On Monday, the two administrators in charge of providing medical treatment to Oregon’s roughly 12,000 inmates were let go.
“The health and well-being of those in our care is a high priority,” said Mike Reese, director of the Oregon Department of Corrections, who announced the dismissal of Dr. Warren Roberts and Joe Bugher.
According to a statement from Reese, “far too many inmates entering our jail system have co-occurring disorders, substance use disorders, complex medical conditions, and high mental health needs.” With almost 1,400 persons in custody who are 60 years of age or older, the population is also getting older. As an organization, we are committed to using innovation and process improvement to address the issues that Oregon’s correctional healthcare system faces.
Late last year, Roberts and Bugher were put on leave. Roberts was the chief medical officer for the Oregon prison system when he was hired in 2019. Roberts’ supervisor, Bugher, started out as a correctional officer in eastern Oregon in 2004 and worked his way up to the position of associate director of health services, which oversees 634 staff members.
A major reform initiative to address long-standing problems with jail medical care was also unveiled by Reese.
Falcon jail and Community Services, a national consulting business specializing in jail health care, was engaged by the government to conduct a thorough evaluation of penitentiary health care.
In order to attract physicians, nurses, mental health professionals, and support personnel, the Department of Corrections also intends to employ a health services recruiter.
Inmates and their activists have long questioned the medical care provided in Oregon’s prisons. Prisoners have accused the state of neglecting to treat everything from severe brain injuries to asthma in numerous state and federal court files over the years, and the courts have frequently taken their side.
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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