Receiver Opens Door for Front Line Staff

On March 17, a team of union leaders representing the various classifications in the prison health care system met with the newly appointed prison health care receiver, J. Clark Kelso.

The most positive outcome of our meeting was the receiver’s stated desire to meet at least monthly with our union.  Kelso admitted that the receiver’s office does not have a very good communication structure with the rank-and-file employees in the prison system, and wants to have a relationship with our union based on open communication between the parties.

We need to achieve a communications structure of at least one contact person in each of the major areas we represent, such as nursing, medical records, pharmacy, radiology, respiratory, laboratory, food service and janitors.  If you don’t already know your union contact person, you probably don’t have one; so please get with your coworkers, select a volunteer and provide their name, classification and contact information to Barbara Schihl by email at bschihl@seiu1000.org or by fax at (916) 554-1349.

First Opportunity for Input
The new receiver has released a draft strategic plan for public review and comment period.  The plan outlines the revised goals of the new receiver, and is available on the receiver’s website at www.cprinc.org.

Our union’s research department is reviewing the draft plan, and will be submitting our comments to the receiver based on our independent research and utilizing input from our members.  SEIU Local 1000 members who work in the prison healthcare system are asked to review the draft strategic plan and provide written comments to Local 1000 by no later than Friday, April 4.  Please provide your written comments to Barbara Schihl by email at bschihl@seiu1000.org or by fax at (916) 554-1349.

Additional Notes
Unit 4 – The receiver wants to expand medical transcription capacity, and address serious problems with the medical records system by implementing electronic health records.

Unit 15 – Robyn Sherles, Bargaining Unit 15 Chair, noted the lack of registered dieticians to provide guidance on medical diets.  The receiver indicated that this is the type of information he needs to hear from our members and will be working with us to address this issue.

Unit 20 – Rionna Jones, Bargaining Unit 20 Chair, raised the issue of high vacancies in Unit 20 classifications, which the receiver acknowledged and indicated that strengthening the health care workforce is one of his strategic goals.