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HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

MINUTES

June 1, 2009

The Health and Human Services Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Monday, June 1, 2009 @ 6:30p.m. in the Administration Building’s Conference Room East.  Chairman Jeffery L. Metzger, Sr., called the meeting to order.  Members present were Eileen Dubin, John Emerson, Paul Stoddard and Rich Osborne.   Ms. LaVigne was absent.  Others present were Mary Ramp, Ms. Cathy Anderson, Administrator for the DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing C and Michael Flora of the Ben Gordon Center.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

         Moved by Ms. Dubin, seconded by Mr. Osborne, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from May 2009.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

         Chairman Metzger, Sr., said that he would be placing Mr. Paul Stoddard on the agenda every other month for the Public Health Department Update.

Moved by Mr. Emerson, seconded by Ms. Dubin, and it was carried unanimously to approve the amended agenda.

          Before moving on to the next item on the agenda, Chairman Metzger, Sr., mentioned to the committee that the interviews for the Community Services Director’s position will be held next week Monday, June 08, 2009 beginning @ 6:30p.m.  We will have copies of the three candidates that will be interviewed that evening go out to all of the committee members, Chairman Metzger said. 

          Ms. Dubin asked how many applications did we receive?

          Chairman Metzger, Sr., said that we received 9 or 10 applications and that Mr. Bockman picked 3 candidates.  He explained that we would be holding the interviews in executive session. 

          Ms. Dubin asked if the committee could have copies of all of the applications?

          Chairman Metzger said that he would check with Mr. Bockman about sending out all 10 applications and resumes to the committee.

UPDATE ON THE KISHWAUKEE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE UNIT

          Chairman Metzger, Sr., said that he is sitting on a task force that has been formed to study the mental health care unit beds issue. 

NURSING & REHAB CENTER INTRODUCTION- MS. CATHY ANDERSON, ADMINISTRATOR

          Ms. Cathy Anderson, Administrator for the DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing Center, gave a brief overview of her department and introduced herself to the newer committee members.

          She said that they have 190 skilled beds. They will admit anyone over 21 years of age.  They will not admit anyone with a diagnosed mental health illness.  They are seeing a huge trend of people going into the hospital lately. 

Currently they have between 178 to 170 beds filled this year.  They have 55 private pay residents now, of which 20 of them have converted to Public Aid.  She reminded the committee that all townships have different residency regulations. 

BEN GORDON CENTER INTRODUCTION – MICHAEL FLORE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

          Mr. Michael Flora, Executive Director for the Ben Gordon Center.  Mr. Flora said that the Ben Gordon Center has been providing services for the last 40 years in our community.  He thanked the committee and the County for their award for the Senior Services Tax Levy. He said that they have 65 people on staff and run the Reality House in DeKalb and a women’s recovery building. They are the area’s mental health emergency contact.

          Mr. Flora said that they have seen a increase in numbers for in-patients.  They have risen by 4% over last year’s figure.  They are seeing between 200 to 250 new patients a month who do not have the ability to pay. There are about 120 to 150 patients being discharged a month too. The Center see patients that total $1500 in unfunded care a day or $7500 a week.  Therefore, the Ben Gordon Center contributes $433,000 a year in donated services to the community.  Ninety-eight percent of patients say that they are getting better, which is a good thing.

          Before adjourning, Mr. Paul Stoddard, who sits on the Board of Health, gave a brief update on the Board of Health.  Mr. Stoddard said that in the old Monsanto Building the Board of Health will be opening a new clinic like the Tri-County clinic at Kishwaukee College.  Kishwaukee Hospital has contracted with 3 people to staff this new clinic.  The clients pay on a sliding fee schedule. 

          Chairman Metzger, Sr., reminded everyone that the interviewing for the Community Services Director would be held next week, Monday, June 8, 2009 beginning at 6:30p.m. in Conference Room East.

ADJOURNMENT

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

                                                Respectively submitted,

 

 

                                                _________________________________  

                                                Chairman Jeffery L. Metzger, Sr.

 

_____________________________ 

Mary C. Supple, Secretary