Site search
sponsored by
Home
News
When Douglas County commissioners decided to look into the possibility of privatizing mental health services, they should have gone straight to the employees that would be affected and explained their intentions, Commissioner Marilyn Kittelman told members of the Mental Health Advisory Committee on Tuesday.
Instead, they relied on officials from the county's Mental Health Division and the Health Department itself to inform workers. That, Kittelman said, led employees to believe mass layoffs would ensue and that most workers would lose their jobs within a year.
Saying the commissioners are concerned with providing the best service for patients, Kittelman said Tuesday she believes that only a certain percentage of the mental health programs could be privatized. The rest, she said, would remain under the county.
However, she recognizes that some employees believe the entire department is going to be dismantled and that some of the early steps taken in April created a "fear factor."
"We should have come straight to you rather than staff," Kittelman told several mental health workers who attended the meeting on their own time.
Already, at least two mental health employees have given notice that they plan to quit rather than face the uncertainty. Roland Migchielsen, the Mental Health Division's director, has accepted a job with a private mental health provider in Ontario, while Marla Hobgood, a medical secretary, will leave her position Friday to work for a Roseburg doctor.
"We all want what's best for the patients. I want to provide for my family, too. I'm worried that my benefits will be slashed," Hobgood told Kittelman.
Hobgood said she enjoys her job and was saddened to make the decision to leave, but that she had to do what's best for her family.
Migchielsen, who will leave in August, did not attend Tuesday's meeting. He was in Ontario looking for a home. Bob Furlow, county health director, said they are looking at a person outside the county to serve as interim director. Later, they will search for a permanent replacement.
In looking at privatization, Kittelman said the commissioners want to ensure patients receive "more bang for the buck." Turning over mental health services could save $470,000 in contributions to the Public Employees Retirement System. Although that amount is paid from state and federal grants that fund mental health services, so that it doesn't directly cost the county, the money could be poured directly into program services, she said.
Randy Olander, a mental health therapist who has finished work on a doctorate and is awaiting certification as a psychologist, said that pouring more money into a program would not necessarily guarantee an increase in the quality of service. He said his biggest concern was for his patients, most of whom are low-income and who have no real public voice.
"I'm not talking about more bang for the buck. Let's be good stewards for the people we need to be good stewards for," Olander said.
A man who attended the meeting and has received mental health services in the past said he was concerned about the continuity of care. He said it's important for patients to obtain consistent services and he said he worried how a change in providers would affect that.
Kittelman said the county is currently recruiting two psychiatrists, positions that have gone unfilled for quite some time. The doctors who are hired will actually be employed by a local physicians group and serve under contract with the county. It's hoped that will provide them with more security and encourage them to remain for an extended period of time, she said.
Having those two doctors oversee mental health services should provide good continuity of care, Kittelman said.
* You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@newsreview.info.
Instead, they relied on officials from the county's Mental Health Division and the Health Department itself to inform workers. That, Kittelman said, led employees to believe mass layoffs would ensue and that most workers would lose their jobs within a year.
Saying the commissioners are concerned with providing the best service for patients, Kittelman said Tuesday she believes that only a certain percentage of the mental health programs could be privatized. The rest, she said, would remain under the county.
However, she recognizes that some employees believe the entire department is going to be dismantled and that some of the early steps taken in April created a "fear factor."
"We should have come straight to you rather than staff," Kittelman told several mental health workers who attended the meeting on their own time.
Already, at least two mental health employees have given notice that they plan to quit rather than face the uncertainty. Roland Migchielsen, the Mental Health Division's director, has accepted a job with a private mental health provider in Ontario, while Marla Hobgood, a medical secretary, will leave her position Friday to work for a Roseburg doctor.
"We all want what's best for the patients. I want to provide for my family, too. I'm worried that my benefits will be slashed," Hobgood told Kittelman.
Hobgood said she enjoys her job and was saddened to make the decision to leave, but that she had to do what's best for her family.
Migchielsen, who will leave in August, did not attend Tuesday's meeting. He was in Ontario looking for a home. Bob Furlow, county health director, said they are looking at a person outside the county to serve as interim director. Later, they will search for a permanent replacement.
In looking at privatization, Kittelman said the commissioners want to ensure patients receive "more bang for the buck." Turning over mental health services could save $470,000 in contributions to the Public Employees Retirement System. Although that amount is paid from state and federal grants that fund mental health services, so that it doesn't directly cost the county, the money could be poured directly into program services, she said.
Randy Olander, a mental health therapist who has finished work on a doctorate and is awaiting certification as a psychologist, said that pouring more money into a program would not necessarily guarantee an increase in the quality of service. He said his biggest concern was for his patients, most of whom are low-income and who have no real public voice.
"I'm not talking about more bang for the buck. Let's be good stewards for the people we need to be good stewards for," Olander said.
A man who attended the meeting and has received mental health services in the past said he was concerned about the continuity of care. He said it's important for patients to obtain consistent services and he said he worried how a change in providers would affect that.
Kittelman said the county is currently recruiting two psychiatrists, positions that have gone unfilled for quite some time. The doctors who are hired will actually be employed by a local physicians group and serve under contract with the county. It's hoped that will provide them with more security and encourage them to remain for an extended period of time, she said.
Having those two doctors oversee mental health services should provide good continuity of care, Kittelman said.
* You can reach reporter John Sowell at 957-4209 or by e-mail at jsowell@newsreview.info.
