Nursing home fined after patient falls down stairs

SPRINGFIELD -- A Springfield nursing home has been fined by federal officials who say the facility failed to prevent an elderly patient strapped into a wheelchair from tumbling down a flight of stairs.

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services imposed the $3,500 fine against the Capitol Care Center.

Capitol Care Center administrator Cynthia Schaaf says she did not know whether the facility would dispute the fine.

The fine stems from an incident on Sept. 24. Eighty-six-year-old Alfred "Stan" Catherwood was in a wheel chair when fell down eight stairs, breaking bones in his face and neck.

The state report says the 228-bed facility did not provide adequate supervision or maintain a hazard-free environment.