Days after the Chicago Tribune ran an investigative piece on Berwyn Rehabilitation Center, a new inspection report was released by the Illinois Department of Health demonstrating that the facility has a long way to go to improve conditions at the facility.  In an unannounced visit to the facility, state inspectors found six violations relating to nursing home care.  Among the conditions discovered by inspectors and cited in their report:

A quick glance at the just the number of citations issued to Berwyn Rehabilitation Center, may appear as though the facility is making significant improvements.  Compared to a similar unannounced visit last year, when the facility had 29 violations– six violations this time around seems pretty good.  The reality is that the violations against this facility are not minor.  The violations indicate the staff at this facility is still not focused on correcting potentially dangerous conditions. Any of the above conditions cited to in the inspectors’ reports could prove life threatening if left unremedied.

Berwyn Rehabilitation Center is a for-profit nursing home located at 3601 South Harlem Avenue. The Centers for Medicare have rated the facility one-star out of a possible five.  The facility is owned by Eric Rothner, a manager of Berwyn Rehabilitation, LLC.”

From Joanne–

So, we know there are troubles with nursing homes in the Chicago area.  In the Thomas case, the judge is told Janie smells of urine, has not been bathed, and is left in the bathroom dazed and unattended.  What does she do?  Hand the case off to the OPG (Office of Public Guardian) where an “isolation order” is issued to caring family members. (prior post).  In the case of Allen Frake, he complains about hip pain for months, is apparently in a wheel chair after whatever happened to his hip, the family asks for an MRI and appropriate medical care, at the next court date, the appointed attorneys when confronted with the continuing request for an investigation, mumble something about how the nursing home doc sees residents once per month so there must not be a problem. When a continuing problem is reported and a further problem with suspected chemical restraints (drooling and confusion and lowering of the head) is reported, what does the judge do?  Send it back to the “guardian of the person” the same person that did not notice/did not care in the first place!

Freaking unbelievable.  And just how many Ill. governors do we currently have in prison? perhaps if we really want to make Ill. governors fearful of engaging in corruption we should threaten them with the punishment of probate court and an Illinois for-profit nursing home!