City of Elgin Board of Health met Oct. 11.
Here are the minutes provided by the board:
The Elgin Board of Health quarterly meeting was held in the first floor conference room at City Hall. The meeting was called to order by Dr. Poulos at 7:36 p.m.
Members Present: Dr. Dorothea Poulos
Dr. Felicia Chu
Cynthia Applehoff-Siedsma
Jeanine Seitz
Joni Courtney
Staff Present: Brad Bohner, Neighborhood Services Manager of Public Health
Others Present: Cynthia Steimle, M.D.
Chris Estes, M.D.
Prih Singh, M.D.
Rashmik Kapur, M.D.
Tom Stanley, M.D.
Gloria Casas, The Courier News
Rick West, Daily Herald
Members Absent: Jason Smith
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Dr. Poulos moved to approve the minutes from the April 12, 2021 Board of Health quarterly meeting as submitted. Cynthia Applehofff-Siedsma seconded the motion. The motion was adopted by a vote of four yes, zero no.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
The Board was addressed by members of the public, specifically several physicians from Advocate Sherman Hospital. They stated that the Elgin hospital has been without a full contingent of anesthesiologists since severing ties with their provider in a contact dispute in August this year, and the shortage of anesthesiologist has caused the hospital to lose its designation as a level 2 trauma center. Cynthia Steimle stated that transition to a new anesthesiologist provider has not been handles well, and although the hospital has publicly stated the staffing levels are back to normal, the medical staff was told by Advocate Sherman Hospital administrators that operating rooms will not be back to full capacity until April 2022. Elective surgeries have been canceled and will not return until January 2022. The total number of surgeries are down 80% and patients are currently nbeing sent to other hospitals for surgery.
The physicians also stated that Advocate Sherman is making false and misleading statements about the situation, leading to a lack of trust between the administration and the medical staff. They asked if the Elgin Board of Health could request that Advocate Sherman Hospital administration be requested to provide regular updates to the Elgin City Council regarding the ongoing shortage, specifically staffing levels, surgery cancellations, and emergency room status. In addition, several physicians asked the Board of Health to take on an advisory role over the current Advocate Sherman Hospital administration. However, Dr. Poulos stated that the role of the Elgin Board of Health is not to get involved in the daily operation of any health care facility, but is that of an advisory board that can make recommendations to the City Council.
After hearing their concerns regarding the current shortage of anesthesiologists at Advocate Sherman Hospital and its effect on the public's health, Dr. Chu made a motion, seconded by Jeanine Seitz, that the Board of Health adopt the following statement:
"The Elgin Board of Health recommends that Advocate Sherman Hospital administration provide accurate, complete, and factual updates regarding their anesthesia staffing levels to the Elgin City Council at each of the Council's biweekly meetings. The Elgin Board of Health strongly encourages the administration of Advocate Sherman Hospital to resolve the anesthesia issues as quickly as possible in order to return to the staffing levels of August 2021."
The motion passed three yes, zero no, with Dr. Poulos abstaining.
DISCUSSION OF THE ELGIN HEALTH DEPARTMENT RESPONSE TO THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC
Mr. Bohner stated that he worked closely with representatives of Team USA Handball to ensure their international Olympic trials held at the Centre of Elgin were within the proper COVID -19 guidelines. He also stated that the Elgin Health Department has conducted 18 complaint investigations of businesses not following the current Executive Order for face coverings.
REVIEW OF THE SECOND AND THIRD QUARTERS
Six food establishments opened and eight closed. A boil order was issued to four food establishments due to the temporary loss of public water. Mr. Bohner stated this often occurs during a public water main break or repair, which is often due to Elgin’s aging water lines. Two food establishments were found liable in adjudication court, and food was discarded from six separate establishments.
Adjournment: There being no further items to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 9:16 p.m.
https://www.cityofelgin.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/7614
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