May 21, 1999

SPRINGFIELD, IL - The Illinois Department of Public Health has taken disciplinary action against three southern Illinois nursing homes:

•Cedar Ridge Health Care Center, a 120-bed skilled care facility located at 1 Perryman St., Lebanon (St. Clair County);
•Diamondview, a 16-bed intermediate care facility for the developmentally disabled located a 338 Country Club Road in Centralia (Marion County); and
•Westlake Home, a 16-bed intermediate care facility for the developmentally disabled located at 2090 W. Lake Drive, Carlyle (Clinton County).

Cedar Ridge Health Care Center was fined $5,000 for failing to properly supervise a resident, who in December 1998, wandered unnoticed from the facility. The 78-year-old man was found walking toward downtown Lebanon by a facility staff member who was leaving work. The resident was wearing jeans and a flannel shirt, but no coat or hat. The temperature that day was in the mid-30s and some rain and ice pellets were falling. (Statement of Violation)

Diamondview was fined $10,000 for failing to ensure residents are not subject to physical or sexual abuse by other residents. Department surveyors found that two male residents repeatedly assaulted other residents, but the facility did not develop plans to address the aggression and protect other residents from harm. One resident, a 41-year-old male, stabbed a female resident with a fork; hit another resident in the face, back, neck and legs; and punched a pregnant staff member in the stomach. Another resident, a 25-year-old man, had more than 40 documented incidents of physical aggression toward staff and residents, including hitting, scratching and spitting, and pushing a resident off the bus because he was in a hurry. The man also had numerous incidents of inappropriate sexual behavior toward the facility's female residents. (Statement of Violation)

Westlake was fined $10,000 for failing to adequately supervise a resident known to have a history of severe physical aggression. The 31-year-old male resident had three major episodes of physical aggression during a 10-day period in February 1999. In one instance, when staff attempted to shave him, he hit the wall, flung himself on the floor and threw things, then kicked a resident in the stomach and struck her two times, and hit and kicked three staff members. On another day, he became agitated at dinner and was sent to his room to calm down. While in his room, he struck his roommate, left the room and hit another resident, and went back to the dinner table and hit two residents and two staff. The third incident involved pushing two residents, hitting himself, and kicking and hitting other residents. (Statement of Violation)

Cedar Ridge, Diamondview and Westlake 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