For Immediate Release
Contact:  Jason Gerwig
630/407-6022
January 28, 2008

SCHILLERSTROM APPOINTS BLUE RIBBON PANEL TO EXAMINE COUNTY’S CONVALESCENT CENTER  

WHEATON ― DuPage County Board Chairman Robert J. Schillerstrom announced the appointment of a Blue Ribbon Panel on Monday that will develop comprehensive recommendations for both the demands of the DuPage Convalescent Center, as well as senior citizens’ needs in both the short-term and long-term future.

The development of this Panel is consistent with recommendations made in the County’s Strategic Plan, which recommended: examining the health and human services that are directly provided by the County for seniors; responding to the demographic shifts in the county, including its aging population; and evaluating the operations, capital and space needs at the Convalescent Center. 

“Today, I am appointing a Panel that will include a broad range of experts who can view the issues from a variety of perspectives,” said Schillerstrom.  “All members of the Panel will be from outside of County government, and we have chosen individuals who we believe can formulate practical recommendations for the County Board’s consideration.”

To implement the recommendations of the Cost Efficiency Committee, which was chaired by County Board Member Debra Olson (District 4), and to accomplish the goals of the Strategic Plan, this Blue Ribbon Panel will report their recommendations back to the County Board Chairman and the County Board.    

Members of the Blue Ribbon Panel are: Jim Huck (Of Counsel, Huck Bouma PC) will serve as Chairman of the Panel, Bill Pollard (Chairman, Fairwin Investments), Cleve Carney (Retired, Olsson Roofing Company), John Day (President, DuPage Housing Authority), Joseph Benson (President, Wyndemere Senior Living Campus), Ed Merkel (Member, DuPage County Board of Health), Jim Murphy (Director, Health System Affiliations, Access Community Health Network), Dick Endress (President, DuPage Healthcare Coalition), Tess Kwiatkowski (Executive Vice President, Life Services Network), Dan Harris (President, DuPage Convalescent Center Foundation), Jeri Lynn Else (Executive Director, DuPage Area Healthcare Leadership Council) and Will Grosch (Senior Vice President, Community Bank of Wheaton/Glen Ellyn). 

“Our Convalescent Center is a lifeline to those in our community most in need,” said Yolanda Campuzano (District 1), Chairwoman of the County’s Health and Human Services Committee.  “I look forward to working with this panel to ensure our Center remains viable and available in the future.”

The membership of the Panel will initially be focused on the expertise needed for addressing the Convalescent Center issues.  However, as the Panel moves into developing a longer range plan for addressing senior needs, the Panel’s membership will add expertise in other areas.