Author: UCLA Health System

UCLA police are investigating an alleged online incident in which a person pretending to represent the UCLA Health System in a hiring capacity financially scammed an individual seeking employment. UCLA was informed of the incident on June 17 by the alleged victim.

 

“To our knowledge, the potential candidate posted a resume on a non–UCLA-affiliated site and was contacted by a scam artist posing as an employment recruiter via email,” said Robin Epstein Ludewig, director of human resources planning and talent acquisition for the UCLA Health System. “We treat such abuses seriously and refer them to law enforcement agencies as appropriate.”

 

After receiving the email, the potential candidate participated in an online chat with the recruiter, who provided false information about UCLA Health System job opportunities. The candidate completed an online interview with the recruiter, was “hired” and was asked to provide the recruiter with $300 to purchase computer materials to support the newly landed job from home. After paying this amount, the candidate determined that the recruitment had been fictitious and contacted UCLA to report the crime.

 

Reports of similar attempts at this type of fraud have been received by UCLA since late April. UCLA does not require — and has never required — anyone seeking employment to pay any fees during its hiring process. 

 

Anyone with information about this or similar incidents is urged to contact the UCLA Police Department at 310-825-9371. 

 

The UCLA Health System encourages all applicants to visit its website, www.uclahealthcareers.org, and apply online for positions that meet their background and qualifications.

UCLA Health System has taken numerous steps to protect patient safety in anticipation of a strike expected to begin at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, May 21.

In anticipation that hundreds of AFSCME and UPTE employees would not come to work, the UCLA Health System postponed twenty-five percent of the surgeries scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. In addition, the patient census, which is normally at or above 100 percent of capacity, has been lowered to about 80 percent. Approximately 550 replacement workers and redeployed administration staff will fill in for striking workers in positions ranging from housekeeping staff to respiratory therapists and nursing assistants. The estimated cost of the two-day strike to UCLA is more than $5 million, which reflects lost revenue and expenditures for replacement workers.

Patient care areas that would be impacted include Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, UCLA’s Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital, the David Geffen School of Medicine, Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA and its community and outpatient clinics.
“We sincerely regret any inconvenience this strike may cause our patients, their families and friends,” said Dr. Tom Rosenthal, chief medical officer, UCLA Hospital Systems. “However, every effort is being made to ensure that the hospitals and clinics that are part of the UCLA Health System remain open and continue to deliver the highest level of patient care and safety through the duration of the strike.”

The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE) represent about 5,000 UCLA Health System employees.

On May 20, the California Superior Court issued an injunction, which prohibits a very limited number of union employees at UCLA from striking because of the threat to public health and safety. The highest priority at UCLA Health System’s hospitals and clinics is to provide patients with safe, high quality care.

 

Related: Latest news on planned strike by patient-care workers unions at UC, UCLA

Tuesday, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union announced it is asking the UC patient care and service employees it represents at UCLA Health System hospitals and clinics to strike.

 

It is very disappointing that AFSCME is threatening services to patients as a tactic in negotiations that are mainly about pension benefits — our patients are not bargaining chips.

 

The first priority at UCLA Health System’s hospitals is to provide patients with safe, high-quality care. In anticipation of a possible strike, UCLA Health System staff has been meeting daily to make contingency plans so that it can continue to serve the public’s health needs.

 

A strike by AFSCME patient care and service workers could possibly involve more than 4,000 UCLA Health System and medical school employees, the majority of whom take care of patients and their families. They include patient care assistants, respiratory therapists, hospital lab and imaging technicians, custodians and food service workers. Patient care areas that would be impacted include Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, UCLA’s Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital, the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA, and UCLA’s community and outpatient clinics.

 

The cost of bringing in replacement workers to provide medical care safely and effectively would be millions of dollars, and the strike would place an undue burden on our non-striking employees.

 

The dedication and hard work of employees at UCLA Health System, including AFSCME members, allow us to provide the best patient care in the country. In return, UC provides competitive compensation and benefits.

 

To continue to provide world-class care and service, UC needs thoughtful engagement from the union leadership of AFSCME.

 

• Details about UC-AFSCME negotiations