety of the residents.
Momence Meadows Nursing Home has requested a hearing on the Department’s action. A hearing date has been scheduled for Dec. 14.
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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 |
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