As part of a review of the department’s health care services, the Oregon Department of Corrections revealed that its chief medical officer and the administrator in charge of medical services were placed on paid leave Thursday.
Medical care for Oregon’s approximately 12,000 inmates is managed by Dr. Warren Roberts and Joe Bugher. Assistant Director of Health Services is Burger’s title. Roberts makes $380,724 a year, while Bugher makes $241,176.
According to Corrections Director Mike Reese, the state will engage an outside specialist to look into how the prison system’s medical care is managed.
According to Reese, the Oregon Department of Corrections places a high premium on providing healthcare for individuals who are detained. It is both morally and legally required of corrections officials to give inmates high-quality care.
The agency refused to provide any additional comments.
In general, inmate grievances and legal actions have traditionally focused on the availability and caliber of medical care in Oregon’s prisons.
The reason behind Reese’s decision to put the top medical administrators on leave was not disclosed by an agency official.
Roberts was elevated to chief medical officer four years ago after being appointed as a doctor for the first time in 2017. In 2004, Bugher began working as a prison officer at Ontario’s Snake River Correctional Institution. After serving in a number of capacities, he was elevated to assistant director in 2017.
Criminal justice is the area of expertise for enterprise reporter Noelle Crombie. You can reach her at [email protected] or 503-276-7184.
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