October 29, 1999

PEORIA FACILITY FINED FOR LAX NURSING CARE

SPRINGFIELD, IL – The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined the Barbara P. Smiley Living Center $10,000 (Statement of Violation) for failure to provide the nursing care necessary to meet the needs of its residents. The 56-bed intermediate care facility for the developmentally disabled is located at 6847 N. Allen Road in Peoria.

In one incident, Department surveyors reported that a 40-year resident died due to a perforation in the intestinal wall caused by a severe bowel obstruction. Staff at the facility neglected to take prompt action when symptoms first appeared or to provide consistent monitoring of her condition, and failed to notify the woman’s physician of a change in condition in a timely manner.

It also was noted that, although the resident exhibited signs of an abdominal obstruction, staff still gave the woman a laxative contrary to nursing condition recommendations. The Metamucil^® laxative, which is to be given with large amounts of water to increase the moisture content of the stool, was provided to the woman with a minimum amount of water the night before her death.

In another incident, Department surveyors found that staff neglected to develop a written plan or to modify the care of a 50-year-old resident who required repeated hospitalizations for complications related to the use of a feeding tube. Hospital staff said the hospital visits could have been prevented if the facility’s nurses had properly secured the feeding tube and if the resident had been more closely monitored.

Barbara P. Smiley Living Center has requested a hearing on the Department’s actions. A hearing date has 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