Federal inspectors found the 71-bed facility completely lacked the certified dietary manager position mandated by Medicare regulations during a November complaint investigation. The violation affected all residents in the facility.
On November 24 at 12:15 PM, inspectors observed Administrator V1 personally delivering meals from the kitchen to residents. When questioned, she stated she was helping because no certified dietary manager was on site.
The facility provided no documentation showing employment of any certified dietary manager or dietary manager during the inspection period. Staff member V9 was observed providing verbal guidance to dietary workers on November 23 at 9:00 AM, but told inspectors the facility simply did not have a certified dietary manager or dietary manager.
A regional certified dietary manager, identified as V6, confirmed she splits time between this facility and another location. She had not been on site at Sullivan Healthcare for at least ten days before the inspection and typically visited only once weekly on average.
V6 clarified she was not serving as the interim dietary manager and estimated the facility had been without a dietary manager for "six months or so."
Throughout the three-day inspection period from November 23 through November 25, inspectors found no certified dietary manager present during various times on first and second shifts. The facility's daily midnight census documented 71 residents residing there as of November 23.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to employ sufficient staff with appropriate competencies to carry out food and nutrition services, including a qualified dietitian or certified dietary manager. The position ensures proper meal planning, food safety protocols, and nutritional standards for residents who depend entirely on the facility for their dietary needs.
Sullivan Healthcare's violation was classified as having minimal harm or potential for actual harm to residents, though inspectors noted it affected many residents due to the facility-wide nature of dietary operations.
The absence of required dietary supervision raises questions about meal planning oversight, food safety compliance, and nutritional adequacy for residents during the extended period without proper staffing. Medicare-certified facilities must maintain continuous dietary management to ensure resident health and safety.
The facility is located at 11 Hawthorne Lane in Sullivan, a small community in central Illinois. The inspection was conducted in response to a complaint, though the specific nature of the complaint that triggered the federal investigation was not detailed in the available records.
Sullivan Healthcare must submit a plan of correction to address the dietary manager staffing deficiency and demonstrate compliance with federal requirements for food and nutrition services.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Sullivan Healthcare & Senior Living from 2025-11-25 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
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