In December 2008, the Illinois Department of Public Heath (IDPH) completed a survey of Rockford Healthcare & Rehab Center, located at 1920 North Main Street in Rockford, Illinois.  Finding significant problems with the facility, it issued a notice of a Type A violation and a fine of $15,000.

IDPH found that Rockford Healthcare & Rehab Center failed to monitor residents who were at risk for pressure sores or to follow physician directions for care of pressure sores.  As a result of their failure to implement prvention techniques, some residents suffered from worsening conditions and developed new pressure ulcers during their admission. 

The IDPH also faulted the facility for inadequate supervision.  On one occasion, two residents wandered off without the knowledge of staff after the residents got into an elevator with a visitor and walked straight past a receptionist who assumed the residents were also visitors.  One resident was found outside the building, smoking a cigarette.  The other resident, a woman with Alzheimer’s who was known to be a wanderer, had left the facility and was found walking along a four-lane state highway without a coat on a rainy night when the wind-chill temperature was just 29 degrees.

Rockford Healthcare & Rehab Center is a for-profit nursing home with 97 Medicare/Medicaid-certified beds.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which operates a “five-star” rating system for nursing homes, gave the facility a below-average overall rating of “two-stars.”  It gave just one-star in the area of health inspections, noting that 62 health deficiencies were found in December 2008 (the Illinois average is eight health deficiencies).  Of particular concern are findings of immediate jeopardy to resident health and safety from treatment and prevention of pressure sores, “dangers that cause accidents,” and the absence of a doctor as a medical director and of a group to review and ensure quality. 

If you are concerned about the treatment of a resident at Rockford Healthcare & Rehab Center, call us at (888) 424-5757 for a confidential consultation.

Related Nursing Homes Abuse Blog Entries

Who Regulates Nursing Homes?

First Quarter 2009 Illinois Nursing Home Violators Released 

Government Report Confirms Pressure Ulcers Harm All Nursing Home Residents; Regardless Of Race, Sex or Age