Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission Human Rights Authority Peoria Region met Sept. 20.
Here are the minutes provided by the commission:
The regular stated meeting of the Peoria Regional Human Rights Authority (HRA) was called to order at 10:06am Wednesday, September 20, 2023, at the Chillicothe Public Library 430 N. Bradley Chillicothe, Il.
ROLL CALL
Present: Tracy Wright, Meri Tucker, Mandy Swartzendruber, Heather Choi, Shannon Dault, Connie Hardy and Rod Joos
Absent: Jim Runyon
Staff: Erin Nowlan
Guests: None
Tracy Wright read the confidentiality statement: Illinois law protects the privacy of those persons with disabilities on whose behalf the Human Rights Authority conducts investigations. The Authority welcomes concerned citizens wishing to present information. We remind all citizens and guests that public reference to any name, description, or other information, which would identify an eligible person or the family without consent, is strictly prohibited.
Introductions were made.
The motion was made by Mandy Swartzendruber to enter closed session at 10:30am am pursuant to Section 120/2 (c) (4) and (10) of the Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 20), Section 3955/10 of the Guardianship and Advocacy Act (20 ILCS 3955) and Section 110/5 of the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act (740 ILCS 110); the motion was seconded by Meri Tucker and carried. The purpose of the closed session was to discuss confidential aspects of cases with guests attending representing their agency. Board returned to Open Session at 11:32am.
MINUTES
Motion to approve May 17, 2023 open meeting minutes made by Mandy Swartzendruber, seconded by Meri Tucker.
Motion to approve and keep confidential January 25, 2023, March 16, 2023 and May 17, 2023 made by Meri Tucker. Seconded by Rod Joos.
Ratifications:
23-090-9016 - Behavioral Health Unit- Improper use of psychotropic medication, the board members present at July meeting voted to close the case due to not receiving a release. Motion made by Jim Runyon and seconded by Shannon Dault. Outside votes were taken from Chairperson Tracy Wright and board member Meri Tucker. Motion to approve July 26, 2023 meeting ratification made by Meri Tucker, seconded by Rod Joos. Case closed.
23-090-9019 – Behavioral Health Unit- Failure to provide adequate and humane care, Motion to open emergency case made by Jim Runyon and seconded by Heather Choi. Outside votes were taken from Chairperson Tracy Wright and board member Meri Tucker. Motion to ratify action taken July 26, 2023 meeting made by Mandy Swartzendruber, seconded by Shannon Dault.
23-090-9007 – Peoria Housing Authority - Motion to approve the draft report and send to the provider made by Jim Runyon and seconded by Shannon Dault. Outside votes were taken from Chairperson Tracy Wright and Meri Tucker. Motion to ratify action taken at July 26, 2023 meeting made by Meri Tucker, seconded by Rod Joos. Connie Hardy abstains.
21-090-9022 - Carle BroMenn Hospital –Motion to close case with a correction to 2 typos in report made by Shannon Dault and seconded by Jim Runyon. Board members voted in favor. Outside votes were taken from Chairperson Tracy Wright and board member Meri Tucker. Motion to ratify action taken at July 26, 2023 meeting made by Rod Joos, seconded by Shannon Dault. Connie Hardy abstains.
21-090-9024 - Peoria County Jail - Case was unsubstantiated. Motion to close case and make the report public made by Jim Runyon. Seconded by Shannon Dault. Board members voted in favor. Outside votes were taken from Chairperson Tracy Wright and board member Meri Tucker. Motion to ratify action taken July 26, 2023 meeting made by Meri Tucker, seconded by Rod Joos.
22-090-9003 - Dunlap School District –Motion to close case and make the report public made by Shannon Dault. Seconded by Heather Choi. Board members voted in favor of case closure. Outside votes were taken from Chairperson Tracy Wright and board member Meri Tucker. Motion to ratify action taken at July 26, 2023 meeting made by Mandy Swartzendruber. Seconded by Shannon Dault.
22-090-9005 - Sharon Healthcare Woods -Motion to table case closure made by Jim Runyon and seconded by Shannon Dault. Board members in attendance voted in favor of tabling case closure. Outside votes were taken from Chairperson Tracy Wright and board member Meri Tucker. Motion to ratify action taken at July 26, 2023 meeting made by Heather Choi. Seconded by Mandy Swartzendruber.
23-090-9003 - McLean County Jail Motion to table case closure made by Heather Choi. Seconded by Jim Runyon. Board members in attendance voted in favor of tabling case closure. Outside votes were taken from Chairperson Tracy Wright and board member Meri Tucker. Motion to ratify action taken at July 26, 2023 meeting made by Mandy Swartzendruber. Seconded by Rod Joos.
New Cases:
24-090-9001- Supported Living Arrangement - Inadequate admission process, a service recipient with a cognitive disability due to a traumatic brain injury had their supported housing application denied due to being a registered sex offender. Motion to open case made by Mandy Swartzendruber. Seconded by Rod Joos. Case open.
24-090-9002 - Early Childhood Intervention Program - the complaint alleges that the school is waitlisting children who require early intervention services and have individualized education plans in place. Currently over 100 students do not have access to school some of those students are entitled to special education services that they require for educational success. Motion to open case for policy review made by Meri Tucker. Seconded by Shannon Dault. Case open.
24-90-9003 - Behavioral Health Unit: (1) Inadequate treatment, the complaint alleges a patient was transferred from a local hospital for behavioral health admission and have no recollection of this process. When they admitted to the floor, they were wearing the wrong patient bracelet, did not receive the appropriate involuntary admission paperwork, were yelled at by staff, after admission, when the fire alarm was activated. Allegedly, the patient also received the wrong involuntary admission paperwork at discharge. (2) Patient rights violation, occurred when a patient received unknown medications resulting in bruising to their upper left arm, medication was given without informed consent or receiving a rights restriction notice and possibly in a physical restraint during their admission. (3) Inhumane care, complaint alleges a patient uses an interstim medical device used to treat a medical condition associated with bladder control. Nursing staff refused to give the remote to the patient, which requires skin to skin contact when used, to control the intensity of this device when using the restroom. The patient was hospitalized for behavioral health care for approximately 21 days. This inhumane care resulted in 17 instances of incontinence and staff blamed the patient for the situation and did not offer assistance to address hygiene needs when this happened. These events occurred on third shift (15 times) and second shift (2 times). (4) Failure to provide timely medical care, the complaint alleges, prior to admission for behavioral health care a patient had experienced a fall that resulted in injury. This injury was not properly diagnosed until the final week of your inpatient hospitalization. It was discovered that a patient had a fracture of their L5 vertebrae discovered after a CT scan was ordered and completed. The treatment team was delayed in ordering a CT scan to address this concern. (5) Failure to complete inventory of personal items, complaint alleges that due to staff not completing an inventory of personal belongings when transferred/admitted to the behavioral health unit, this resulted in the loss of personal items, particularly a wedding ring and car keys which continue to be missing. Motion to open case made by Mandy Swartzendruber. Seconded by Connie Hardy. Case open.
Draft Report:
22-090-9006 Carle (UnityPoint) Healthcare Methodist/Proctor- Motion to approve draft report and send to provider made by Meri Tucker. Seconded by Rod Joos. Motion passes.
23-090-9011 - OSF Healthcare - Motion to approve draft report and send to provider made by Rod Joos. Seconded by Shannon Dault. Motion passes.
Case Closures:
22-090-9005- Sharon Healthcare Woods- Motion to table case closure second response made by Meri Tucker. Seconded by Rod Joos.
23-090-9003 - McLean County Jail Motion to table case closure pending second response made by Shannon Dault. Seconded by Rod Joos. Motion passes.
23-090-9007 - Peoria Housing Authority - Motion to close case and make report public made by Mandy Swartzendruber. Seconded by Connie Hardy. Case closed.
Other Business:
21-090-9024 - Peoria County Jail - motion to rescind public posting of report made by Meri Tucker. Seconded by Rod Joos.
Motion made by Mandy Swartzendruber to appoint/continue Tracy Wright as Chairperson, appoint Rod Joos as Vice-Chairperson, and Shannon Dault as Secretary. Seconded by Shannon Dault.
Reviewed Dunlap School District media report/article. Reviewed Peoria Public Schools Early Childhood Intervention program article.
ADJOURNMENT
Tracy Wright adjourned the meeting at 11:45am
https://gac.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/gac/press/documents/minutes/2023/Peoria09202023Minutes.pdf
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