COLORADO SPRINGS — Peak Vista Community Health Center, a non-profit organization with 22 locations serving about 81,000 patients in Colorado’s Pikes Peak and East Central regions, is being accused of unfair labor practices.
The Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD), a California-based labor union, claims that Peak Vista recently asked its medical providers to increase their patient load from 22 to 28 per day, with a maximum of 15 minutes per patient. Those who disagreed were reportedly fired.
According to UAPD, at least six Peak Vista employees were terminated in the last six months, and nearly 20 others resigned after refusing to accept the new policies.
On Monday, UAPD filed a petition to unionize Peak Vista’s providers under the National Labor Relations Act. Former patients of the center also protested outside the Academy Office location, expressing their concerns about losing trusted providers.
We still haven’t received any notification that our pediatrician is gone, said Diana Wyman, a Peak Vista patient. If it weren’t for the news, I wouldn’t even know my doctor had been let go without cause.
UAPD hopes Peak Vista will voluntarily recognize the union and reinstate the terminated providers. They also want the current policy to be reversed so that providers can see a reasonable number of patients and spend adequate time with each one, without fear of retaliation for raising concerns.
Former Peak Vista providers who attended the rally said the terminations occurred without any prior warning from Human Resources.
I worry for the patients because there aren’t enough staff to handle all the appointments, said Michelle Myers, a former MD at Peak Vista. With these 15-minute appointments and more patients per day, I’m not sure their needs will be met.
Peak Vista responded to the allegations, stating they are investigating the claims and are confident they are unfounded. We strive for organizational excellence and a healthy workplace where performance goals and timely health care delivery are priorities, said Dr. Emily Ptaszek, President and CEO of Peak Vista Community Health Centers.
UAPD has filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board on behalf of the terminated providers. While they are in contact with the providers about how to proceed, they are not representing them in individual lawsuits.
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