This is forwarded from the Trach-ties list, submitted by Kathy Rowe. Sorry
for the repeat to those of you on both lists, but I thought this was worth
sending.

Suits spur new look at nursing facility
Chicago Sun-times

May 15, 2001

State public health officials say they plan to re-examine a North Side
nursing facility in the wake of lawsuits alleging negligence that led to the
deaths of three children.

According to the lawsuits, which were reported Monday night on WBBM-Channel
2, three children who were on breathing tubes died at the Progressive
Pediatric Rehab Institute, a facility that serves mentally and physically
disabled patients.

The report cited one case in which two former nurses aides detailed attempts
to get help from an on-duty nurse for a child who was having a hard time
breathing and needed his tracheotomy tube suctioned. The aides said their
pleas for assistance were ignored.

One month after that incident, two other children died, according to the
report. An anonymous complaint to the state alleged the children's
tracheotomy tubes were not suctioned in time or with the right catheter, but
investigators could not substantiate that.

In response to the report, Illinois Public Health Director Dr. Robert
Lumpkin promised to "take a much closer look at some of the events in the
past."

In the first case, the state cited the facility for failing to provide
adequate nursing services, but could not conclude whether this led to the
death. In the second case, the state cited the nursing home for neglect and
"substantial failure" to take corrective action to help the child.

The facility has denied all charges in the pending lawsuits and is appealing
the state's latest findings.

Annie Sweeney