Prairie State Wire

Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission Human Rights Authority Egyptian Region met March 16.

Here are the minutes provided by the commission:

The regular meeting of the Human Rights Authority (HRA) was held at Las Maria’s Restaurant meeting room, 18009 State Highway 37, Karnak, IL. The meeting was called to order at 5:15 p.m. Vice Chairperson, Beverly Warshawsky, read the confidentiality statement. A quorum was present.

Members Present: Clarence Russell, Kathy Rambeau, Beverly Warshawsky, Blair Anderson (in person) and Rebecca Lewey (via WebEx)

Members Absent: Paul Jones and Bonnie Henry

Staff Present: Kim Conway

Guests: None

Minutes: Meeting minutes for November 2022 and January 2023 were reviewed and no changes were made. Kathy Rambeau made a motion to approve the minutes, Blair Anderson seconded, and it carried.

Communications: Kim Conway shared that Sue Barfield resigned her position on the board. Therefore, the board still has 2 community member spots open. The Choate restructuring for the units that house individuals with developmental disabilities was discussed.

Other New Business: None

Ratifications: The following actions were agreed upon unanimously by those present at the January 19, 2023 meeting; outside votes were taken from Rebecca Lewey and Blair Anderson following the January meeting. The actions were ratified at the March meeting.

Emergency Case Openings:

23-110-9009 CILA

23-110-9010 CILA

23-110-9011 State Operated Facility

23-110-9012 CILA

23-110-9013 State Operated Developmental Center

Clarence Russell made a motion to ratify emergency case openings, Blair Anderson seconded, and it carried.

Draft Report:

22-110-9018 Choate Mental Health - Kathy Rambeau made a motion to ratify approval of the draft report of findings, Blair Anderson seconded, and it carried.

Closures:

22-110-9001 Choate Mental Health

21-110-9021 Chester Mental Health

22-110-9007 Choate Mental Health

22-110-9011 Choate Mental Health

22-110-9019 Choate Mental Health

Blair Anderson made a motion to ratify case closures and making the reports part of the public record. Clarence Russell seconded, and it carried.

21-110-9011 TDL Group - Blair Anderson made a motion to ratify tabling case closure to request information on community outings. Clarence Russell seconded, and it carried.

22-110-9008 Chester Mental Health - Blair Anderson made a motion to ratify tabling case closure to allow an extension of time to respond to the report of findings. Clarence Russell seconded, and it carried.

22-110-9010 Choate Mental Health - Blair Anderson made a motion to ratify tabling case closure to allow time for staff re-training records to be received. Clarence Russell seconded, and it carried.

23-110-9003 Choate Developmental Center - Blair Anderson made a motion to ratify tabling case closure to continue negotiations. Clarence Russell seconded, and it carried.

New Complaints: 23-110-9014 Community Hospital – alleges discrimination based on disability. Once a primary care physician learned of the patient’s diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) the physician did not provide standard of care and instead dismissed concerns as being unnecessary worry on the patient’s part and did not draw labwork or run any tests to rule out illness. When the patient went to another physician who ran labs, the patient was referred to oncology. Releases were sent to patient but not yet received. Kathy Rambeau made a motion to table case opening to allow time for a release of information to be received. Clarence Russell seconded, and it carried.

Unfinished Business: Pursuant to the Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(4) and HRA regulations (59 Ill. Admin. Code 310.80 (c), the HRA voted to enter closed session. Clarence Russell made a motion to enter closed session at 5:30 p.m. Blair Anderson seconded, and it carried.

Case progress was reviewed for 22-110-9003, 22-110-9004, 22-110-9005, 22-110-9006, 22- 110-9009, 22-110-9015, 22-110-9020, 22-110-9021, 23-110-9001, 23-110-9002, 23-110-9006, 23-110-9007, 23-110-9008, 23-110-9009, 23-110-9011, 23-110-9012 and 23-110-9013. Draft reports were reviewed for 21-110-9018, 21-110-9019, 22-110-9002, 22-110-9022 and 23-110- 9010. Case closures were considered for 21-110-9011, 22-110-9008, 22-110-9010, 22-110- 9018 & 23-110-9003.

Case Progress Reports:

1. 22-110-9003 Chester Mental Health – alleges inadequate treatment relating to medication and fitness restoration. Chart was reviewed in February. Need to interview nurse and social worker. The case is still under investigation.

2. 22-110-9004 Chester Mental Health – alleges inadequate treatment regarding dietary issues. Chart was reviewed in February. Need to interview nurse. The case is still under investigation.

3. 22-110-9005 Chester Mental Health – alleges inadequate treatment relating to medication. Chart was reviewed in February. Need to interview social worker and nurse. The case is still under investigation.

4. 22-110-9006 Chester Mental Health – alleges a patient was petitioned for involuntary medication without justification. Chart was reviewed in February. Need to interview social worker, nurse and maybe psychiatrist. The case is still under investigation.

5. 22-110-9009 Trade Industries – alleges inappropriate restriction of rights for cell phone paid for by recipient. The case is ready for report.

6. 22-110-9015 Chester Mental Health – alleges inappropriate treatment planning relating to court enforced medication. Chart reviewed in February. Need to interview nurse and social worker. The case is still under investigation.

7. 22-110-9020 Choate Mental Health – alleges inadequate treatment and inappropriate restriction on mail. The case is ready for report.

8. 22-110-9021 Chester Mental Health – alleges a recipient was not allowed to vote. Alleges staff did not give a 5-day discharge form when requested. Chart reviewed in February. Need to interview therapist. The case is still under investigation.

9. 23-110-9001 Chester Mental Health - alleges a recipient is not being served in the least restrictive environment. Alleges lack of guardian involvement by not notifying of treatment meetings and not providing requested information and alleges inadequate care and treatment for diabetes due to glucose levels not being checked, weight loss and overmedication. Chart was reviewed in February. Need to interview social worker and possibly security staff. The case is still under investigation.

10. 23-110-9002 Chester Mental Health – alleges a recipient is not being served in the least restrictive environment and inadequate care and treatment due to overmedication and inadequate foot care. Chart reviewed in February. Need to interview social worker. The case is still under investigation.

11. 23-110-9006 Choate Mental Health – alleges a recipient was told he could sign out and would be discharged. Then was told he has to go to a state operated developmental facility prior to going into a CILA program. Site visit was held in January. The case is ready for report.

12. 23-110-9007 Chester Mental Health – alleges a recipient is not being served in the least restrictive environment. Recipient has been at the facility 2½ years and on the transfer list for 2 years. No behavioral reports and no restraints. The facility attempted to send to a less restrictive state operated mental health facility who refused to admit the recipient, saying they are keeping the open bed for emergency placements. The Chart was reviewed in February. Need to interview the transfer coordinator and social worker. The case is still under investigation.

13. 23-110-9008 Marion County Horizon - alleges the CILA staff is not communicating with a guardian by not giving requested information on medication, dietary and an abuse allegation. The site visit was completed, and information requested has been received. The case is ready for report.

14. 23-110-9009 Sparta Terrace – alleges a recipient with dual diagnosis was sent to the emergency department for aggression. When the hospital was ready to discharge, the home would not take the recipient back. The site visit is scheduled for April. The case is still under investigation.

15. 23-110-9011 Choate Mental Health – alleges inadequate treatment planning. A recipient was transferred to a local hospital for medical treatment. Once ready for discharge, the facility allegedly did not want to take the recipient back due to aggression. The site visit needs to be scheduled. The case is under investigation.

16. 23-110-9012 Bliss Haven CILA – alleges in adequate treatment planning. Recipients were sent to jail for behavioral reason but allegedly the behavior intervention plan was not being followed. The site visit is scheduled for April. The case is still under investigation.

17. 23-110-9013 Choate Developmental Center – alleges inappropriate telephone restriction. The site visit needs to be scheduled. The case is under investigation.

Draft Reports:

1. 21-110-9018 Coleman Tri County – alleges the proper process set by the Department of Human Services for returning to day services was not followed. The board reviewed the draft report and made no changes. Blair Anderson made a motion to approve the draft report as stated, Clarence Russell seconded, and it carried.

2. 21-110-9019 Southeastern Residential Alternatives CILA – alleges lack of guardian involvement and inadequate care and treatment planning. The board reviewed the draft report and made no changes. Clarence Russell made a motion to approve the draft report as stated, Blair Anderson seconded, and it carried.

3. 22-110-9002 Chester Mental Health – alleges inappropriate placement of individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and inadequate treatment planning. The board reviewed the draft report and made no changes. Blair Anderson made a motion to approve the draft report as stated, Clarence Russell seconded and it carried.

4. 22-110-9022 Choate Developmental Center – alleges inadequate treatment planning. The board reviewed the draft report and made no changes. Kathy Rambeau made a motion to approve the draft report as stated, Clarence Russell seconded, and it carried.

5. 23-110-9010 Arrowleaf CILA – alleges inadequate treatment planning. The board reviewed the draft report and made no changes. Clarence Russell made a motion to approve the report as stated pending final review by the HRA Director, Blair Anderson seconded, and it carried.

Closures:

1. 21-110-9011 TDL Group Inc. – alleges inadequate treatment planning due to recipients not being allowed to return to day services once reopened post Covid-19 mitigations. The case closure was tabled in January and additional information was requested. The board reviewed the additional response and requested further information. Clarence Russell made a motion to table case closure to continue negotiations, Blair Anderson seconded, and it carried.

2. 22-110-9008 Chester Mental Health – alleges inadequate treatment planning due to rehab classes being closed abruptly with on unit only programs being provided. The board reviewed the response and had no additional concerns. Blair Anderson made a motion to close the case and make the report part of the public record. Clarence Russell seconded, and it carried.

3. 22-110-9010 Choate Mental Health – alleges lack of involvement in treatment planning relating to dietary restrictions and inadequate grievance process. The board reviewed the staff re-training records that were provided and had no additional concerns. Clarence Russell moved to close the case and make the report a part of the public record. Kathy Rambeau seconded, and it carried.

4. 22-110-9018 Choate Mental Health – alleges inadequate mental health treatment. The board reviewed the response to the report of findings and had no additional concerns. Clarence Russell made a motion to close the case and make the report a part of the public record. Blair Anderson seconded, and it carried.

5. 23-110-9003 Choate Developmental Center – alleges inadequate dental care. The board reviewed the additional information provided in response and requested information. Kathy Rambeau made a motion to table case closure to continue negotiations. Rebecca Lewey seconded, and it carried.

Other Unfinished Business: None

Clarence Russell made a motion to return to open session at 7:31 p.m. Blair Anderson seconded, and it carried.

Announcements from the Chair:

Next meeting is May 11, 2023 at Shawnee Community College Extension in Anna

Clarence Russell made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:35 p.m. Blair Anderson seconded, and it carried.

https://gac.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/gac/press/documents/minutes/2023/egypt03162023minutes.pdf