Health Department proposes outsourcing County services; world to end May 21
April 14, 2008
In yet another sure sign of imminent Apocaplyspe, County Health Services Director, Dr. William Walker, in an unusual come-to-Jesus moment unheard of in Martinez, recommended the unthinkable last week.
In a report to the BOS last Tuesday—much to the dismay of Rollie Katz, Mr Big of Local One and head puppetmaster of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors (BOS)—Dr Walker concluded that:
a) Reducing the County Health Care services by $10 million is improbable given the mandatory staffing requirements and County employee sweet heart deals including pay and benefits.
b) Reducing the number of indigent may not be feasible or result in keeping significant resources from getting poured down the drain (see item “a” above).
c) To maintain existing services and meet budgetary “constraints,” an alternative approach ought to be considered.
Ergo: Close the CCRMC inpatient unit and issue RFPs to contract out some non-critical County services. Walker suggested the County hire a Community Based Organization to oversee fulfillment of contracts for non-critical service areas including: detention health, inpatient psychiatric, security, medical records, housekeeping, landscaping, facility maintenance, lab work, and collections.
Oh My. From what we saw from the peanut gallery, Mr Big looked like he had eaten a bad oyster, and several Supes were apoplectic, shaking their heads in disbelief before the presentation was even over!
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2 Responses to “Health Department proposes outsourcing County services; world to end May 21”
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With the dire straights the county finances are in, all things have to be considered. Outsourcing of all non-governmental operations done by hugely expensive county employees should be put up to bid to outside contractors.
The county runs an auto repair shop, painting, gardening, janitorial services, carpentry, carpet laying, etc. The head of the General Services Department said 3 or 4 years ago that it cost twice as much to do these things with county employees than if he could contract outside.
Isn’t it better to outsource these things than to cut mental health.? I think so.
The libraries should be at the top of the list for outsourcing. They could be outsourced to someone like Library Systems & Services, LLC. This company is successfully operating libraries in communities and counties across the country, many of them in California, like Riverside County, Redding, Calabasas, etc.
But everytime things like these are mentioned to the BOS and county management all they do is find excuses not to do it. They just don’t have the guts to face up to the unions. They would rather make program cuts besause it is easier for them and they avoid union confrontation.
Wonderful article. The supes are nearly held hostage by the unions. The ability to outsource to folks that can do a better job and for less costs makes sense, “duh” For those that have been feeding from the trough of bureaucratic indulgance for so long with little oversight, let’s hope their days are numbered. I have personally seen how they can busy themselves in “make work” to appear to be busy while those they serve are put on the back burner. A major overhaul is needed.
~ EDITOR REPLIES — Thank you for the knowledgeable comment. I have heard horror stories from EDs that, as part of their contract with the County, they would have to take on County employees to “boost” staff. Unfortunately these county workers were so bad the organization decided to have them sit in the break room to read the paper all day so as not to muck things up any further. Staff had to pick up the slack, of course.
You are a brave one to step up. In contrast, many CBOs are cowed by County politics as they rely on contracts and cannot comment like you have done. bgr