The Health and Human Services Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Monday, June 4, 2007 @ 6:30p.m. in the Administration Building’s Conference Room East.  Chairman Robert Rosemier called the meeting to order.  Members present were Julia Fullerton, Pat LaVigne, Jeff Metzger, Sr., Richard Osborne and Paul Stoddard.   Dean Shirley A. Richmond of the N.I.U. College of Health and Human Services was also present.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

          Moved by Ms. Fullerton, seconded by Ms. LaVigne, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from May 2007.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

          Moved by Mr. Metzger, Sr., seconded by Mr. Stoddard, and it was carried unanimously to approve the agenda as presented.

DEAN SHIRLEY RICHMOND OF THE NIU COLLEGE OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES AND DIRECTOR OF THE TRI-COUNTY COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER

          Chairman Rosemier introduced Dean Shirley Richmond of the NIU College of Health and Human Services and Director of the Tri-County Community Health Center to the committee.   Members introduced themselves to Dean Richmond and welcomed her to the meeting.

          Dean Richmond informed the committee that the Tri-County Community Health Center was established in 1993 through a grant, which the NIU School of Nursing obtained.  In 1998 the grant expired, but the University has tried to continue to support the clinic as best that they can because it is a very needed clinic.  It does serve three counties, DeKalb, Olge and Lee.  At the time that they applied for the grant all three counties were considered rural, but now DeKalb is not considered rural. 

          Their mission is threefold.  They are:

-         To improve the community residents access to primary care, while providing care that is affordable, accessible and culturally sensitive. 

-         To promote good health for families, individuals, and groups, by providing health education, as well as, conducting a lot of screening for early health prevention as well as treatment.

-         Allows the university to be involved and provides an environment in which they can train their students.

The demographics shows that about 65% of the patients that they see are Hispanic, 22% are Caucasian, 12% are Afro-American, Dean Richmond explained.   The gender is about equal, she further explained.  They had 3,031 visits last year.

They are seeking a nurse practitioner to hire currently, Dean Richmond stated. 

They do have one full-time provider, a mid-level practitioner, who works five days a week.  There is a group in town that is trying to get the clinic to be federally qualified so that they can receive federal money.  Representative Pritchard and Senator Burzynski are trying to increase the amount of state money which can be used to provide care for individuals. 

She said the largest funding amount that they receive is from various DeKalb County agencies and foundations.

They do have a lab who does their lab work.  It is federally funded.  The other lab work goes to Quest Laboratory. 

This past year they have gone through a re-accreditation and have received a clean bill of health. 

Their Director is from the University of Illinois School of Medicine. He has been with them about 2 years now. 

Long-term goals envision the clinic turning into a model team health center.  They will have a satellite office at the new Monsanto building in the Fall of 2007. 

They are the referral for the Health Department for sexually transmitted diseases and treatment.  Everyone sends his or her patients to the Tri-County Clinic for this issue.

She further stated that they do not see any OB patients.  They are all seen by Dr. Baumgarten.  The Tri-Clinic will start to see infants after they are 1 month old.

They receive funding from the University, some from donations, contracts, Medicare, grants, Medicaid, the Community Foundation and the Hospital. They are running in the red even though they receive some funding from these sources. NIU and the Community Foundation have helped them with grant writing.  They do need someone who can turn the grants around and get a group to work together for boiler points – it would help considerable.

Ms. LaVigne asked Dean Richmond if patients are paying for their services?

Dean Richmond said that they have gone to a flat rate and collections are better.  She is concerned that people are saying that they are a free clinic.  It is true that they will not turn away someone with a severe problem who needs medical treatment because of their finances.  However, they are not free and they will do contracts with individuals if necessary.

They are currently trying to secure medical transportation.  Trans Vac makes two stop a day currently.

Chairman Rosemier said that he will check on the bus line from Sycamore to see if it is still in operation.

The committee said that the Monsanto Building, they believed was on the “Green Line” Bus route, which may help them when the Satellite office opens up there.

          Dean Richmond said that they see between 15 to 17 patients a day and sometimes 22 patients a day.

She also said that for them to be eligible for the Governor’s Health.Net program they need to be on call for 24 hours.  The Medical Director of Tri-County has said that he will do this now.  She says that she needs someone who can file, pull charts, etc., to help hold their costs down.

Ms. LaVigne suggested that she could send some of the people that she sees as the DeKalb Township Supervisor to Tri-County to help out. 

Chairman Rosemier said that he would mention it to his NIU annuitants group, which has a large number of people in it, to volunteer their time if possible at the clinic.

In closing, Dean Richmond said that the Clinic is in the red right now and that they need operational funds. She said that they can use some volunteers who can do office work. She appreciates any suggestions that people may have that might help them and encouraged the committee to call her with ideas that they may have to help fund the clinic.

The committee thanked Dean Richmond for a very informative presentation.

JULY MEETING DATE

          The committee agreed to leave their meeting date where it is on July 2, 2007. 

          Chairman Rosemier said that he is inviting Ms. Cathy Anderson of the Nursing Home to their July meeting.  He further stated that in September the Regional Superintendent of School will be attending our meeting.

ADJOURNMENT        

          Moved by Ms. LaVigne, seconded by Mr. Stoddard, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.

                                                Respectfully submitted by,

                                                ____________________________________

                                                 Chairman Robert Rosemier

_________________________________

Mary C. Supple, Secretary