Doctors Address Santa Clara County Supervisors

News provided by

Union of American Physicians and Dentists

Oct 06, 2015, 08:00 ET

SAN JOSE, Calif., Oct. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Doctors employed by Santa Clara County will speak out during the 9 am open comment period of today's Board of Supervisors meeting. The doctors are urging the Supervisors to reject the plan to contract out psychiatric care in the Santa Clara County jails and other custody facilities.

In the wake of the death of inmate Michael Tyree, the doctors feel the need to advocate for mentally-ill inmates by insisting that dedicated, experienced County employees continue to provide psychiatric care in the jails. The doctors have presented a detailed plan for recruiting doctors already employed by the County into vacant custody positions, which would ensure proper continuity of care for inmates while saving taxpayer money. The doctors want the Supervisors to reject a contract signed by County administrators and Traditions Behavioral Health (TBH), in which the County would pay an extremely high rate ($258 per hour per doctor) to have mental health services provided by a less stable workforce subject to less oversight by County leaders.

"In my opinion, choosing contractors over County employees to provide these vital services is an insult to public service workers and could be a union busting move," observed Dr. Stuart Bussey, President of the Union of American Physicians and Dentists, which represents the County doctors. "It's a disservice to inmates who deserve the continuity of care that only an employed workforce can provide." The Union has been asking to meet with County management since May to address ways of filling vacant positions.

In addition, County doctors are calling on the Supervisors to include one of their own as a member of the Blue Ribbon Commission that is charged with investigating the conditions that contributed to Mr. Tyree's death.

SOURCE Union of American Physicians and Dentists