McLean County Times

McLean County Health Committee met July 6.

Here is the minutes provided by the committee:

The Health Committee of the McLean County Board met at 4:30 p.m. in Room 404 of the Government Center Building 115 E. Washington Street, Bloomington, IL.

Members Present: Chairman Susan Schafer, Members: Carlo Robustelli, George Gordon, Randall Martin, Catherine Metsker George Wendt and Sharon Chung (all via remote attendance)

Members Absent: None

Other Members Present:

Staff Present: Ms. Camille Rodriguez, County Administrator; Ms. Cassy Taylor, Assistant County Administrator; Ms. Julie Morlock, Recording Secretary; Ms. Samantha Vazquez, Assistant State’s Attorney – Civil Division

Department Heads/ Elected Officials Present: Ms. Jessica McKnight, Health Department Administrator; Ms. Terri Edens, Nursing Home Administrator; Michelle Welch, Adult Detention, Jason Tabb, Juvenile Detention

Others Present:

Chairman Schafer called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. and declared a quorum.

Chairman Schafer presented the minutes from the May 19, 2020 special meeting and June 1, 2020 regular meeting for approval.

Motion by Robustelli/Chung to approve the minutes from the May 19, 2020 special meeting and June 1, 2020 regular meeting.

Motion carried.

Chairman Schafer asked Ms. Morlock to read public comments statements below.

Hello,

This is a public comment intended for the meeting being held on 7/6.

I've been following the case of former Mclean County Communications

Specialist Dion McNeal, as well as that of Kari Jones. Racism IS a public health issue, and police brutality exists in OUR community, so it's very disheartening and confusing that after expressing these truths, Dion was fired, and his supporter Kari was placed on leave. Black people are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, and a Black man in our community was fired during this global pandemic for speaking up about racism? We demand transparency around this issue. Stop silencing Black people.

Ellie J.

To Whom it May Concern,

I was deeply troubled to hear that Dion McNeal was fired from the McLean

County Health Department after expressing concerns about treatment he received while enacting his duties and that Kari Jones was placed on administrative leave, purportedly for expressing support of his concerns. While I hope the situation is more complicated than this, it does appear from the outside to be a simple matter of individuals high in an organization punishing someone for blowing the whistle on behavior that did not place the organization in the best light. This is deeply disturbing. Everything I have read on this topic suggests that this is an extreme, and deeply harmful, overreaction to an individual attempting to address, for the benefit of this organization, two clearly recognized public health crises: Covid-19 and Systematic Racism. Due to a possible miscommunication, and the organization's apparently inappropriate reaction, I fear that the organization will be deeply tarnished with accusations of racism and punishing a whistleblower.

I want to encourage that this organization makes the best decisions going forward. Whatever poor decisions and mistakes were made by any of the parties involved, a transparent honest process is needed for the sake of the community. Were people placed on administrative leave or fired inappropriately, that needs to be addressed. If these steps were appropriate (which, under the current circumstances, seems hard to believe), that needs to be clearly communicated to the public at large. And again, a transparent process is needed.

Hate has no place in the Bloomington-Normal community and McLean County. We need to know that systemic racism is NOT making its presence felt within our public health organizations, and that should accusations of racism appear, that it is being handled fairly. Whistleblowers should have protection, though I understand this situation could be more complicated.

Also, we clearly need people of color in upper level positions in ALL county organizations.

Wishing love and safety to my former home, Dr. Sarah Elizabeth Kienzler

PhD Experimental Psychology

Focus Health and Social Psychology

What is the health departments stance on police brutality? Why was the statement made by Dion unacceptable and why did it result in his termination as well as Kari being placed on administrative leave? Erica Marie Acevedo

Chairman Schafer thanked Ms. Morlock and indicated that next on the agenda was the Health Department.

Ms. Jessica McKnight Health Department Administrator presented the Health Department’s monthly reports to the Committee. Mr. Wendt asked if the Courts ruled that the Governor has no authority to keep businesses closed would she be ready to do increased testing. Ms. McKnight indicated that in Phase 4 most of the businesses are open to a degree and that they have been working to expand testing. She indicated the facility at the fairgrounds has been testing daily. Mr. Wendt again asked if she would be ready. Ms. Jessica said there is testing is available they are just working to expand it.

Mr. Robustelli raised a concern about a delay in response time from when individual is tested and when an individual receives results. He stated it concerned him because if we have an increased number being tested and not getting results back in a timely manner, we do not know the accurate number of positive tests in the area. He stated we need to make sure we are getting results in a timely manner. Ms. McKnight indicated they had heard similar instances from other members of the public and agreed that timing is crucial for contract tracing. She stated she has made several contacts with the lab in charge of the testing site and was told there had been an issue that was now resolved but would follow up as his situation indicated that it had not been resolved. Mr. Robustelli asked if we had a contract with the lab. Ms. McKnight indicated the Lab contract is with the Illinois Department of Public Health. Mr. Robustelli asked about getting the average response time and then if individuals do not get response by then, they call the Health Department, so at the very least the Health Department knows who is still waiting.

Mr. Robustelli said one of the objectives Ms. McKnight had listed was setting strategies to target a multi facilitated communication at high risk populations and asked for an update. Ms. McKnight stated they are working on a plan to reach out and let people know that low risk is not no risk. Mr. Robustelli stated he hoped they could go from planning to execution quickly to help prevent the spread of the virus. Ms. Metsker stated she would like to see status and outcomes listed on the report in the future and provided an example. Ms. Metsker asked if there were organizations that provide translation assistance or if they were hiring locally. Ms. McKnight indicated they have a couple of companies they utilize on a regular basis but also reaching out for bilingual contact tracers. Ms. Metsker suggested St. Mary’s church and Western Avenue Community Center. Ms. Metsker asked about status of training individuals to assist with contact tracing. Ms. McKnight stated they have 3 internal individuals trained and are starting interviews for temporary contact tracers. Ms. Metsker asked if this time frame needed to be expanded as it indicated would be complete by June 30. Ms. Schafer pointed out that the section on personnel training was complete as she had trained 3 internal staff members and the section on hiring was separate. Ms. McKnight indicated she would make sure status was added and updated. Ms. Metsker thanked her for the information.

Ms. Schafer asked if the Health Department gets information as to when positive people were tested. Ms. McKnight indicated they do. Mr. Martin also provided example of delayed response and asked about turn-around time frame. Ms. McKnight indicated turn around should be 4-7 days. Mr. Robustelli indicated it would be good for people to know that when we say there are new cases, those tests were from several days ago. Ms. McKnight agreed and stated that is why when someone gets tested, they are encouraged to treat themselves as if they do have COVID. Mr. Gordon asked if the Health Department had been in touch with Illinois State University about return of students. Ms. McKnight confirmed they have been in touch with the Universities. She stated they have seen an increase in the 20-year-old numbers, so it is a concern. Ms. Schafer asked about involvement with K-12 and daycares. Ms. McKnight confirmed they have been in touch with different school districts and are working to assist. Ms. Schafer asked if testing at Chestnut was only for their current patients in the FQHC and wondered if this would be expanding to others. Ms. McKnight indicate this would be mobile testing by the Health Department and Chestnut. Ms. Schafer asked who would pay for tests. Ms. McKnight indicated that if the Health Department collects then it would be paid for out of our grant. Mr. Robustelli stated the CDC has left decisions about precautions and guidance to local and state health departments and we have three flights a day that come in from areas with increased case numbers. He asked if the Health Department and Board of health have talked about possible guidance issued to those traveling and possible stay at home recommendation or testing recommendation. Ms. McKnight stated her message to the media for the last week has been on out of state travel especially to those areas that are having increases right now and reminding people to know what is happening where they are going and to get tested upon return. Mr. Robustelli stated there are vague recommendations out there by CDC and State and he felt we need to make sure our recommendations are specific. Chairman Schafer asked if there were any further questions or comments, hearing none, she thanked her.

Chairman Schafer presented on behalf of the McLean County Nursing Home a request for approval of an agreement between the County of McLean and Medline Industries, LLC for medical supplies at the McLean County Nursing Home.

Motion by Chung/Robustelli to recommend approval of an agreement between the County of McLean and Medline Industries, LLC for medical supplies at the McLean County Nursing Home.

Motion Carried.

Chairman Schafer presented on behalf of the McLean County Nursing Home a request for approval of a Master Staffing Agreement between County of McLean and GrapeTree Medical Staffing, LLC. Ms. Taylor indicated the next three agenda items were agreements with nursing staffing agencies for RN, LPN, CNA at the nursing home. She stated overall goal is to remove agency staffing but a review indicated there are some weekend and night shifts that are hard to fill, so they felt that if they expanded the footprint with these different agencies, they would have the ability to make most cost effective choice. Ms. Metsker asked how these were vetted. Ms. Taylor indicated that Ms. Diane Cochran the Director of Nursing vetted them from her experience with Staffing Agencies in the area. Ms. Schafer asked if all three were new to us. Ms. Taylor confirmed all three would be new. Ms. Chung asked the difference between the three companies. Ms. Taylor indicated all three are similar and provides us with a greater pool of nursing staff to choose from. Ms. Metsker asked her to confirm if each one specializes in areas of nursing. Ms. Taylor stated they do not specialize, for example this just provides us with more RN’s to choose from because all three agencies have RN’s on staff.

Motion by Chung/Gordon to recommend approval of a Master Staffing Agreement between County of McLean and GrapeTree Medical Staffing, LLC

Motion Carried.

Chairman Schafer presented on behalf of the McLean County Nursing Home a request for approval of a Staffing Agreement with Nursing PRN. Mr. Gordon stated that the phrase “as available basis” under scope of service concerned him in case they needed someone right away. Ms. Taylor stated that was why they wanted to enter into all three agreements so if one agency does not have availability there are other agencies to turn to. Mr. Gordon asked her to confirm they want to make contracts unnecessary. Ms. Taylor indicated contracts are a backup plan as the goal is to have full staff at the Nursing Home which saves us the cost of agency staff. She stated these are on an as needed basis so if we do not contact them for services we are not in breach of contract. Ms. Metsker asked if all of these have an automatic renewal. Ms. Taylor indicated she would have to review contracts to confirm. Ms. Metsker asked her to confirm no up-front fees. Ms. Taylor confirmed.

Motion by Robustelli/Chung to recommend approval of a Staffing Agreement with Nursing PRN.

Motion Carried.

Chairman Schafer presented on behalf of the McLean County Nursing Home a request for approval of a Staffing Agreement with All American Healthcare. Ms. Schafer asked if our contracts with other agencies are still valid. Ms. Taylor indicated we currently have two contracts in place.

Motion by Gordon/Robustelli to recommend approval of a Staffing Agreement with All American Healthcare.

Motion Carried.

Ms. Cassy Taylor and Ms. Terri Edens presented the Nursing Home monthly general report. Ms. Taylor indicated she made sure the figures in this report matched the figures provided in the finance reports from the Treasurer. Ms. Chung said she was concerned about the census and asked if other nursing homes were experiencing low census numbers. Ms. Edens confirmed happening in all nursing homes and rehab facilities. She stated she is working with admission team to get some more marketing strategies in place. Mr. Gordon stated seeing increased revenues and decreased expenses and wondered if that was because of the decreased census. Ms. Metsker stated she wondered if increased revenues were also due to the efforts made regarding the account receivables and stated she appreciated the comment about working on marketing to encourage people to select the County nursing home. Ms. Schafer stated she was pleased there were no positive COVID tests for staff and residents. Ms. Metsker stated recent audit was very positive and asked Ms. Edens to thank the staff for their efforts. Ms. Edens indicated she would. Ms. Chung asked who was testing the residents. Ms. Edens stated Quest comes in to test the residents. Ms. Chung asked if staff are going to the community-based site. Ms. Edens confirmed. Chairman Schafer asked if there were any further questions; hearing none, she thanked Ms. Taylor and Ms. Edens for the information.

Chairman Schafer indicated that Ms. Michelle Welch of the Adult Detention Facility was not present but Mr. Jason Tabb of the Juvenile Detention Facility was present. Ms. Schafer asked Mr. Tabb about the increased contractual therapist hours in May at the JDC. Mr. Tabb indicated they shut down for a while and were doing phone consultations but now therapist has been allowed to come in, so the hours and number of contacts have gone up. Chairman Schafer asked if there were any further questions; hearing none, she thanked him.

Ms. Camille Rodriguez, County Administrator presented her recent employment activities report. Chairman Schafer asked if there were any questions, hearing none she thanked her.

Chairman Schafer reminded members that the Board of Health meeting would be on Wednesday at 5:30 and would be in person. Mr. Robustelli stated he appreciated her efforts with the Board of Health and hoped clarification on best practices would be brought up at the Board of Health meeting as well as ways to get that information out to the public.

Chairman Schafer confirmed there was no other business and that the next meeting would be August 3, 2020 at 4:30 p.m.

Chairman Schafer then presented for approval the Nursing Home bills with a prepaid total $207,632.84.

Motion by Chung/Robustelli to approve prepaid bills for the Nursing Home as presented.

Motion carried.

Chairman Schafer presented for approval bills for Jail Medical and JDC Medical with a prepaid total of $102,305.25.

Motion by Robustelli/Gordon to approve prepaid bills for Jail Medical and JDC Medical as presented.

Motion carried.

Chairman Schafer presented the bills for the Developmental Disability Board with a prepaid total of $58,160.12.

Motion by Metsker/Chung to approve prepaid bills for the Developmental Disability Board as presented.

Motion carried.

Chairman Schafer presented for approval bills for the Board of Health with a prepaid total of $.177,831.31

Motion by Gordon/Chung to approve prepaid bills for the Board of Health as presented.

Motion carried.

Chairman Schafer asked if there was any additional business to come before the Committee; hearing nothing, she adjourned the meeting at 5:32 p.m.

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