MONDAY
August 18, 2014 • $1.00
TIGERS LOOK TO FUTURE CL Central co-op girls golf ready for life without star Harkins / B1 NWHerald.com
THE ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN McHENRY COUNTY
HIGH
LOW
80 65 Complete forecast on page A8
Facebook.com/NWHerald
@NWHerald
Right to Admissions get closer look carry not shared CHANGES FROM THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
Ill. doesn’t recognize other states’ permits By KEVIN P. CRAVER kcraver@shawmedia.com A growing number of states are honoring Illinois’ new concealed-carry permit. Since becoming available to the public in January, 22 other states recognize the Illinois permit, meaning it authorizes the holder to carry there. The list includes all of Illinois’ neighboring states, much of the Midwest and portions of the West and South. The state’s stringent 16hour course requirement is likely a major factor, Illinois State Rifle Association Executive Director Richard Pearson said. “I’m sure that has a lot to do with it. You get more hours of training in Illinois than a [military] recruit gets with an M-16,” Pearson joked. But the recognition does not go both ways. Illinois does not honor any other state’s permit, which is not likely to change any time soon, if ever. Illinois was the last state in the union to allow citizens some form of carrying handguns for personal protection in public. State lawmakers in the last days of the spring legislative session in May 2013 hashed out a bill legalizing concealed carry to comply with a 2012 federal court ruling that struck down Illinois’ total ban. The 16-hour course is the longest of any state, but can be shortened depending on level of training, such as being a certified weapon instructor or being an honorably discharged Armed Forces veteran. Upon completion of the
Photos by Kyle Grillot – kgrillot@shawmedia.com
Emergency Department social worker James Messerschmidt works to provide information Friday at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington on resources available for a caretaker who became ill while caring for another patient. Four years ago, the Advocate Health Care System rolled out a series of programs and positions to address the coming penalties hospitals would face if their readmission rates rose too high. Two of those positions include a case manager and social worker specifically targeting Medicare patients that come into the emergency room.
Hospitals to see Medicare funds tied to how often patients return By EMILY K. COLEMAN ecoleman@shawmedia.com Scrolling through a slew of files stored on his desktop, James Messerschmidt looked for an updated list of home-care providers. As the social worker specifically assigned to the emergency department at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, Messerschmidt’s goal is to give his clients the resources they need to stay healthy back home. The couple he was helping Friday afternoon landed back in the hospital after the husband found himself in excruciating pain. He wasn’t taking as much care of himself because he was
his wife’s primary caregiver after a cardiac issue that brought her to the hospital recently, Messerschmidt said. To make sure this cycle doesn’t repeat itself, Messerschmidt is supplying the couple with information on home care to help with laundry and light housekeeping, as well as nonprofits such as Meals on Wheels. The focus on limiting readmissions – keeping patients who don’t need to be admitted to the hospital out of it – started at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital and its parent health care system, Advocate Health Care, about four years ago.
See READMISSIONS, page A6
Advocate Good Shepherd Emergency Department care manager Shelly Coleman (left) and registered nurse Dawn Moeller talk about their efforts to look into underlying problems when it comes to readmission in order to plan accordingly with each family.
Online To view where local hospitals did not meet expectations in readmission standards, visit this story on NWHerald.com.
On the Net You can learn more about the Illinois concealed-carry law and find a list of certified instructors on the Illinois State Police concealed-carry website at ccl4illinois. com.
Voice your opinion Should Illinois recognize other states’ concealed-carry permits? Vote online at NWHerald. com.
See CONCEALED CARRY, page A6
GOP newcomers say lack of experience is asset in 2014 By SOPHIA TAREEN The Associated Press CHICAGO – A suburban accountant and a retired downstate Marine say their lack of political experience is actually a big asset in the race to unseat two of Illinois’ most prominent and longest-serving Democratic constitutional officers: Secretary of State Jesse White and Attorney Gen-
Election Central Follow the local, state and national races at NWHerald.com/election.
eral Lisa Madigan. Hoping to tap into an anti-incumbent mood come November, accoun-
LOCAL NEWS
tant and tax attorney Michael Webster hopes to convince voters that not being a “career politician” and focusing on business issues will help him oust White, who is Illinois’ longest-serving secretary of state with four terms. Meanwhile, Paul Schimpf, a prosecutor and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, insists he’s not beholden to special interests and would focus
more on anti-corruption efforts than consumer advocacy like Madigan, a three-term attorney general who’s earned praise nationwide for going after big banks and for-profit colleges over claims of fraudulent practices. The themes in the down-ballot races, detailed in Associated Press candidate questionnaires and interviews, have trickled down from the
NATION
WHERE IT’S AT
Federal autopsy for Mo. teen
Advice ............................B8
AG Holder orders separate examination for teenager killed by police officer / A5
state’s highly watched governor’s race where Republican Bruce Rauner, a venture capitalist making his first bid for public office, is trying to keep Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn from winning a second full term. Webster and Schimpf recognized the tough road ahead: They don’t have established relationships with
See NEWCOMERS, page A6
Classified....................C1-8 Comics............................B7 Local News.................A2-6 Lottery............................A2
SPORTS
Nation&World...........A5-6
We designed our practice with your children in mind.
Obituaries......................A4 Opinions.........................A7 Puzzles........................C5, 8
Day, Evening & Weekend Hours We accept all Dental PPO Insurance • Affordable Dentistry
Sports..........................B1-6 State..............................A3 Weather..........................A8
On the Record With ... Mike Skala talks about his long history in local government and how a medical scare changed his perspective / A3
$
49
Back to School Special Children’s Exam, X-rays, Cleaning, Flouride & Orthodontic Screening Exp.09/30/14 - New patients only. Must present coupon. Cannot be combined with other offers. Valid for children to age 16.
C-G junior a repeat champ Cary’s Becky Koch helps Eclipse club soccer team win another national title / B1
Now Accepting ALL Local Insurance Carriers for Local Businesses • Delta Dental • Cigna •Principal • Aetna • Assurant •Metlife • Humana • And Many More, just call! Most Local Business: Wal-mart, Target, Centegra/Mercy, Schools, Follett, Locals/Unions Habla Español
601 Ridgeview Drive in McHenry 815.322.7679 • www.bullvalleydentistry.com adno=0286359