Coronavirus Crisis At Symphony Of Joliet Prompts Changes

JOLIET, IL — A week after Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk called for a state investigation into Symphony of Joliet, which had one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks of any nursing home across the Midwest, the company announced several changes it hopes will improve the health and safety of residents and staff.

Joliet Patch previously reported Symphony of Joliet has had 81 coronavirus cases and 26 deaths. Two of those deaths were of employees at the Joliet care facility, and the other 24 were residents.

This week, The Times Weekly newspaper reported that Symphony Care Network hired a public relations firm that specializes in crisis management, Crisis Communications Chicago.

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According to the paper, Natalie Bauer Luce, executive vice president of Crisis Communication Chicago, said that a key reason why Symphony has had such a high rate of coronavirus cases is because it was able to administer the coronavirus testing much earlier than many other places.

"That was not the case with all nursing homes, and why Symphony believes it is so important to get more testing across the board so there is a full accounting of the spread and more standard reporting procedures at senior living facilities throughout the state," Luce told the paper.

This week, Symphony Care Network also announced it had appointed an infectious disease expert to lead its COVID-19 team.

Besides retaining Dr. Alexander Stemer, who is board certified in infectious diseases, the company also retained University of Chicago Medicine's Dr. Stacie Levine, chief of the section of geriatrics and palliative care.

Stemer and Levine are overseeing a companywide task force of medical directors and infectious disease experts to counteract the spread of the coronavirus among Symphony's elderly residents who are at a greater risk of developing serious health complications, the company said.

"We brought in one of the region's best infectious disease experts to help us control the spread of the deadly virus and one of the most renowned geriatric experts to advise us on caring for our vulnerable patients," Symphony Care Network CEO David Hartman announced on his company's website. "With their leadership, we believe we will save our patients, staff and the communities we serve."

On Friday, Joliet Fire Chief Greg Blaskey told Joliet Patch that his ambulance units have not responded to Symphony of Joliet to transport any patients with coronavirus symptoms for nearly two weeks. The city's last ambulance run to Symphony took place April 12, Blaskey said.

Symphony operates 27 nursing homes across Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan, according to the company's website. Symphony has been in business since 1978.

Besides Symphony of Joliet at 306 N. Larkin Ave., the company's other Illinois locations are:

• Symphony at the Tillers in Oswego
• Symphony Crestwood
• Symphony Morgan Park
• Symphony 87th Street in Chicago
• Symphony Midway in Chicago
• Symphony Aria in Hillside
• Symphony California Gardens in Chicago
• Symphony South Shore in Chicago
• Symphony Bronzeville in Chicago
• Symphony Chicago West in Chicago
• Symphony Orchard Valley in Aurora
• Symphony Hanover Park
• Symphony Lincoln Park in Chicago
• Residences of Lincoln Park in Chicago
• Symphony Buffalo Grove
• Symphony Evanston
• Symphony Maple Crest in Belvidere
• Symphony Sycamore Village in Swansea

Related:

• Illinois Coronavirus Update April 24: 1,688 Deaths
• 10 More Coronavirus Deaths Reported For Will County April 24
• Symphony of Joliet 'Mess': Mayor Seeks State Probe