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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 to address the 
24    COVID-19  outbreaks at the LaSalle Veterans' Home; and
25        (6) To the extent information is available, whether 
 
 
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1    the LaSalle Veterans' Home has been the subject of any 
2    reviews since 2015 to determine its compliance with 
3    applicable laws and regulations with regard to the care of 
4    its residents and, if so, the results of those reviews; 
5    and be it further
 
6    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Veterans' 
7Affairs, the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Office 
8of the Governor, and any other State agency or other entity or 
9person that may have information relevant to this audit 
10cooperate fully and promptly with the Auditor General's 
11Office; and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That the Auditor General is best equipped to 
13conduct an investigation given their understanding of the 
14policies and procedures associated with an outbreak response 
15by the Departments of Public Health and Veterans' Affairs and 
16the recommendations made in the 2019 Performance Audit; and be 
17it further 
  
 
18    RESOLVED, That the Auditor General commence this audit as 
19soon as practical and report its findings and recommendations 
20upon completion in accordance with the provisions of Section 
213-14 of the Illinois State Auditing Act; and be it further 
  
 
22    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
 
 
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1delivered to the Auditor General.