Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com:
Plans for a 102-unit senior complex on Euclid Avenue in Palatine are on hold amid village council concerns over whether ambulance service could be provided to the property in a timely manner.
Grandbrier of Palatine would be on nearly 5 acres on Euclid across the street from Harper College. The seniors complex would occupy a site where National Technical Systems operated until moving in January.
But Palatine Fire Chief Scott Andersen raised concern at Monday’s village council session about paramedics being unable to reach Grandbrier residents fast enough in medical emergencies. He said Palatine has a six-minute, 30-second benchmark for ambulance response times, which would unlikely be achieved for the Grandbrier because it’s on the periphery of the department’s coverage area.
Village council members agreed to table the Grandbrier proposal. They said Grandbrier representatives will have an opportunity to meet with Andersen in an effort to devise an acceptable plan for medical staffing capable of assisting residents 24 hours a day and bridging any ambulance gap in emergencies.
“What level of service would I need as a comfort level within that facility?” Andersen said. “That would be an equivalent of advanced life-support level of service that you would get with certified paramedics in the state of Illinois.”
Under the plan, the former National Technical Systems building would be demolished to accommodate the assisted living and memory care facility. There would be a three-story building with 70 assisted-living rental units and a one-story section with 32 apartments, including three companion suites designed for seniors with dementia.
Grandbrier Senior Living development director Chris Rintz said after the meeting that he’d want to meet with Andersen as soon as possible. He said the company does not have an alternative site in Palatine and that the village has profound need for the proposed upscale, private-pay facility.
Rintz, who is Winnetka’s village president, told the Palatine council that the plan already called for 24-hour-a-day, state-qualified medical professionals on site. He said registered nurses would be on duty 16 hours a day, with other coverage from licensed practical nurses and certified nursing assistants.
thanks Dan
#1 by Rob on October 12, 2017 - 11:40 PM
If the funds are there, they should look into building a small station for an ambulance and squad.
#2 by Chuck on October 12, 2017 - 9:56 AM
Maybe since Mr. Rintz is the Winnetka Village President he wouldn’t mind his company building it somewhere in his municipality without the same regard he’s showing for the Village of Palatine. Doubt it, though.
#3 by FFPMTom on October 11, 2017 - 11:29 PM
Just my opinion, but I think one of the real issues is the amount of calls the senior centers generate. Like Mike mentioned, look at Friendship Village in Schaumburg. Engine and Ambulance 51 are constantly over there, multiple times a day. The problem becomes when whichever district that belongs to, we’ll say 84 for learning purposes, they’re out on a call and get another. That is the edge of Palatine, so whoever ends up taking that call since 84 Companies are oos on a call are coming from pretty far away.
Another issue is yes these places have staff, but there are a lot of things they can’t or won’t do. For instance, if a person falls, instead of the staff helping them up, they will call the FD because they don’t want to risk a staff member hurting their back lifting.
Third, these auto-aid agreements more often than not, really only take effect when all of the towns units are unavailable, minus structure fires. I’ll use Friendship Village as an example again. Hoffman Estates Station 21 is only about a minute further than Schaumburg 51 from Friendship Village, yet the only time Ambulance 21 will take a call there is when all of Schaumburg’s ambulances are busy.
I respect this chief for stepping up
#4 by Cmk420 on October 11, 2017 - 3:57 PM
Nick–Palatine, Meadows and Pal. Rural already, I believe, have Auto Aid agreements in place. I am not sure if there is anything between those three and Schaumburg.
Michael–where Station 84 is located, I can’t believe it is that far, but I could be wrong. It used to be that Meadows Station 16 would be first in to Harper College; that may have changed too. Rural station 36 might also be ever so slightly closer.
Mike–I am, by no means, questioning the Chief’s concerns over the response time. To provide good service, you need to have good response times. He needs to do what is right for his department.
#5 by Nick N on October 11, 2017 - 2:35 PM
The area itself has adiquate coverage, the only reason there is a problem is becuase agencies aren’t willing to work together to set up auto aid agreements. Schaumburg Fire Station 54 is about 2.2 miles from this location, or a 5 minute drive. Meanwhile as said already, they could also simply go the private route like every other nursing home in the area. The Superior station is 2.1 miles away, and has a minimum of two 24/7 rigs to take runs in addition to the 15 or so day crews.
#6 by Michael M on October 11, 2017 - 1:29 PM
Ok So the area is in no mans land. Which city has the closest station to this location? My Guess is Palatine station 84 would be the closest. I am guessing if there was an emergency at Harper College station 84 would be the closest station to respond to Harper. Would it take more than 6 minutes for the Palatine FD to get to Harper from Station 84?
#7 by Mike on October 11, 2017 - 11:20 AM
Cmk420 that area is in no mans land. Rural, meadows, Schaumburg and palatine basicly all have a portion of that area but it’s on the furthest point. Having a place like this come in does present challenges. Look at Schaumburg with friendship villages. Yes there is technically medical staff working but as you may know things aren’t always what they seem. As the chief where the responsibility lies on him, chief Anderson has the right to air his concerns.
#8 by Cmk420 on October 11, 2017 - 10:34 AM
I don’t buy that scenario.
If Palatine is concerned about response times to that area, then why would they not reach out to their partners in Rolling Meadows and Palatine Rural? Between the three agencies, they should be able to work something out; they already do a bunch of stuff together as is.
#9 by Nick N on October 10, 2017 - 10:53 PM
Superior has a station less than 5 minutes from this location that is staffed 24/7 with ALS and BLS crews. Perhaps they could negotiate a contract with them if the Village is unable, or unwilling to provide constant service to this facility.