Published: May 13, 2008 11:43 am            

Local nursing home fined by state health department

Staff Report

SPRINGFIELD — Mt. Vernon Health Care Center has been fined $15,000 by the Illinois Department of Public Health for failure to provide adequate supervision for a resident identified at risk for elopement.

The type A violation was noted as August 2007, and was released this week by the IDPH. Type A violations of the Nursing Home Care Act are the most serious licensure violations imposed by the state and pertains to a condition in which there is a substantial probability that death or serious mental or physical harm will result, according to information from the IDPH.

The 106-bed intermediate care facility, located at No. 5 Doctor’s Park Road, was fined after a patient who was identified as an elopement risk left the facility without staff knowledge on July 12, 2007, according to information from IDPH. The resident was later found about a block from the facility near a drainage ditch. The resident had last been seen at 8:50 p.m. on July 12, 2007 and was discovered missing at 9:05 p.m. on July 12, 2007, according to IDPH reports.

A licensed practical nurse went outside the facility to look for the resident and found the resident sitting on the ground near a house at 10:30 p.m. on July 12, 2007. Staff indicated as part of the investigation into the incident that it was believed the resident may have gone out with a visiting family member at the time the resident was discovered missing.

Mt. Vernon Health Care Center has requested a hearing on the department’s action and a status hearing in the case was held on April 29. No further information was available from the IDPH.

        

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