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Unions urge full funding for Oregon State Hospital staffing in OHA budget hearing
Summary
Union representatives and hospital staff told the joint Ways and Means subcommittee that the governor's recommended funding for the Oregon State Hospital is needed to reduce overtime, add mental health technician positions and improve safety at the state's forensic hospitals.
Anthony Castaneda, speaking for SEIU 503, told the joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Services that the union supports the governor's recommended budget for the Oregon State Hospital to maintain staff levels and add positions to ensure patient care and safety.
"My name is Anthony Castaneda and I'm here today testifying on behalf of SEIU 503 to ensure that the Oregon State Hospital is adequately funded and staffed to provide high quality patient care," Castaneda said. He told the committee SEIU represents staff across OSH's three campuses in Pendleton, Junction City and Salem and advocated keeping current staffing and hiring additional personnel such as mental health technicians and security upgrades.
Randy Davis, a longtime Oregon State Hospital employee who trains staff on verbal de-escalation and handling psychiatric emergencies, said recent staffing increases have helped reduce mandatory overtime and allowed better patient care. "We've come a long way in the state hospital," Davis said. "Recently, you've included a number of more staff for us, which has helped dramatically. It's reduced the number of mandatory overtimes and reduced the number of overtimes at the hospital and allowed us to provide better care for our patients."
David Lynch, a registered nurse at OSH and president of the nurses' union, described chronic understaffing, gaps in safety protocols and insufficient post-incident support for staff. He urged the committee to approve requests in the Oregon Health Authority budget that would add 136 mental health therapy technician positions, expand forensic evaluation services, add electronic vital-sign monitoring and increase security screening. "We are exposed to chronic under staffing, alarming gaps in safety protocols, inadequate training, and insufficient support after incidents, and we demand change," Lynch said.
Speakers did not request a specific amendment to HB 5025 during the hearing; their testimony was a formal public record urging the subcommittee to approve the governor's recommended investments for OSH.
The hearing record shows union witnesses and hospital staff focused on staffing levels, safety improvements and funding for positions and equipment. No formal motions or votes were taken during the public testimony period; the subcommittee later closed the public hearing on HB 5025.
The subcommittee chair closed public testimony and moved to administrative business. No legislative action on the hospital funding was recorded in this hearing.
