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* Joe Mahr and Robert McCoppin at the Tribune…

Six months into the pandemic, the new virus has infected more than 28,000 Illinois long-term care residents and killed more than 4,000. It’s also fueled debate over the Illinois Department of Public Health’s oversight of a mostly for-profit industry. That includes how the agency cut back inspections, at times breaking state law, as the virus raced through facilities.

Although far fewer residents are testing positive now than in the spring, no radical medical breakthroughs are yet in sight. The arrival of fall brings fear of a deadly virus resurgence, continued struggles over testing and protective gear, and restrictions that — in an effort to protect residents — rob them of life’s small joys, from hugging relatives to sharing a meal. […]

The number of facilities inspected dropped from roughly 100 or more a week to less than a dozen, according to a Tribune analysis of available state and federal data. When reviews picked up in mid-April, for weeks they were mostly phone calls to facilities, not on-site visits where problems could be spotted. […]

Pritzker on May 1 also temporarily stopped some state inspections of nursing homes. The order didn’t stop inspections by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (known as CMS). Regardless, government data shows state and federal reviews had largely been stopped by then and did not return to pre-pandemic levels until June.

Ezike and her top aides forced out two IDPH administrators after learning July 8 that their unit — against state law — stopped investigating abuse and neglect complaints, according to IDPH.

Go read the rest.

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 2:10 pm

Comments

Illinois is hardly alone on this issue. Well run long term care facilities are what everyone wants, but in the best of times they aren’t easy to find. And if you find one, it’s going to cost you. We do a pretty good job of keeping people alive longer these days, and a terrible job of taking care of them.

Maybe one of the things that comes out of the pandemic will be a hard look at these facilities. Pretty tough issue to get right.

Comment by SSL Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 2:34 pm
It’s not just skilled care nursing homes that have been affected. It’s assisted living centers and memory care centers too. My parents are in assisted living. They have cars. My Dad still has a drivers license. They are physically capable of running some errands, visiting family etc. But they can’t. If they leave for anything other than an essential errand, they are in quarantine for two weeks. Essential translates to medical appointments, basically. Other than taking my Mom to the doctor maybe 3 times in six months, I’ve only seen them twice since mid March. The facility has tried to have scheduled outdoor visits 2 times since June. That’s been cancelled twice due to COVID scares. The visits are only allowed on weekdays between 10-4. Only 1 resident( or married couple) can have a visitor at a time. So I haven’t been able to participate more than that. I’m doing all their outside errands after work, or around work. I’m extremely frustrated. They feel totally isolated and their cognitive functions are deteriorating. It’s going to be a long winter and outdoor visits will be impossible in Illinois weather.

Comment by thoughts matter Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 2:42 pm
==”Ezike and her top aides forced out two IDPH administrators after learning July 8 that their unit — against state law — stopped investigating abuse and neglect complaints, according to IDPH.”==

Did that start while Rauner was governor?

Comment by M Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 3:02 pm
M, no, it started in mid-March and went through June 22.

Comment by Perrid Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 3:51 pm
If over 4000 killed were in nursing homes, that means that only about 4000 were not in nursing homes.

Comment by ajjacksson Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 3:52 pm
=== Pritzker on May 1 also temporarily stopped some state inspections of nursing homes. The order didn’t stop inspections by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (known as CMS). Regardless, government data shows state and federal reviews had largely been stopped by then and did not return to pre-pandemic levels until June.===

This is… wow.

This is… I mean, “phone calls”?

=== The number of facilities inspected dropped from roughly 100 or more a week to less than a dozen, according to a Tribune analysis of available state and federal data. When reviews picked up in mid-April, for weeks they were mostly phone calls to facilities, not on-site visits where problems could be spotted.===

In short(?)

Locked down nursing homes were not only not visited, the possible lone contact coulda been a phone call?

Is that right?

Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 3:57 pm
“… that means that only about 4000 were not in nursing homes.”

So, 4,000 deaths amongst non nursing home Illinois residents every 6 months,is acceptable? That would be every 18 months losing the population of the Village of Chatham. THAT’S acceptable?

Comment by Anyone Remember Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 4:45 pm
=If over 4000 killed were in nursing homes, that means that only about 4000 were not in nursing homes.=

And I’m sure that gives the families of the other 4000 a great deal of comfort.

Comment by JoanP Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 5:05 pm
Placing Mom in skilled facility next week. Terrified does adequately capture how I feel, but no other choice

Comment by Minnow Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 5:15 pm
The two employees fired were SPSA’s appointed under the Rauner. The Nurses Union could be blamed I suspect. IDPH Long Term Care Nurses were at home worried about themselves but collecting a 12% hazard pay bonus. They are trained in medical practices and work for an agency called Public Health. Think about that?

Comment by FedUp Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 5:46 pm
FedUp -
Unless less than 100% federally funded (and IDPH has more payroll codes than any other agency - multiple state & federal special funds), SPSA is supposed to exempt from patronage.

Comment by Anyone Remember Thursday, Sep 24, 20 @ 6:38 pm