Quincy veterans’ home news roundup
Friday, Jan 5, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Wut?…
They knew they had an outbreak. They didn’t inform the residents and their families, so nobody could take precautions. That’s a problem. A real problem. How about promising never to do that again to show you’ve learned something?
* So, this sounds bogus…
…Adding… Timeline…
* WBEZ…
The water system at a state-run veterans’ home in Quincy where 13 people have died of Legionnaires’ disease may never be fully cleansed of the bacteria that causes the sometimes fatal illness, and more cases could be inevitable, federal public health authorities warned Thursday.
In a new report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encouraged the state to undertake a series of new precautions aimed at curtailing the threat of more Legionnaires’ cases at the 132-year-old Illinois Veterans Home, but conceded none of its recommendations represent an ironclad safeguard for the facility’s nearly 400 residents.
“While adoption of these recommendations should further reduce risk, the possibility of future cases of disease associated with the [Quincy veterans’ home] cannot be eliminated,” the CDC said in a report released by Illinois public health authorities.
Nobody can ever guarantee that anywhere. The issue is about making sure that a very vulnerable population is treated as quickly as possible. That’s the real lesson here. According to the original WBEZ report, residents with obvious symptoms (including high fevers) were not immediately tested for Legionnaires’ and were therefore given aspirin instead of antibiotics.
The report is here.
* Last month, Sen. Durbin demanded that the Quincy facility be closed. He’s since changed his tune…
* Meanwhile…
* Related…
* Quincy mayor vows support of veterans’ home: “We know the state is not hiding from this, but is doing everything they can to stop further outbreaks,” Moore continued. “The Quincy Veterans’ Home has over 131 years of experience in caring for our veterans, providing them with 210 acres in a park-like setting to live out their days with the respect and dignity they deserve. Over 500 employees dedicate their lives to taking care of our veterans and have enormous pride in the quality of care they deliver. Our committee’s goal is to work with the Quincy Veterans’ Home to tell their story, to support the staff who provide quality care to the veterans who call this their home.“
* Senator Durbin Visits Veterans’ Home After Legionnaires’ Outbreaks
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 2:16 pm:
The issue is governing and learning and growing from lessons
Rauner told the Trib his wants and goals are to destroy labor. The tragedy is the biproduct of not having the want to govern.
It’s infuriating
- Anon221 - Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 2:27 pm:
Wonder if Shah will actually show up at the hearing in the 9th or send some poor underling to take the heat.
- Politix - Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 2:41 pm:
LOL - MRE for the win.
- Politix - Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 3:12 pm:
This reminds me of Ryan’s trucking scandal or Quinn’s NRI.
- Langhornea - Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 3:30 pm:
“We determined that the risk here of going up too early and providing misinformation could cause panic or dilute our voice later.”
Seriously? Coming clean could…”dilute our voice later.”?
Months later, thats the best they can come up with?
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 3:51 pm:
===Months later, thats the best they can come up with?===
Years later. They’ve chosen exactly the wrong hill to die on. Instead of admitting they should’ve come clean, they’re standing by their cover-up and that’s always what gets ya.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 4:00 pm:
–”We determined that the risk here of going up too early and providing misinformation could cause panic or dilute our voice later.” - -
I have no idea what “dilute our voice later” means. In any context. It’s complete gibberish.
But who were they expecting to “panic” if residents and their families were notified? How would that “panic” manifest itself? I don’t know what that means, either.
–“Before we go public we have to get our facts straight.”–
That took six days? How? Why? I don’t understand.
If Shah’s comments were supposed to be reassuring that these guys have a handle on things, I’d like to disabuse him of that notion.
- Red Rider - Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 4:07 pm:
Why do we need a US senator to do the republican state governors job.
- DuPage Bard - Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 4:47 pm:
Any chance that this quote from Shah won’t be used by every single candidate for Gov?
Jeanne and JB seem to have the best hits on all this I’m guessing this will play great into their wheelhouse of “I am not in charge”/Vets died.
- Michelle Flaherty - Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 4:56 pm:
“We determined that the risk here of going up too early and providing misinformation could cause panic or dilute our voice later.”
And how’s that working out for you and, more importantly, the veterans and their family at Quincy?
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 4:59 pm:
===more importantly, the veterans===
Some paid the ultimate price for that.
- Swift - Friday, Jan 5, 18 @ 5:01 pm:
Not sure of the concern of when the public was notified, when was the staff at Quincy notified and when were steps taken to remediate? A press release isn’t going to fix the plumbing problems or cure Legionnaires.