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3 Nursing Facilities Are Fined By State: South Suburban Centers Are Faulted on Care of Patients

Posted on: Wednesday, 21 December 2005, 12:00 CST

By Stanley Ziemba, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune

Dec. 21--Two south suburban nursing homes have been fined $50,000 and a third $10,000 for failing to properly look after residents, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Mercy Health Care Rehabilitation Center, a 259-bed skilled care facility at 19000 Halsted St. in Homewood, was fined $50,000 for failing to provide appropriate wound care to at least 52 residents suffering from skin ulcers and pressure sores.

Embassy Care Center, a 171-bed skilled care facility at 555 W. Kahler Rd. in Wilmington, was penalized a like amount for failing to promptly notify the physician of a 53-year-old male resident having cerebral hemorrhage-type symptoms after falling and hitting his head. The patient died, and the cause of his death was listed as a cerebral hemorrhage, the agency noted in its citation.

Crestwood Care Centre, a 303-bed skilled care facility at 14255 S. Cicero Ave. in Crestwood, drew a $10,000 fine for failing to notify the physician of an 83-year-old male resident about his inability to swallow, causing a lack of nutrition and hydration for four days.

The citations and fines were handed down in November and made public this week. All three facilities have requested hearings to appeal the findings.

Public Health Department investigators contend Mercy Health Care personnel did not change dressings on patients' wounds in some cases for days.

According to the agency, the facility also failed to ensure medications were administered according to a physician's orders and did not provide a bed large enough to accommodate the needs of two residents who are obese and suffer from bedsores.

In addition, three residents of the home suffered weight loss due to the staff's lack of assistance during meal times and the absence of care plans addressing their nutritional needs, the department said.

Nursing home officials said they immediately addressed the problems and expressed surprise at the large penalty.

The department said Embassy Care staff did not follow the home's own policy of conducting frequent neurological checks on patients who have fallen.

And in Crestwood Care's case, the agency said its investigators found that the home did not notify the family of the resident who couldn't swallow when he developed a pressure sore and exhibited an inability to walk. His family also was not notified of his inadequate nutritional intake that resulted in significant weight loss, the department said.

The home also failed to promptly notify the resident's physician when he developed a respiratory condition that resulted in him being placed on life support for three days, the agency said.

sziemba@tribune.com

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Source: Chicago Tribune

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