McHenry County Blog

This is a continuation of Stephen Willson’s critique of the $42 million health club/classroom expansion proposed by the McHenry County College Board.

Proposition 5: There is a need for additional classroom space.

Response: MCC has plenty of unused capacity and demand is unlikely to grow.

In response to a Freedom of Information Act request, MCC stated they do not know the extent to which their current physical plant is used.

This is an incredible admission, but if true, how in the world can they claim they need more space?

Further,

• physical survey evidence and examination of classroom capacity data,
• total semester hours earned and
• (declining) average class size

(all available in their annual report) show existing classrooms are empty 33% or more of the school day, proving that MCC has substantial unused classroom capacity.

There simply is no need for more classroom space.

Further, the Census Bureau projects that the number of 18-34 year olds will decline over the next ten years, a projection born out by the fact that there are 20% fewer third graders in McHenry County schools – MCC’s freshmen in ten years – than there are high school seniors.

So MCC is likely to need less space, not more.

None of this is addressed in the so-called “feasibility study.”

Proposition 6: The County NEEDS a big, new government-run health club.

The entrance to Centegra’s Crystal Lake’s HealthBridge health club.

Response: I don’t even know what to say to that.

MCC’s proposal calls for spending $42 million for a 120,000 square foot building.

That is $350 per square foot, which every local business person knows is more than three times the going rate for commercial space.

According to MCC, 28% of the space in this building will be used for a new and improved fitness center for its students.

In other words, almost $12 million of the projected cost will go towards building a new Health Bridge-like club.

MCC already operates a vastly under-utilized fitness center.

Based on several observations at various times on various days, the fitness center usually has only a handful of students in it.

It operates at less than 20% of its capacity.

Yet the new fitness center will be at least five times the size of the current fitness center.

Further, there are more than twenty fitness centers already in operation in McHenry County.

Why should taxpayers subsidize a fancy new health club that will compete with private enterprise?

= = = = =
The following are running for the three open spots on the McHenry County College Board:

• William Scott Alford, Wonder Lake, received December 19
• Chris Jenner, Cary, received December 26, 2012
• Carol Larson, Harvard, received December 17
• Erik Sivertsen, McHenry, received December 26, 2012
• Mike Smith, Village of Lakewood, received December 17
• Molly Walsh, Crystal Lake, received December 21
• Barbara Walters, McHenry, received December 26, 2012
• Arne Waltmire, McHenry, received December 17
• Thomas Wilbeck, Lakewood, received December 26, 2012

Incumbents are Carol Larson and Barbara Walters.

Rest assured I shall ask each whether they will vote to sell bonds without asking voters for permission first.

More tomorrow.

= = = = =

See Part 1 here.

See Part 2 here.

See Part 3 here.

See Part 4 here.

This is a continuation of Stephen Willson’s critique of the $42 million health club/classroom expansion proposed by the McHenry County College Board.

Proposition 3: But Centegra’s new hospital in Huntley will create a lot of jobs.

Response: Centegra will fill those jobs before MCC’s new program produces graduates.

Centegra Hospital plans to open a new 128 bed hospital in Huntley in 2016. MCC’s own timeline for this project shows their new, expanded program opening the winter semester of 2015.

The first students will graduate from the proposed new program after Centegra has finished its initial hiring.

Proposition 4: MCC’s students can work in the surrounding counties.

Response: Other area community colleges all have their own health sciences programs.

When challenged to justify a program that is projected to produce students far in excess of local demand, MCC President Vicky Smith said, “There will be jobs not only in McHenry County, but in Kane, Cook, Boone and Lake Counties. We would have some programs that no other community college has in our surrounding area.”

This is false.

Every neighboring community college has a health sciences program.

Elgin Community College offers certificate and degree programs in

• nursing (RN),
• nurse’s assistance,
• lab technology,
• phlebotomy,
• histotechnology,
• surgical technology,
• radiography,
• dental assistant, and
• physical therapy.

They have about 1,000 students in their programs.

Harper College has eleven different programs with over 1,000 students.

Rock Valley Community College offers programs in nursing, dental hygiene, surgical technology and respiratory care.

It is unrealistic to expect surplus graduates of an ambitious program at MCC to find jobs in neighboring communities.

The marketing presentation does not address other area community college programs at all.

= = = = =

The following are running for the three open spots on the McHenry County College Board:

• William Scott Alford, Wonder Lake, received December 19
• Chris Jenner, Cary, received December 26, 2012
• Carol Larson, Harvard, received December 17
• Erik Sivertsen, McHenry, received December 26, 2012
• Mike Smith, Village of Lakewood, received December 17
• Molly Walsh, Crystal Lake, received December 21
• Barbara Walters, McHenry, received December 26, 2012
• Arne Waltmire, McHenry, received December 17
• Thomas Wilbeck, Lakewood, received December 26, 2012

Incumbents are Carol Larson and Barbara Walters.

Rest assured I shall ask each whether they will vote to sell bonds without asking voters for permission first.

More tomorrow.

= = = = =

See Part 1 here.

See Part 2 here.

See Part 3 here.

See Part 4 here.

In October, Stephen Willson gave a three-minute critique of the health club proposal to the MCC Board, but no questions were asked. More attention was paid to a student who presented a mathematical formula for world peace. Board members did not request a copy of Willson’s critique, but did ask for the world peace forumula.

Municipal bond analyst Stephen Willson, who has been critical of both the proposal to expand the Crystal Lake Library and the massive expansion of McHenry County College, has written a critique of the College Board’s plan to build a $42 million health club and classroom expansion. That will start today and continue until the 1,500 word document is completely posted and accessible by internet search engines.

An Open Letter to the Public Concerning McHenry County College

MCC’s Proposal

MCC plans to spend $42 million on a new 30,000+ square foot health club, similar to Health Bridge, and to add 90,000 square feet of classroom space for an expanded health and wellness program. According to MCC, they will attract 1,400 new students and accomplish all this without a tuition increase or a property tax increase.

MCC plans to use “alternate revenue bonds”, which are payable from property taxes, in order to avoid a referendum.

On October 25, MCC agreed to pay Power Wellness $50,000 to perform a “phase 2” feasibility study. Power Wellness has an obvious conflict of interest and should never have been hired.

Is there a documented demand for this huge new project, and is it likely to be self-supporting? Let’s examine the facts.

Proposition 1: MCC should offer degree programs in health services.

Response: MCC already offers health programs that have flat enrollment.

MCC already has programs for occupational therapy, emergency medical technician, health and fitness education, nursing assistants, and nursing, with about 780 students in total.

Enrollment in existing programs has been essentially flat for the last few years.

Yet MCC projects that the new project will nearly TRIPLE enrollment in health programs with zero evidence.

Has MCC been turning students away from their existing programs? No.

So why should we believe demand will increase by 1,400 additional students?

MCC’s own flat enrollment history and Census data contradict such a conclusion.

Proposition 2: Health care employment is growing rapidly.

Response: Not in McHenry County.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 9,815 health care jobs in McHenry County in 2011.

The number of health care jobs increased by just 35 in 2009, and decreased by 34 in 2010 and by 50 in 2011.

The federal government is placing extreme pressure on health care providers to curb expenses.

Projections assuming zero growth (faster than the last few years) and 3% annual growth (the long run average) indicate there will likely be only 350 to 400 job openings each year in health services in McHenry County in future years.

Only half of these jobs will require a junior college degree; the rest require either no degree or a more advanced degree.

So there will likely be around 175 to 200 job openings each year for the 2,100 students that MCC projects.

The “phase one” marketing presentation does not address the availability of health care jobs for junior college graduates at all.

= = = = =

The following are running for the three open spots on the McHenry County College Board:

• William Scott Alford, Wonder Lake, received December 19
• Chris Jenner, Cary, received December 26, 2012
• Carol Larson, Harvard, received December 17
• Erik Sivertsen, McHenry, received December 26, 2012
• Mike Smith, Village of Lakewood, received December 17
• Molly Walsh, Crystal Lake, received December 21
• Barbara Walters, McHenry, received December 26, 2012
• Arne Waltmire, McHenry, received December 17
• Thomas Wilbeck, Lakewood, received December 26, 2012

Incumbents are Carol Larson and Barbara Walters.

Rest assured I shall ask each whether they will vote to sell bonds without asking voters for permission first.

More tomorrow.

= = = = =

See Part 1 here.

See Part 2 here.

See Part 3 here.

See Part 4 here.

Almost twenty days ago, McHenry County Blog reported on Medicare penalties being levied by the Federal government on local hospitals.

While the article focused on hospitals serving local patients, a Chicago Tribune article Thursday reported on hospitals statewide.

Being early in the alphabet helps businesses in the phone book, but is not necessarily an advantage in a list of hospitals being penalized.

Those Illinois hospitals getting the biggest penalty for high readmission rates within a month for Medicare patients are show in the graphic above.  Click to enlarge.

Hospitals McHenry County patients use most are listed below

• Centegra Health System – Woodstock Hospital, Woodstock 1.00%
• Centegra Health System – McHenry Hospital, McHenry 1.00%
• Swedish American Hospital, Rockford 0.64%
• Sherman Hospital, Elgin 0.61%
• Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, Barrington 0.48%
• Provena – Saint Joseph Hospital, Elgin, 0.27%
• Rockford Memorial Hospital, Rockford 0.26%
• Saint Anthony Medical Center, Rockford 0.04%

Bill Baar’s West Side blog led me to the story of how the Obama Administration is penalizing hospitals it judges to have too high readmission rates, for Medicare patients.

Centegra’s Woodstock Hospital

Fox News explains, “Starting in October, Medicare will reduce reimbursements to hospitals with high 30-day readmission rates — which refers to patients who return within a month — by as much as 1 percent. The maximum penalty increases to 2 percent the following year and 3 percent in 2014.”

The Fox News article quotes a doctor as saying, “The readmission measures are risk-adjusted measures.”

Hospitals McHenry County patients use most are listed below

• Centegra Health System – Woodstock Hospital, Woodstock 1.00%
• Centegra Health System – McHenry Hospital, McHenry 1.00%
• Swedish American Hospital, Rockford 0.64%
• Sherman Hospital, Elgin 0.61%
• Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, Barrington 0.48%
• Provena – Saint Joseph Hospital, Elgin, 0.27%
• Rockford Memorial Hospital, Rockford 0.26%
• Saint Anthony Medical Center, Rockford 0.04%

Centegra's Northern Illinois Medical Center in McHenry

“Jane No” is the lead plaintiff, along with “Jane Doe” and “Jane Roe” in a suit filed in McHenry County Circuit Court Friday by attorney Robert Hanlon.

Each plaintiff seeks at least $150,000 from defendant Dr. Basudeb Saha.

In the suit, Dr. Saha is described as having been “Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Centegra Health Systems McHenry for the period of 2009 -2010 and was Chairman of the Department of Surgery for a period of time commencing in 2011 and ending at a point in time in 2012.”

The suit says the physician was born in 1945 and “graduated from the All Institute of Medical Sciences in New Deli, India in 1969 or thereabouts.”

The events described in the suit allegedly took place at Northern Illinois Medical Center in McHenry, where the women suing Dr. Saha work.

The women dress in “scrubs,” which “generally have a shirt pocket on the left side directly in front of the breast; the scrub shirt has a ‘v’ neck, the scrubs pants are draw string pants,” the suit says. “…changing into them is one of the first things each of the plaintiffs will do to start work on any given day at NIMC.”

What happened to Jane No is outlined first:

“…occurring in late fall or early winter of 2010, Dr. Basudeb Saha, attempted to kiss Jane No between room one and room two on the first floor of NIMC. At that time, Dr. Basudeb Saha, orally stated ‘come here’ or words to that effect and he attempted to kiss Jane No on her lips. Jane No immediately turned her head to the right so Dr. Basudeb Saha, would not kiss her on the lips and Dr. Basudeb Saha, then kissed Jane No’s left cheek…

“Dr. Basudeb Saha, had his hands on Jane No’s arms. As Jane No pulled away from Dr. Basudeb Saha, Jane No observed that Dr. Basudeb Saha, was visibly erect in his genital area by a phallic shaped object protruding buldge in his scrubs…

A consumer rating found on the internet.

“Dr Basudeb Saha attempted on at least 10 separate occasions to either place or remove objects into or from the shirt pocket of Jane No scrubs by either placing his hand along with an object into the scrub shirt pocket or retrieve an item by placing his hand into the scrub shirt pocket while it was worn by Jane No. While Dr. Basudeb Saha either placed items in the scrub shirt pocket or attempted to remove items from the scrub shirt pocket, Dr. Basudeb Saha touched Jane No’s left breast through her clothing.”On one occasion while Dr. Basudeb Saha and Jane No were at the scrub sinks between Room 1 and Room 2, Dr. Basudeb Saha commented: ‘You’re my dream girl’ ‘If I were younger’.

“After Christmas 2010, Dr. Basudeb Saha put his hands into Jane No shirt and felt her breasts.

“On at least two separate occasions, after Christmas 2010, and before December 2011 he reached into Jane No scrubs and felt her breasts, skin on skin contact…

“Upon information and belief (as to the date of occurrence), between the fourth week of September 2011 and the second week of October 2011 or thereabouts Jane No was between room 5 and 6, in the hallway, on her way to the heart room, Dr. Basudeb Saha grabbed Jane No by her right arm and then placed his other hand up and between Jane No’s legs touching Jane No’s genital area through her clothing.

“…during the week of November 7, 2011 or thereabouts. At this time, Dr. Basudeb Saha , approached Jane No while she was standing looking at a board, he attempted to put his hand in Jane No’s shirt pocket and stopped as another employee entered the front desk area…

“At a point in time in 2011, the specific date is unknown, but during sit-down surgerys Dr. Basudeb Saha would grab Jane No’s legs with his legs by pinching his thighs together as Jane No sat across from him during surgery and would press his knee into her genital area or press his genital area upon Jane No’s knee.

“On or about January 16, 2012, Jane No and Jane Roe attended a meeting with David Tomlinson, Mike Easley, Jason Ciarro and others.

“During the January 16, 2012 meeting, it was commented by Mike Easley the following statement: ‘what did you expect us to do?’. Mike Easley also commented with the following: ‘Most places sweep this kind of thing under the rug’ or words to that effect.

“Mr Easley’s comments came after Mr. Easely informed Plaintiffs Jane No and Jane Roe that the Hospital was going to bring Dr. Basudeb Saha back to work at the hospital because according to Mr. Easely, ‘we would hate to see Good Shepard get him’ or words to that effect.

“During the January 16, 2012 meeting, Mr. Easley showed Jane No and Jane Roe two apology letters from Dr. Basudeb Saha. The two apology letters were framed under the concept of an apology for non-specific conduct. The first letter was addressed to the OR Staff and indicated that he was sorry about causing pain in the OR. The second letter was to Dr. Lawrence, which started with a thank you for helping him with a matter in the OR.

“Upon information and belief, neither letter was ultimately delivered to the OR Staff.”

Jane Doe’s allegations come next.

“Commencing at a point in time not earlier than March 2010, Dr. Basudeb Saha conduct included conduct directed at Jane Doe which included touching of Jane Doe’s genital area during sit-down surgeries and touching of her left breast through her clothing.

“…Dr. Basudeb Saha on at least 10 separate occasions placed or removed objects into or from the shirt pocket of Jane Doe scrubs by either placing his hand along with an object into the scrub shirt pocket while it was worn by Jane Doe. While Dr. Basudeb Saha either placed items in the scrub shirt pocket or attempted to remove items from the scrub shirt pocket, Dr. Basudeb Saha touched Jane Doe’s left breast through her clothing.

“During one such occurrence, Dr. Basudeb Saha placed his hand into the empty scrub shirt pocket of Jane Doe and articulated ‘what’s in there?’ while fondling Jane Doe’s left breast.”

Finally, what allegedly happened to Jane Roe is summarized.

“At a point in time in the year 2002 the exact date of which is not known, Dr. Basudeb Saha, has fondled the breasts of Jane Roe, touched the genital areas of Jane Roe.

“Commencing at a time in late fall early winter of 2010, the exact date is unknown Dr Basudeb Saha attempted on at least 10 separate occasions to either place or remove objects into or from the shirt pocket of Jane Roe scrubs by either placing his hand along with an object into the scrub shirt pocket or retrieve an item by placing his hand into the scrub shirt pocket while it was worn by Jane Roe. While Dr. Basudeb Saha either placed items in the scrub shirt pocket or attempted to remove items from the scrub shirt pocket, Dr. Basudeb Saha touched Jane Roe left breast through her clothing.

“On at least two separate occasions, after Christmas 2010, and before December 2011 Dr. Basudeb Saha placed his hand between the legs of Jane Roe.

“At a point in time in 2011, the specific date is unknown, but during sit-down surgerys Dr. Basudeb Saha would grab Jane Roe’s legs with his legs by pinching his thighs together as Jane Roe sat across from him during surgery and would press his knee into her genital area or press his genital area upon Jane Roe’s knee.”

A jury trial is requested.

Sherman Hospital on Randall Road.

When visiting a patient at Sherman Hospital this summer, one of the employees revealed that messages had been sent to employees that the hospital was in negotiations with Advocate Health System for a possible merger or other financial cooperation.

As Crain’s Chicago Business reported, Advocate has a healthy balance sheet, while Sherman, having just built a new hospital, was having some problems.

“Moody’s Investors Service said its cash position and ability to make bond payments was ‘exceptionally weak.’” according to Crain’s.

Within the Crain’s article is this sentence, which I suspect that McHenry County readers will find of interest:

“Sherman and McHenry-based Centegra Health System broke off merger talks earlier this year.”

It would seem to me that Centegra’s Huntley hospital would compete with Sherman.

A press release from State Senator Pam Althoff:

Sen. Althoff to sponsor health, phone bill workshop

Centegra's Woodstock Hospital

McHENRY, Ill. – State Sen. Pamela Althoff (R-McHenry) will be hosting an upcoming informative workshop aimed at helping constituents learn more about changes to the Medicare program and save money on their phone bills.

The workshop will be held on Friday, October 14 at 10 am at Centegra Hospital’s Community Room in Woodstock (3701 Doty Road).

During the first half hour, guests will have the opportunity to hear about upcoming changes to Medicare Part D in 2012, along with changes to the Illinois Cares Rx program that went into effect on September 1, 2011. Following the presentation, Senior Health Insurance Counselors (SHIPs) will be on hand to answer individual questions.

Following the Medicare workshop, consumer experts from the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) will be available to discuss tips and tricks on how consumers can reduce their phone bill costs. Guests are strongly encouraged to bring their phone bills to the event to help achieve the maximum savings.

To RSVP and for more information, please contact Sen. Althoff’s office at 815-455-6330.

I thought CBS Channel Two had the best coverage of the Rod Blagojevich verdict reading.

An employee was texting from the courtroom.

This is how CBS Channel Two told viewers the guilty findings on Counts 12, 13 and 14.

Viewers could see in real time what the talking heads saw.

In covering the Health Facilities Planning Board meeting in Joliet, the Northwest Herald had a camera, which I didn’t dip into (a case of too much information for me), and a series of notes from a reporter on the scene.

First, Mercy’s Crystal Lake application went down with only one vote in favor, the paper reported.

Although the web site reported that Centegra’s Huntley hospital application was also rejected, no vote was given. Guess readers will have to wait until tomorrow to find out.

Or one could go to the Daily Herald story and find the vote was the same 8-1.

I probably should have gone out on a limb and predicted that both applications would be rejected.

There were a bunch of new members who knew little of the process. And the staff had recommended rejection of both applications.

I still don’t think there should be a Soviet-style judgment made by state government.  If Centegra and Mercy want to roll the dice on hundreds of millions of dollars of construction, let them.

The free market would decide the winners and losers among the new and older competitors.

Standing in the Crystal Lake City Council Chambers, where he presides as Mayor at Tuesday night meetings, Aaron Shepley put on his other hat to represent Centegra, his day-time employer, in its opposition have competitor Mercy Health System be given state permission to build a hospital in Crystal Lake at Route 31 and Three Oaks Road (across from the Holiday Inn).

The first page of transcript you see below has former Crystal Lake City Councilman Fred Wickham finishing his testimony in favor of Mercy’s building a Crystal Lake hospital. Shepley’s testimony starts on the second page.