Illinois Nursing Home Must Pay $3,500 Fine for 86-Year-Old Patient’s Fall Accident
The US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is ordering a Springfield, Illinois nursing home to pay a $3,500 fine for failing to prevent a patient’s fall accident. 86-Year-Old Alfred “Stan” Catherwood tumbled down a flight of steps at Capitol Care Center while strapped to his wheelchair. The Illinois nursing home accident occurred on September 24. Schaff was admitted to the Springfield nursing home on September 11.
Catherwood broke bones in his neck and face, as well as sustained tears and scratches on his arms, left check, and head. He was hospitalized following the incident and died on October 28 at a Petersburg nursing home. However Capital Care Center Administrator Cynthia Schaaf says Catherwood’s death was not related to the injuries he sustained in the fall accident, which the Illinois Department of Public Health inspection ruled were not life-threatening.
The state’s inspection report noted that Catherwood had dementia and that his family had asked that he be strapped into his wheelchair because there was a chance he might decide to wander from the Springfield nursing home.
The elderly resident somehow managed to enter the stairwell, which had the only door at the nursing home that lacked an automated alarm or key-code lock. Schaaf claims Catherwood would have only been able to open the door with someone’s help and. She believes that either another resident or a visiting relative may have held the door open for him.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Springfield nursing home failed to properly supervise Catherwood and failed to maintain an environment that was hazard-free. Inspectors also reported a finding of “immediate” jeopardy, which compelled Capitol Care to put up warning signs that residents shouldn’t be allowed through exit doors. A keypad lock was also installed on the door.
Fall Accidents at Illinois Nursing Homes
Nursing home operators, like all other premise owners and property managers, are supposed to make sure that there are no hazardous conditions on the premise that can cause fall accidents or another type of injury of accidents. Fall accidents are one type of accident that can lead to an Illinois nursing home neglect or premises liability lawsuit if someone is injured as a result of inadequate supervision, failure to warn, failure to repair or remedy a hazardous condition, or any other form of nursing home negligence.
Springfield nursing home fined $3,500 after patient falls down stairs, SJ-R.com, December 10, 2008
Nursing home fined after patient falls down stairs, Chicago Tribune, December 11, 2008
Related Web Resources:
Capitol Care Center, Hospital-Data.com
Contact Chicago Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Steve Malman today.
