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Pritzker orders “comprehensive review” of problems, opportunities at state veterans’ homes

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Illinois

* Press release…

After touring the Manteno Veterans’ Home, where a case of Legionnaires’ disease was found earlier this month, Governor JB Pritzker signed an executive order to do more to ensure the health, safety and security of residents and workers at all of Illinois Veterans’ Homes.

During his tour, Governor Pritzker also listened to residents and workers about their experiences and reaffirmed his commitment to protecting Illinois veterans.

“The state of Illinois must provide a safe, healthy environment where veterans and their spouses receive quality care,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This executive order will hold state agencies accountable to the people and ensure the state is delivering quality care to our nation’s heroes – and take action where the state has fallen short in the past. Veterans served us. Now it’s our turn to serve them.”

Gov. Pritzker signed an executive order that calls for a complete audit of the health, safety, and security process and procedures at the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.

Within 120 days, IDVA will deliver a report to the governor containing a comprehensive review of weaknesses, strengths, and opportunities for improvement at Illinois Veterans’ Homes. That includes policies, protocols and procedures related to:

Identification and remediation of health and safety issues;
Communication between state, federal and local agencies;
Communication with residents, family members and the public;
Facility maintenance schedules that protect the health and safety of residents and workers.

To complete this report, IDVA will work with the Illinois Department of Public Health and consult state and national experts, residents and their family members and employees involved in providing critical care to residents.

After the gross mismanagement of the past that cost veterans their lives, Governor Pritzker is determined to ensure that services don’t fall short of the high standard veterans deserve.

“I was proud to co-chair the governor’s veterans committee during the transition, and I’m even prouder that Gov. Pritzker is on the ground in Manteno today, taking action to keep our veterans safe,” said Secretary of State Jesse White. “After what happened under the previous administration, I’m heartened that Gov. Pritzker is acting quickly to uncover and remediate the state’s failure to honor our veterans and provide them with the quality care they deserve.”

“We have to do all we can to prevent a repeat of what happened in Quincy at the Manteno Veterans’ Home,” said Sen. Elgie R. Sims Jr. (D-17th). “These men and women have sacrificed so much for the people of this great state and country. We have an obligation to protect our heroes as they have protected us and this means collecting as much information as possible so we can be transparent with them, their families and the public and take all necessary precautions to protect them from any harm, particularly Legionnaires’ disease.”

“Gov. Pritzker touring the Manteno Veterans’ Home just days after taking office shows his commitment to our veterans is second to none,” said Rep. Nick Smith (D-34th). “The executive action the governor took today will ensure our veterans live safe and healthy lives and begin to repair the damage done by the previous administration.”

“Our veterans and their families have sacrificed so much for our state and country,” said Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (D-84th ). “It’s our duty to protect our veterans’ health and wellbeing, especially while in state care, and I applaud Gov. Pritzker for taking strong action today to do just that.”

“The men and women that have served our country deserve nothing but the best from the state of Illinois, and as a veteran myself, I’m glad that Gov. Pritzker’s executive order will ensure the state lives up to its commitment to our veterans,” said former Adjutant General of Illinois, Major General David Harris, the governor’s pick to lead the Department of Revenue. “There’s much work to do, and Gov. Pritzker is already getting started. The audit of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs is sorely needed to restore the trust of Illinois veterans and their families.”

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 3:21 pm

Comments

I wonder who’s in charge of the agency right now?

Comment by NIU Grad Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 3:36 pm
= I wonder who’s in charge of the agency right now?=

I wonder who’s been in charge the last four years. It looks like we have a person in the Gov’s office who might be there to do the job.

Comment by Duopoly Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 3:47 pm
Dang. We may have a governor.

Comment by Glengarry Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 3:51 pm
I’m not arguing, just wondering. There’s a mismatch across several agencies right now of acting directors and vacancies.

Comment by NIU Grad Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 3:53 pm
Why is IDVA doing an audit of themselves? Isn’t that a bit like the “what is your biggest weakness” interview question?

Comment by Reserved Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 3:54 pm
I hesitate to heap praise on the new governor for ordering a study of the VA homes. 1.4% had task force studies which went no where.

Pritzker is saying the right words. The proof will be in the corrective actions he carries out once he is informed of the problems.

Comment by Huh? Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 3:57 pm
Adding, why do we as a state think we can take care of the elderly when we have court orders stating we can’t take care of mentally ill prisoners and the developmentally disabled properly. No IDVA internal “review” is ever going to reach a valid conclusion when the actual question should be whether the state should even be providing this service.

Comment by Reserved Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 4:00 pm
There must be a way to blame the problem in Manteno on Tammy Duckworth.

Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 4:21 pm
==when the actual question should be whether the state should even be providing this service==

That is purely a political question, answered only by the voters, and they will practically shout “YES”.

Comment by Arsenal Friday, Jan 18, 19 @ 5:29 pm