DuPage committee approves three supplemental jail medical-staffing contracts after debate over privatization and insurance

DuPage County’s Judicial and Public Safety Committee on Jan. 6 approved three multi-year, supplemental medical-staffing contracts intended to fill short-term gaps at the sheriff’s office while full-time hires are sought.

The committee voted to approve: a contract with Favorite Health Care Staffing LLC for up to $450,000 (01/13/2026–11/30/2028); a contract with Health Advocates Network d/b/a Staff Today LTD for up to $450,000 (01/13/2026–11/30/2028); and a contract with Worldwide Travel Staffing LTD for up to $600,000 (01/13/2026–11/30/2028). Together the three not-to-exceed totals amount to approximately $1.5 million over the contract periods.

Committee members pressed county staff on the need for three vendors and whether the county should instead hire permanent staff or fully privatize medical services. Member Yu asked why three contracts were necessary and noted the scorecard showed Worldwide Travel Staffing scored highest and appeared less expensive. County staff said adopting multiple vendors is a registry model used elsewhere in county operations and is intended to provide immediate coverage when positions are vacant: “We do the exact same thing over in the care center,” staff said, explaining the county starts with the least expensive option when possible and moves down the list to secure needed coverage.

Members also raised concerns about liability and the county’s insurance posture. County staff said DuPage currently is self-insured: “We are self insured. We do not have insurance,” a county representative said. Member Krajewski and others requested the financial comparisons and claims-history analyses that informed staff recommendations; staff agreed to share the numbers.

County staff rejected privatization as an option for the sheriff’s medical roles on cost grounds, saying they had reviewed that model and found it “far more expensive than in house.” Staff described the contracts as temporary stopgaps while the county recruits permanent staff: “This is not a permanent solution…we are anticipating hiring a full time person, but it could take us 3, 4, 5 months to find that full time person,” a staff speaker said.

Member Krajewski asked whether outsourcing would bring third-party insurance to cover malpractice claims; staff said a vendor would be required to carry insurance, but added commercial market conditions have limited access to some medical-malpractice products in recent years. Members asked staff to provide documentation of the insurance and financial comparisons used in procurement.

All three contracts were moved and seconded and then approved by the committee.

The committee also noted labor developments tied to sheriff’s office medical staff: staff said there was a tentative contract the union planned to vote on the same day, and that the collective-bargaining outcome could affect staffing plans.

What’s next: County staff said they will provide the committee with the requested cost/insurance comparisons and continue efforts to recruit permanent staff; the three vendor registries will be available to the sheriff’s office as temporary coverage while recruiting continues.