WHEREAS:

All patients, including inmates, have the right to a personal, consistent and hands on doctor-patient relationship; and

WHEREAS:
Telemedicine has a useful, but adjunctive and limited role in the delivery of quality health care in prisons; and

WHEREAS:
Numerous companies are selling their telemedicine technologies to state and local governments as a means to save money by downsizing the prison health care and ancillary workforce; and

WHEREAS:
Significant layoffs have already occurred in the state prison system as a result of telemedicine’s expansion from specialty care into primary care; and

WHEREAS:
Any purported money savings will be offset by decreased quality of care and increased lawsuits.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That AFSCME, its councils and affiliates take a strong public position against the inappropriate use of telemedicine in prisons and other public institutions.
 
 
SUBMITTED BY: 
Stuart Bussey, President and Delegate
Ronald Bortman, Vice President and Delegate
Al Groh, Executive Director and Delegate
AFSCME Local 206
California