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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The LaSalle Veterans' Home, founded in 1990, is
3one of five veterans' homes in Illinois; and
 
4    WHEREAS, The LaSalle Veterans' home cares for up to 184
5residents, including 40 special needs veterans; and
 
6    WHEREAS, COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by
7SARS-CoV-2, a new coronavirus discovered in 2019; the virus is
8thought to spread mainly from person to person through
9respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs,
10sneezes, or talks; some people who are infected may not have
11symptoms; and
 
12    WHEREAS, In November 2020, the LaSalle Veterans' Home
13experienced an outbreak of COVID-19 cases among its residents
14and staff; and
 
15    WHEREAS, On November 6, 2020, VISN 12 leadership was
16notified by Hines VA Hospital that the LaSalle Veterans' Home
17was experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19; on November 10,
182020, an infection control lead at the LaSalle Veterans' Home
19contacted the administration and then conducted a telephone
20assessment on November 11, 2020; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Public Health assessed
2the LaSalle Veterans' Home and made recommendations concerning
3screening, testing, point of care testing, ventilation,
4environment of care, and staff management and infectious
5control practices; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The LaSalle Veterans' Home began implementing
7corrective measures recommended by the Illinois Department of
8Public Health, which included replacing non-alcohol containing
9hand sanitizer, wearing proper personal protection equipment,
10seeking separate consultation regarding HVAC/ventilation and
11negative pressure concerns, staff management, testing with PCR
12every three days until transmission under control, and
13ensuring appropriate protocols are followed for terminal
14cleanliness; and
 
15    WHEREAS, In December 2020, the COVID-19 outbreak continued
16to spread through the LaSalle Veterans' Home, where 108
17residents and 102 staff had contracted COVID-19; therefore, be
18it
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
20HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
21the Auditor General is directed to conduct a performance audit
22of the State's response to the management of the COVID-19
23outbreak at the LaSalle Veterans' Home; and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That this performance audit include, but not be
2limited to, the following determinations:
3        (1) The response of the Department of Veterans'
4    Affairs to the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 at the LaSalle
5    Veterans' Home, including the recommendations made in the
6    November 13, 2020 site visit by the Illinois Department of
7    Public Health and the Department's actions to address
8    those recommendations;
9        (2) The type, cost, and timing of any infrastructure
10    or other building improvements intended to contain the
11    further spread of COVID-19 or prevent its reoccurrence at
12    the LaSalle Veterans' Home;
13        (3) The nature of changes made by the Department in
14    operating protocols and staff training thereon, intended
15    to contain the further spread of COVID-19 or prevent its
16    reoccurrence at the LaSalle Veterans' Home;
17        (4) The nature and extent of monitoring conducted by
18    the Department to determine whether the improvements and
19    protocols put in place are effective to ensure the safety
20    of residents and staff at the LaSalle Veterans' Home;
21        (5) The amount of State moneys received and the amount
22    of State moneys expended by IDPH or any other State agency
23    during State fiscal years 2020 and 2021 for COVID-19
24    relief and other measures taken to address the COVID-19
25    outbreaks at the LaSalle Veterans' Home; and

 

 

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1        (6) A review of the recommendations of the Performance
2    Audit of the Legionnaires' Disease at the Quincy Veterans'
3    Home and if the Departments of Public Health and Veterans'
4    Affairs implemented policies and procedures to improve the
5    State's response to addressing outbreaks; and
6        (7) To the extent information is available, whether
7    the LaSalle Veterans' Home has been the subject of any
8    reviews since 2015 to determine its compliance with
9    applicable laws and regulations with regard to the care of
10    its residents and, if so, the results of those reviews;
11    and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Veterans'
13Affairs, the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Office
14of the Governor, and any other State agency or other entity or
15person that may have information relevant to this audit
16cooperate fully and promptly with the Auditor General's
17Office; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That the Auditor General is best equipped to
19conduct an investigation given their understanding of the
20policies and procedures associated with an outbreak response
21by the Departments of Public Health and Veterans' Affairs and
22the recommendations made in the 2019 Performance Audit; and be
23it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That the Auditor General commence this audit as
2soon as practical and report its findings and recommendations
3upon completion in accordance with the provisions of Section
43-14 of the Illinois State Auditing Act; and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
6delivered to the Auditor General.