Nursing Home Fined For Inadequate Supervision

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The Illinois Department of Public Health has fined Illinois Veteran's Home at Quincy $5,000 (Statement of Violation) for failure to provide adequate resident supervision. The 551-bed skilled care facility is located at 1707 N. 12th St. in Quincy.

During a complaint and incident report investigation, Department surveyors learned a resident, who had a history of wandering, left a secured unit without staff knowledge. The resident was discovered across the street from the facility by an employee who was able to return him to the home uninjured. Although the temperature was 87 degrees F, the resident was wearing a stocking cap and gloves.

An investigation determined that the resident was able to leave the facility because someone had disabled an alarm and unlocked an outside door. Staff said it was a busy day and numerous people knew the code to disable the system. In addition, a video camera used to monitor the door was broken.

A month prior to the incident, the resident was able to leave the facility by walking out a gate that was supposed to be locked at all times.

The Department-ordered plan of correction required the facility to provide constant visual supervision of any exit when the alarm system is deactivated, to maintain door alarm systems in proper working order and to provide adequate resident supervision.

Illinois Veteran's Home at Quincy has requested a hearing on the Department's action. No hearing date has been set.