Robert Garrova covers criminal justice for the LAist and KPCC newsroom.
If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.Nearly 2,400 Kaiser mental health workers are heading into the fourth week of an ongoing strike with little to no progress made at the bargaining table.
Fred Seavey, a researcher with the National Union of Healthcare Workers, told LAist there is a disconnect between Kaiser’s message to regulators that it has “comprehensive plans in place to minimize potential disruptions” and what he’s hearing from patients and Kaiser employees as the strike goes on.
That was not good enough, Seavey said, especially because Kaiser’s mental health system has a “massive” scope of work. The company agreed that some Kaiser members are choosing to wait for their providers to return from the strike. But, Kaiser said those who choose to wait are placed on a list for follow-up scheduling.
Mejia said she regularly helps patients get connected with mental health care during her shifts on the weekend. That could mean helping patients who just learned they cannot return home or others who are just learning of life-changing diagnoses.“The reason they can’t get appointments is that they don’t have enough workers. And the workers they do have are completely overworked,” Mejia said. “It just feels like we’re working in an unethical, unsafe system that doesn’t care anymore.
She said she had no idea the video would go viral, but she was grateful it was bringing attention to the strike.
Mental Health Strike Union Behavioral Health
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'Rapid' mental health diversion program succeeds at keeping people out of jail, report saysRobert Garrova covers criminal justice for the LAist and KPCC newsroom.
Read more »
Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall found ‘unsuitable’ by state board — againRobert Garrova covers criminal justice for the LAist and KPCC newsroom.
Read more »
What is georouting and how can it improve the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline?Robert Garrova covers criminal justice for the LAist and KPCC newsroom.
Read more »
Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall found ‘unsuitable’ by state board — againRobert Garrova covers criminal justice for the LAist and KPCC newsroom.
Read more »
Kaiser mental health workers hit the picket line in Los Angeles for Day 1 of strikeRobert Garrova covers criminal justice for the LAist and KPCC newsroom.
Read more »
LA County to appoint new officer to oversee compliance with state rules on housing juvenilesRobert Garrova covers criminal justice for the LAist and KPCC newsroom.
Read more »