Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission Egyptian Regional Human Rights Authority met March 17.
Here are the minutes provided by the commission:
The regular meeting of the Human Rights Authority (HRA) was held at Brick House Grill, 308 S. Main St., Anna, IL. The meeting was called to order at 5:20 p.m. Board member, Beverly Warshawsky, read the confidentiality statement. A quorum was not present.
Members Present: Linda LaFoon, Beverly Warshawsky and Blair Anderson
Members Absent: Paul Jones, Ginger Harner, Ryan McAllister, Alma DeWitt & Rebecca Lewey
Staff Present: Kim Conway
Guests: None
Minutes: Meeting minutes for January were reviewed and no one had any changes. The executive minutes for July, September & November 2021 could not be reviewed, and the January minutes could not be approved due to not having a quorum for voting.
Communications: Kim Conway shared that identification cards for the Human Rights Authority could now be done for those still needing them. Blair, Beverly, Linda and Alma will all need cards made.
Other New Business: The board reviewed the board application for Clarence Russell. No one present objected to his appointment.
Ratifications: None
New Complaints:
Due to not having a quorum present, the following new complaints were considered for emergency case openings.
22-110-9012 State Operated Facility – alleges inadequate care due to staff reportedly failing to separate a recipient from a roommate after being physically attacked; reportedly, the same roommate had also stolen property from recipient previously. Another allegation is inappropriate restriction of rights for an alleged denial of telephone use to report the attack to police. The board members present agreed to open.
22-110-9013 State Operated Mental Health facility - alleges inadequate care for denying a recipient the use of a walker needed for deteriorating hips. Inadequate treatment planning due to staff reportedly not taking a recipient for a follow up or second opinion medical appointment
regarding the hip issue after one doctor said surgery was the only option, which the recipient does not want. The recipient would prefer to try cortisone shots first. The final allegation is the recipient is not being served in the least restrictive environment due to incorrect information being sent to prospective group homes. The board members present agreed to open.
22-110-9014 State Operated Facility – alleges lack of communication with a recipient’s guardian and inappropriate telephone restriction. The recipient allegedly was not allowed to call the guardian when requested and was told to consider the medical appointments that would be missed if suicide precautions were put into place. Also, the guardian was not notified of the recipient being placed on suicide precautions. The board members present agreed to open.
22-110-9015 State Operated Mental Health Facility – alleges inappropriate treatment planning. Reportedly, a petition for court enforced medication was filed even though recipient is not a threat to self or others and was not deteriorating. The board members present agreed to open.
22-110-9016 State Operated Mental Health Facility– alleges inadequate treatment due to lack of food being served. Alleges there is not enough food being served at the facility. There is no signed release of information. This case would be a policy review. The board members present agreed to pursue an informal resolution by requesting dietary requirements for the facility and meal plans.
Unfinished Business: There was no closed session due to not having a quorum present. The following summary of items were discussed in open session:
Case progress was reviewed for 21-110-9002, 21-110-9010, 21-110-9011, 21-110-9018, 21- 110-9019, 21-110-9020, 21-110-9021, 22-110-9001, 22-110-9002, 22-110-9003, 22-110-9004, 22-110-9005, 22-110-9006, 22-110-9007, 22-110-9008, 22-110-9009, 22-110-9010 & 22-110- 9011. Draft reports were reviewed for 19-110-9015, 20-110-9009, 20-110-9015, 21-110-9009 & 21-110-9015. Case closures were considered for 20-110-9003, 20-110-9006, 20-110-9011, 21-110-9001, 21-110-9005, 21-110-9012, 21-110-9013, 21-110-9014 & 21-110-9017.
Case Progress Reports:
21-110-9002 Choate Mental Health – Alleges inappropriate placement and inadequate treatment planning. The case is ready for report.
21-110-9010 Progressive Housing - Alleges inadequate treatment planning due to residents not returning to day services once COVID precautions were lifted by the State. Also alleges that in-home services are not occurring regularly, and outings are not occurring, including those that would be considered safer outings such as van rides, drive through restaurants or outdoor activities that could be socially distanced. The case is ready for report.
21-110-9011 TDL Group, Inc. - Alleges inadequate treatment planning due to residents not returning to day training services once COVID precautions were lifted by the State. Also alleges that in-home services are not occurring regularly, and outings are not occurring, including those that would be considered safer outings such as van rides, drive through restaurants or outdoor activities that could be socially distanced. The case is ready for report.
21-110-9018 Coleman Tri County – Alleges that the proper process set by DHS for returning to day services was not followed. An additional interview needs to be completed. The case is still under investigation.
21-110-9019 Southeastern Residential Alternatives – Alleges lack of guardian involvement and inadequate care and treatment planning due to several injuries and no treatment meetings being held for 2 years. An additional interview still needs to be completed. The case is still under investigation.
21-110-9020 Chester Mental Health – Alleges inhumane care due to lack of outside time. Additional documentation on outside access was received. The case is ready for report.
21-110-9021 Chester Mental Health – Alleges inadequate care and inappropriate restriction of rights. The case is ready for report.
22-110-9001 Choate Mental Health Facility - alleges inappropriate restriction of rights. Patients’ off unit activities and outside walks with staff are dependent on participation in programming. The case is ready for report.
22-110-9002 Chester Mental Health – alleges inappropriate placement of individuals with intellectual/developmental Disabilities and inadequate treatment planning. Releases and records for 8 patients who have intellectual disabilities were received and masked records were received for 1 other patient. Those need to be reviewed. The case is still under investigation.
22-110-9003 Chester Mental Health – alleges inadequate treatment. The facility reportedly wants a medication increase despite no behavioral reason. There was concern that no treatment was occurring to receive fitness for hearing. Records were received and need to be reviewed. The case is still under investigation.
22-110-9004 Chester Mental Health – alleges inadequate treatment due to a patient having dietary issues due to Chron’s disease. The release was received, and records were received and need to be reviewed. The case is still under investigation.
22-110-9005 Chester Mental Health - alleges inadequate treatment. Patient sounds overly medicated during telephone calls. The case was opened at the July meeting, pending receipt of a release of information, which was not received until January. Records were received and need to be reviewed. The case is under investigation
22-110-9006 Chester Mental Health – alleges inappropriate treatment due to a patient receiving a petition for involuntary medication without justification. The patient is reportedly compliant with medication and has had no incidents requiring restraint since admission approximately 5 months ago. Additional records were received and need to be reviewed. The case is under investigation.
22-110-9007 Choate Mental Health – alleges lack of privacy during visitation and inappropriate restriction of rights regarding pass levels. The site visit was completed. The case is under investigation.
22-110-9008 Chester Mental Health – alleges inadequate treatment planning due to education/rehabilitation classes being closed without good reason. The site visit was completed and records from the rehabilitation department have been received. Still waiting for requested records regarding staffing levels. The case is still under investigation.
22-110-9009 Trade Industries, Inc. – alleges inappropriate restriction of rights involving cellular phone use, outings/activities, and visitation. Site visit was completed. Additional information needs to be obtained. The case is still under investigation.
22-110-9010 Choate Mental Health– alleges lack of involvement in treatment planning (dietary) and inadequate grievance process. The site visit needs to be rescheduled as it was cancelled due to a staff person not available on originally scheduled date.
22-110-9011 Choate Mental Health – alleges inappropriate administration of emergency medication. The site visit needs to be rescheduled as it was cancelled due to a staff person not available on originally scheduled date.
Draft Reports:
19-110-9015 Choate Developmental Center – Alleges a recipient is not being served in the least restrictive environment. A CILA home had expressed interest in serving the recipient but did so before his recent diagnosis with a medical condition that must be addressed before pursuing further CILA placement. The final report was not finished for this meeting. All board members present were in agreement to table the draft report review until May’s meeting. Outside votes were taken from Chairperson, Paul Jones and board member Rebecca Lewey to table the draft report review.
20-110-9009 Choate Mental Health – Alleges a recipient is not being allowed time to finish his meals and that he was denied access to his trust fund money. The board tabled draft report review in November and again in January awaiting a policy revision regarding trust fund access. The revisions are still not completed. The board reviewed the draft report as stated and board members present agreed to proceed with sending the report as is and if something in the new policy needs to be addressed, they will do so during the negotiation process. Outside votes were obtained from Chairperson, Paul Jones and board member Rebecca Lewey to proceed with sending the report as is.
20-110-9015 Choate Developmental Center – Alleges lack of guardian communication and that the facility is not allowing telephone communication. There are also concerns that the recipient may not be in the least restrictive environment. The draft report was reviewed and all board members present agreed to approve the draft report pending final review from the HRA Director. Outside votes were obtained from Chairperson Paul Jones and board member, Rebecca Lewey to approve the report pending final review.
21-110-9009 Southeastern Residential Alternatives - Alleges inadequate treatment planning due to residents not returning to day services once COVID precautions were lifted by the State. Also alleges that in-home services are not occurring consistently, and outings are not occurring. The draft report was reviewed. The board discussed how recipients living in a CILA home should not be denied the same rights as those in the community as per the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code and that any physician notes for at home services should be reviewed at least annually. All board members present agreed to approve the report as stated. Outside votes were obtained from Chairperson, Paul Jones and board member, Rebecca Lewey to approve the report as stated.
21-110-9015 Union County Housing – Alleges inadequate accessibility. The board reviewed the draft report and had no changes. The board members present agreed to approve the draft report. Outside votes to approve the draft report were obtained from Chairperson, Paul Jones and board member, Rebecca Lewey.
Closures:
20-110-9003 Chester Mental Health - Alleges inadequate treatment. The facility requested an extension of time to respond to the report of findings. The board discussed that this was the second request for extension of time to respond to the draft report which was originally sent to the facility in November. After discussion, the board members present agreed to one final extension. Outside votes were obtained from Chairperson, Paul Jones and board member, Rebecca Lewey to grant one final extension.
20-110-9006 Choate Mental Health – Alleges inadequate admission process. The board members present reviewed the training records that were received and had no objections to closing the case and making the findings and response part of the public record. Outside votes approving closure were obtained from Chairperson, Paul Jones and board member, Rebecca Lewey.
20-110-9011 Chester Mental Health – Alleges inadequate medical treatment. The facility requested an extension of time to respond to the report of findings. The board discussed that this was the second request for extension of time to respond to the draft report which was originally sent to the facility in November. After discussion, the board members present agreed to one final extension. Outside votes were obtained from Chairperson, Paul Jones and board member, Rebecca Lewey to grant one final extension.
21-110-9001 Chester Mental Health – Alleges inadequate treatment due to recipient’s privileging level being reduced after a change in therapist. The facility requested an extension of time to respond to the report of findings. All board members present agreed to grant a 30- day extension of time to respond. Outside votes to grant an extension of time to respond were obtained by Chairperson, Paul Jones and board member, Rebecca Lewey.
21-110-9005 Chamness Care – No response was required, and one was not received. Linda LaFoon and Beverly Warshawsky agreed to close the case and make the findings a part of the public record. It was also agreed to include information regarding the Power of Attorney and Healthcare Surrogate Act in the closure letter to the hospital. Blair Anderson did not vote due to conflict of interest. Outside votes to close the case and include information in the closure letter were obtained by Chairperson, Paul Jones and board member, Rebecca Lewey.
21-110-9012 Centerstone – Alleges inadequate treatment. The board reviewed the response and agreed that the aftercare issue was addressed in the response. All board members present agreed to close the case and make the findings part of the public records. Outside votes to close the case were obtained from Chairperson, Paul Jones and board member Rebecca Lewey.
21-110-9013 Choate Developmental Center – alleges inhumane treatment by having locked restrooms on the units. The board reviewed the facility’s response of disagreement of findings. The board discussed further negotiations due to other more restrictive facilities not having locked restrooms. After discussion, it was agreed by all present to close the case and make the findings and response part of the public record. Outside votes to close were obtained by Chairperson, Paul Jones and board member, Rebecca Lewey.
21-110-9014 Chester Medical Clinic – Alleges inappropriate denial of mental health services due to an outstanding medical bill. The board reviewed the response from the facility and had no additional concerns. All board members present agreed to close the case and make the findings and response part of the public record. Outside votes to close were obtained by Chairperson, Paul Jones and board member, Rebecca Lewey.
21-110-9017 Choate Developmental Center – Alleges inappropriate restriction on telephone communications, inadequate treatment and treatment planning and lack of guardian involvement. The board reviewed the response and had no additional concerns. All board members present agreed to close the case and make the findings and response part of the public record. Outside votes to close were obtained by Chairperson, Paul Jones and board member, Rebecca Lewey.
Other Unfinished Business: None
The next meeting is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. on May 19, 2022 in Carbondale The meeting concluded at 7:55 p.m.
https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/gac/Press/Documents/minutes/2022/31722MinutesEgypt.pdf
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