I received the following letter from a member of the staff
at Sequoyah Adolescent Treatment Center.
I have obtained their permission to post the letter because I felt it
was a great example how management of Sequoyah has declined and the best interest
and safety of staff and residents is being compromised. I have added clarification
where it is needed for those of us who are not familiar with certain items and I can add
additional clarity if needed. Just ask in the comments and I wil get the
info and add it.
The Anita mentioned is of course director Anita Westbrook. The letter does give some insight into the challenges staff encounters without management (Director Anita Westbrook and acting Medical Director Dr. Babak Mirin) meddling with processes tha have been long in place.
The Anita mentioned is of course director Anita Westbrook. The letter does give some insight into the challenges staff encounters without management (Director Anita Westbrook and acting Medical Director Dr. Babak Mirin) meddling with processes tha have been long in place.
__________________________________________
Dear Johnathan, I am a psych tech at Sequoyah Adolescent Treatment Center. I have been here for a few years and make between $9 and $12 an hour. The longer I have been here, the more likely I am to make less money. Newer people are being hired at a higher rate. Like most state employees, I haven’t had a raise in years.
I probably have children and I may or may not have someone to help raise them. I have to work a second job/collect food stamps/work extra shifts or even do all three to support my family. I have looked for other jobs, but it is hard to find a job. Besides, I like working at Sequoyah, or at least, I did. I have worked at other treatment centers or in corrections, and I would never work anywhere else. People have worked here for many years. Two psych techs actually retired and worked their entire careers at Sequoyah. Let me tell you why.
Before July 2012, Sequoyah was an amazing place. It was not perfect, and there had been changes with a new director, but overall it was still running really well. I work with some of the most difficult kids in New Mexico. I have worked with rapists, murders, and kids who had really hurt people. I am not afraid of them. They are human, just like me. Most of these kids have been horribly abused or neglected, which does not excuse their violent behavior, but it does help explain it. I know that if I treat them with dignity and respect, most times I get the same in return. And I feel like what I do is important and has meaning. I could tell you stories about kids that everyone else had given up on, and after they came to Sequoyah, they ended up doing ok. Not every kid does good after they leave, but there are enough to make it clear that what I do matters.
These residents act out. There are probably at least two or three restraints a week- sometimes more, sometimes less. There are countless times that I and the other staff worked through a situation and did not have to do a restraint. I hate doing restraints. I don’t know anyone who likes them. At Sequoyah, if there are people who “like” restraining kids or use restraints when they don’t need to, they do not last. It is not ok for any of us to use a restraint except as a last resort for safety and we all know that.
Like I said, I am not afraid of the kids. I am not stupid- I know every day that I come to work, I could get hurt. Staff get hurt, but it is usually minor, and we just know it is part of the job. It is a risk we take. I am not friends with everyone I work with, and I don’t even like some of them, but I did know they had my back. If I called on the radio for help, there would be someone there to help me very fast. Sequoyah has the best staff ratio I have ever heard of- we have at least 1 staff for every 3 kids. The state requires only 6:1. The managers work very hard to make sure every shift is staffed not only with enough people, but a balance between males and females and staff who have been here a while working with newer staff. Who is working is as important as how many staff there are.
I have been trained, and trained, and retrained on how to work with the boys. I know how to de-escalate them, and I know how to handle it if de-escalation fails. I was sure that if I was burnt out or being targeted by the resident, I had team mates who would take over. I didn’t have to say to restrain a kid by myself because we always worked as a team. And there was always a milieu supervisor on duty to deal with the really hard situations. Also, I knew that I could call my manager or the milieu director at any time, night or day, if I needed help.
Starting in July, things started falling apart here. The rules changed, but no one really told us. I had to do restraints that I did not think were necessary because some new doctor told me to. I had to watch a kid beat himself bloody and was not allowed to stop him because some other new doctor told me I could not. I asked my supervisors, and they asked their supervisors, and the only answer I got was “Do what the doctor says”. I started hearing that people were getting in trouble and worrying about their jobs.
I signed the petition because I believed what it said. I hoped that Anita would think about what was going on if she knew that so many of us saw the same problems. I have been worried ever since I signed it. I have seen people walked out of the building and they haven’t come back. I have heard that at least one person is being fired. My supervisors are scared and confused, and we no longer know what to do when problems come up. One day we are trusted to say if a resident is dangerous, and the next day we are told that we are not qualified to say that. We were told we have to call a nurse to decide, but it takes a long time for a nurse to come, and I am scared about what might happen while we are waiting. The nurses are so busy with their own stuff to do, it isn’t fair that they have to come do what has always been our job to do.
I heard that some of the managers got in trouble for not restraining a kid one day, and then got in trouble the next day because they did a restraint. Staff who do restrain kids are called into a meeting and have to explain what happened to the doctor and to the director. No one wants to be the one to restrain a kid because they don’t want to get in trouble. The responses to back-up calls take longer and less people respond because they don’t want to be in a restraint. I haven’t seen it yet, but I fear for the day we let a kid get hurt because everyone was afraid to do a restraint. It is a mess. I no longer feel safe when I come to work. It feels like at any moment everything could get out of control. Also, there are just not enough staff. Many of us are working overtime, but there are lots of shifts that are not staffed as carefully as before, and I just don’t feel like I have enough people around me to back me up.
And now they have taken away our spit nets. We are not told if residents have a disease such as AIDS or Hepatitis. We are taught universal precautions, and to treat everyone like they have a disease. Many of the kids spit and bite. Spit net are used to help us make sure we don’t get a disease. We have a policy that says when to use them, and we only use them when we have to. I feel even more scared now. If I have an exposure, I will have to spend my own time going to an urgent care or ER (staff don’t get paid for their time when they go to the doctor for a work related injury), I will have to get my blood drawn twice (once now and once in 6 months), and I will be worried the whole time that I may have gotten a disease and that I might expose my children. Why did this happen? Is administration punishing us or trying to run us off?
No staff appreciation day, no matter how well planned or what they feed us, can make up for what they have done to the morale of the staff. Someone once said we are “one big dysfunctional family”. We are not a family anymore. We are not even a team. Sequoyah is falling apart. I wish someone would see that, and help us, so that we can help the kids. Thank you for all you are doing and keep fighting for us and the kids.
God Bless,
-One of the Many Dedicated Psych Techs at Sequoyah
__________________________________________
It is scary that management would remove an infection
control measure (spit nets) that was approved by JKM, the company that trains for safe crisis management (SCM). JKM is nationally recognized and SCM is used
throughout the United States and other countries. JKM not only has no problem
with the use of spit nets, JKM often recommends their use
to programs that would benefit from them. Here is what spit nets look like. They have been used for about seven years at Sequoyah.
To all the staff at Sequoyah,
Continue to do what is best for the residents and keep yourselves safe. We are fighting for you and will continue fighting for you until there is positive change. We care about both the staff and residents at Sequoyah whose safety is paramount to anything else. I know management is making life difficult and retaliating against you. Management's bad day should never be your bad day. Their bad days are ultimately a good day for us and the truth. Stay strong and remain united.
Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. -Buddha
-Johnathan Publix
If you have any comments, concerns or words of encouragement please share them below.
Our kind and wise director responded to keep the employees safe-- the staff have been issued masks that look like painters masks and plastic eye glasses. Imagine this- our kids have been ABUSED! How is it going to be for them to have a bunch of staff with their faces covered staring at them through plastic glasses. Crisis situations are traumatic and often trigger these kids! Another example of how ridiculous Anita is- this can't possibly be better for the KIDS! Also, a spit net was easy to put on one person. Now the staff will each have to put on a cumbersome mask and glasses. I don't think this is good solution! Come on, Anita, use your brain!
ReplyDeleteThe glasses and the masks are surely methods intended to dehumanize those kids.
DeleteDirector Westbrook: Google "Trauma Informed Care". Shame on you for not caring enough about the kids you serve. This is not acceptable. Makes one remember Nurse Ratchett. God bless the dedicated SATC staff for doing the right thing!
DeleteYep, there are masks and glasses...the masks are in limited supply and the person who is supposed to give them out was not there today. Even if we had them, how are we supposed to put them on in a restraint? We are criticized for appearing "intimidating" when we put on gloves in anticipation of a restraint, imagine how it will look if we all put on these masks?? And the glasses- they are terrible! One punch or headbutt to the face of a staff wearing them, and they are probably going to shatter! Maybe that is the point- I guess I would rather take my chances getting spit in my eye, instead of having my eye get punctured by a piece of plastic! And has anyone ever been hit with glasses on? It HURTS! I don't know how other people see this, but I think it is straight up punishment to staff for speaking up. How dare you compromise our safety, Anita? Have you even seen us in action when a kid is acting up? I bet you could not handle it!
DeleteDirector Westbrook: Your goal to eliminate seclusion and restraint is commendable (though from what I know about SATC's purpose, unlikely). Did you know there are nationally endorsed best practices regarding initiatives to eliminate S/R? Check out this website:
Deletehttp://nasmhpd.org/docs/publications/docs/2008/Consolidated%20Six%20Core%20Strategies%20Document.pdf
Just an example of how you are messing this whole this up, here is a quote:
"Has the leadership committed to create a collaborative, non-punitive environment, to identify and work through problems by communicating expectations to staff, and to be consistent in maintenance of effort? This step may include a statement to staff that while individual staff members may act with best intent, it may be determined later that there were other avenues or interventions that could have been taken. It is only through staff’s trust in leadership that they will be able to speak freely of the circumstances leading up to a S/R event so that the event can be carefully analyzed and learning can occur. However, the rules defining abuse and neglect are clear and the previous statement does not lift accountability for those kind of performance issues."
There is alot of good info out there, and every best practice recommendation out there will tell you being punitive and demoralizing staff will not work. You must provide support and training.
Shame on you for treating the workers the way you have!!
Stay Strong! Keep doing the right thing. Be safe as you can. REMEMBER why you are there. Let your Higher Power do the rest. Right makes Might. Whoever took the time and had the courage to write this letter is to be commended. Keep in mind ALWAYS- better to be walked out the door for doing the right thing than losing your integrity. You only have one soul. There WILL be other jobs. I'm not saying this to encourage anyone to give up. Just understand that your very wierd journey right now is worth the struggle.
ReplyDeleteMemories of our lives, of our works and our deeds will continue in others.
DeleteRosa Parks
Sad how little staff are paid when dr. Mirin is paid $2000 day.
ReplyDeleteStay strong Sequoyah staff! You guys exemplify what strength and dedication truly is! If everyone at DOH were like the Sequoyah staff then DOH would have no issues.
ReplyDeleteC'mon on Anita! What are you doing over there?!?!? You can't be this clueless?
Bravo to my fellow employee! Very well said. This letter captures the essence of Sequoyah and how two egotistical people can ruin an agency. I really do hope someone is listening and helps us save our workplace.
ReplyDeleteBrad,
ReplyDeleteIt's time to pull the plug on Healing Garden at Sequoyah before this comes back to bite you in the ass. They will find out if this goes further up than you.
Do the right thing.
Wasn't that Brad's signature on the most recent contract with these criminals? Yep, Brad, we know you are looking out for number one! Cut your losses while you can, and fix this!
DeleteNot just Sequoyah! Rehab and the state hospital too!
ReplyDeleteLets just go to the top:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.change.org/petitions/impeach-governor-susana-martinez
It is an atrocity what has transpired at Sequoyah. This facility has largely been known as a reputable treatment provider. Not only as a safety net provider but as benchmark of stability. The resources available to the dangerous clientele is invaluable and sought after. Just look at the referrals! Sequoyah is clearly a victim of a political atmosphere that is motivated by the monetary gains of a few and grossly ignored by the leaders of the State of NM. I believe that this injustice is prevalent within the department and severly needs to be rectified. Until it is rectified, this debacle is an epic failure to our communities.
ReplyDeleteRemain faithful employees of Sequoyah, your pleas and genuine concern for this facility are not ignored, you are not alone.
Mighty Techs, Supervisors, Managers, Nurses, Therapists, and All Other Supporting Employees of SATC band together as the dysfunctional family you were before and continue to follow the written policies that SATC has. As we all know you can not enforce a verbal directive regarding policy. Safety of the resident comes first.
ReplyDeleteHealthcare professionals often face complex ethical dilemmas in the workplace. Some professionals confront the ethical issues directly while others turn away. Moral courage helps individuals to address ethical issues and take action when doing the right thing is not easy.
Check the current Policies and Procedures including documented memo's and orders, then make sure you are all on the same page. SATC is already short handed as you previously stated, keep your work environment safe for your very own family. Take care of each other as well of the residents.
Stand strong!
I dont now who wrote this but i am glad some one else sees what i see. I go home mad everyday. I hope some one will help us cuz idk how long i can stand it! That docter ruined s.a.t.c.
ReplyDeleteI go home scared everyday - scared for the kids' safety, the staffs' safety, and our jobs. Anita Westbrook and Crook Mirin don't know what they are doing - Anita didn't know what she was doing in Los Lunas either. Please help us or just shut us down and transfer the kids to a facility where management is informed and actually cares.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds just like llcp! I got fired by anita from their and so did lots of other good staff! Anita loves to fire people and ruin lives! She is a bad person. She says she cares about consumers but she really doesnt. She cares about clothes and makeup and being skinnie! Sorry satc!
DeleteIt's too bad that Anita doesn't take the time to get to know the psych techs and instead ordered more cameras to spy on them.
DeleteFellow SATC employees one day soon the Zozobra and her Human Resource mini me will go up in flames! Stay strong!
ReplyDelete$2000. a day?! 24 hour medical coverage, no lunch hour, no dinner hour, no breaks, no sick days, no holidays, astronomical malpractice, no pension, no retirement, and no reimbursement for a 16+ years education costing more than a home mortgage...and all for about the cost of a root canal and crown or 1/2 the anesthesia charge for a routine gallbladder. And consider this: at $12/hr, 168 hours would pay you close to 4 grand considering customary overtime charges!
ReplyDeletewow, I'm getting a great character here: "..throws up Dr. K to draw attention away from their own misdoings..."
Delete6:49, you're about as mysterious to me as a blocked toilet is to a plumber.
Dr. Mirin is the least of your worries. Think of me as someone with a sterling memory who's had the opportunity to observe and record your response to the arrival of a true medical professional, the sinister and conspiracy ridden behaviors his arrival elicited. And really, should you feel threatened by justice? You've chosen to make this adversarial. I assure you you'll come to wish I was Dr. Mirin. Imagine how it feels to face the volley of a thousand angry eyes; it brings out the creativity in me! Anyway, I've already picked your player 6:54; the part will be a memorable one. 3:10 will be a much kinder role, though the character is a bit misguided.
DeleteThe play's the thing...[can anyone finish this?(I think 3:10 can)]
Originally posted 8:32 PM 11/08/12
Free speech is a constitutional right and justice is not served by wrongfully firing dedicated and well educated employees. Sequoyah was not adversarial prior to July 2012 and it has never been considered a prison environment and sadly that's what it's become for staff whom have been silenced, threatened and denigrated. These rants have become pathological, the meaning skewed. The threats are all over this blog, have been reported by past patients. Those cannot be hidden and the grave injustice arrived with your coming.
DeleteThe "true" medical professional, Dr. Crumbly, was walked out the door two weeks after your bogus program evaluation started. Sometimes the one's that think they're stars dazzle only like fools gold.
DeleteSatc used to be a grate place. We used to help kids.all the stuff hear may be true but really its the kids who are suffring.
DeleteDr Crumbly was a good hearted caring doctor who truly cared for these disabled ill residents, When I heard that he ws gone, all of sudden with no explanation. My heart ache because of all his good work he was doing with SATC. I feel the doctor they replaced, along with the bad staff have turn SATC to a place where THE MONKEYS ARE RUNNING THE ZOO. Keep the good staff and get good caring doctors. Dont retailiate because good caring staff wanted help. Dont back down you have rights
Delete$2000. day?! 168 hours coverage, no lunch, no dinner, no breaks, no sick days, no vacation,no medical, no pension, astronomical malpractice insurance, no reimbursement for 16+ education with a debt > home mortgage...at the price of a root canal and good crown or 1/2 the anesthesia for a routine gallbladder. And consider this: 168 hours at $12/hr would pay close to 4 grand computed with customary overtime charges.
ReplyDelete...meddling with processes that have been long in place... (a bit of plagiarism from a recent Hollywood production?)
ReplyDeleteI guess you're referring to the prison-like environs that reinforce the PTSD that led to their being there in the first place thus ensuring your future employment.
Look for this site figuring prominently in my upcoming youtube production "Medical Madness in New Mexico"
Nothing quite like federal court to take the wind out of your sails. So, get together and get your stories straight...perjury is a felony. And anonymity will no longer be an option. Methinks you'll be ordered to account for which postings you're responsible.
ReplyDeleteNo surprise mirin's post above is threatening .......he is quite the bully.
DeleteIronic that the public records posted on this sight prove there are no lies....there is only injustice on the part of doh which seems to be full of bullies. Reminds me of that recording of keith gardner....
DeleteDr. Mirin is a novice. Youtube is my playground. It's been used to bring down heads of state, celebrities, judges...and I'm always very careful to be meticulously accurate!...can't find myself a target for the libelous adventure you're participating in.
ReplyDeleteRemember this when you're woefully exclaiming "why, oh why, oh why, did I ever lie..." Oh, what a tangled web you've woven...(hmm can't seem to find a deceive equivalent for woven - Arrgh!).
42 USC 1983 only applies if there is an injured party. Only injury done has occurred by your own actions. Suing everyone is probably a sure fire way to not get anymore fat state contracts.
ReplyDeleteJust do the right thing. Fix your relationships at Sequoyah. Learn about Sequoyah and why it so different from other treatment centers around the state and why it is/was so well respected for its mission. Staff will respect the effort. Sequoyah is unique and you will struggle at Sequoyah until you realize it and embrace it. The kids at Sequoyah are different than at any other facility. They end up at Sequoyah because treating them like any other kid has failed. It is not too late to turn the whole situation around but you have to make the effort. We care about our residents. We care about our mission. We hope you can care about it too someday.
Oh, but were you facing Dr. Mirin! I'm just someone who hates injustice, hates what you've done to the kids - you've hardly got the reputation you claim - and will be instrumental in seeing the wrongs set right.
ReplyDeleteOh, by the way, your name wouldn't be Kodak would it?
you're a very good projector. Your writing style and word use does betray your identity, but that's no issue here.
PS - You're not quite right about a 42 USC 1983 filing, but for purposes here you're close enough.
We have removed several comments made today. The comments were from both sides of the issue. We have no problems with people who do not share our opinions, but there is no place here for threatening language or tone in comment posts. We will be much more selective when approving comments going forward. There is no problem with having discourse, but it will remain civil.
ReplyDelete-JP
You started an adversarial blog making criminal accusations against a highly ethical physician and all under the cloak of anonymity. Then when the charges dare be responded to, you pulled them down and made this a one sided discourse - true fascism! It's interesting how they all disappeared when your ID was outed, not that I've ever had any concerns about your treatment of the residents.
DeletePlease re-insert my responses. I've already copied them and wouldn't want to have to youtube them thereby destroying your credibility for honest discourse. You've been taken in by a nefarious faction there; don't let them rub off on you!
If you are unhappy, please email me at the address at the top of the page. Obviously, you feel there is some grave injustice that has been done, but attacking other posters and singling them out will not make anyone listen to your point of view.
DeleteYour view is important to us as well, but there are better ways to express it.
-JP
Lea Zukowski came to SATC today to pack up her office after being wrongfully terminated. Her end of 14 years of dedicated service. Shame.
DeleteI concur! It is a shame that a person so dedicated to to her job and the residents served was treated so poorly. It is a down right shame. I never knew that raising concerns and looking out for the best interest of the organization resulted in being treated so disrespectfully. What goes around comes around. It always does!...... Sadly, the residents are at ground zero of this travesty....
DeleteNot only is it a shame, it is a crime. Does the Whistle Blower Act mean nothing to DOH? Are they above the law? If that is the case we are living dark times. Lea, we are so sorry that this happened and we stand behind you. DOH Nation must stand together to right this wrong and stop this injustice. No one suffers more than the people we serve.
DeleteI have restored all comments. I do not like moderating comments so please keep them non-threatening in content and tone or they will not be approved.
DeleteIf anyone would like to put anything on YouTube, go ahead. I will even post the link for you. You are very confused on YouTube's purpose.
Here's help on putting a video on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-r5cKzjwB0
A "highly ethical physician"? If you are talking about Dr. Mirin you are very wrong... He takes kids off of 80% of their meds with no weaning, then prescribes an over abundance of IM's any time a resident is agitated, then tells nursing to order staff to restrain a compliant and calm resident in order to give him an IM, plus the whole investigation that he's under...
DeleteHe is NOT ethical...
A highly ethical person wouldn't be on a public forum threatening people. This is a great example of business as usual for Dr. Mirin. Albeit amusing while at the same time frightening.
Deletekarma goes a long way, we dont need to say too much his work speaks for him. the residents lifes were in his hands and he should have known better. Bullying me doesnt scare me from this doctor, but karma will prevail.
DeleteAs you are a lady who reads, I would refer you to a conversation between Thomas Moore and Cromwell:
ReplyDeleteTM : You threaten like a dockside bully.
C: How should I threaten?
TM: Like a minister of state. With justice.
C: Oh, justice is what you're threatened with.
C: Then I am not threatened.
You start with a blog that you represent as open discourse, it quickly deteriorates to a one sided
circus of false accusations against Dr. Mirin, my dissenting voice joins the fray and, in true fascisitic style, you shut me down and return to your one-sided diatribes. And all over feeling threatened by justice. Tsk, tsk, tsk,...this just
won't do! Now witness your blog moved to the far more public forum of youtube, and I will make it noteworthy (I've a couple with > 1,000,000 views).
The anonymity of you people is about as mysterious to me as a blocked toilet is to a plumber.
Dr. Mirin, don't you have anything better to do than to use your childish retoric to slam those who dare to disagree with you?
DeleteAnd your identity is as clear to "us people" as the sh*t you must have pulled from a toilet, Dr. Plumber.
Deleteway to go for free speech!
ReplyDeleteSo are you just going to publish your friends only for now on?
ReplyDeleteThere are two people who could put Humpty Dumpty back together, Dr. Henry Gardner and Lea Zukowski, both having contributed to the excellent facility Sequoyah once was and both having been wrongly fired.
ReplyDeleteYou still have wool over your eyes. Gardner isn't there to protect her anymore. You should be grateful the infection has been cut out. Now maybe Sequoyah can move forward.
DeleteAs long as Dr. Mirin is posting, why doesn't he talk about how he came to get his funny money contracts? Or his Medicaid fraud investigation?We would love an update.
ReplyDeleteI told my psychiatrist that everyone hates me. He said I was being ridiculous -everyone hasn't met me yet. Rodney Dangerfield
ReplyDeleteThe REAL medical director of Sequoyah- who has been on paid administrative leave since July- provided 24 hour a day coverage. He worked through his breaks. He almost never took at day off. At the bargain rate of $150,000 a year+ benefits. Somehow I think the cost of paying him does not even come close to $750,000 a year. And he did not hurt clients, was not the cause of sanctions from licensing, was not subject of a medicaid fraud investigation, did not provide probable cause for Disability Rights to investigate, did not drive off excellent staff, and did not create a hostile work environment. Additionally, the REAL medical director has an education from Yale and was actually trained to work with children. What a silly, ignorant, and inaccurate argument you have made here. Oh, yea, and the REAL medical director did not his own chauffeur to drive him to work....
ReplyDeleteOriginally Posted 11/8/12 10:22 AM
Since DOH has yet to correct the problems at SATC, I guess we have to continue talking to the media. I was hoping Santa Fe would simply do the right thing, but I see that public outrage (particularly about Mirin's contracts) is needed to create the political pressure for change. Here we go!
ReplyDeleteMake sure you mention the roswell connection...how mirin and brad came from there along with keith gardner and dr. Adams. Maybe the media attention will break apart the roswell circle and put an end to their money making schemes!
DeleteI hope part of the public outrage would be about all this affects the kids, the families, and the communities around our state.
DeleteDon't lose sight that Dr. Mirin got the big contract directly from Bradley. Roswell was always the original target and SATC and NMBHI were icing on the cake for Dr. Mirin. Bradley promised Dr. Mirin big money to take over Roswell Rehab which has now been run into the ground. Rumor has it that when Roswell Rehab closes, Dr. Mirin will take it over and hire Bradley as the CEO. Roswell Rehab is now being referred to as Sunrise South. Gardner, Mirin and McGrath are all snakes that you better watch out for because they only protect themselves.
DeleteIf this is true, are there any current or former employees from NMRC willing to speak up and advocate for your program? It is not too late. Email Johnathan. Let's do this!
DeleteDOH nation I had been a regular critic of Catherine Torres, as PHDexile, on this site until my personal email was hacked by the Martinez administration. I spoke with the Santa Fe reporter about this several weeks ago. Joey Peters can verify this. Martinez/Gardner will stoop to whatever it takes to silence their critics. I haven't spoke out, using another email address until now, because I was afraid to compromise my case against Secretary Torres. She pushed me out the door with little fanfare,despite 23 years of public service. Fight on DOH nation, you owe New Mexicans your voice against a corrupt regime. Mirin, you are toast sir.
Delete"Mirin, you are toast sir"......What sweet words!
DeleteWelcome back, PHDexile!!
DeleteAlright PHDexile, I'm glad to see you are still around. Sounds like you filed something against Torres, good for you. I just left DOH 2 months ago and ASD is still one big disfunction with Bernice and her "Circle of Trash" still abusing people and being treated like royalty by Brad and company. I think they will be in for some people filing cases against them for harassment and retaliation in the very near future. Keep your fingers crossed. In the meantime it takes a big person to stand behind his or her personal convictions, I salute you and those that do so. Like I told a lot of people at DOH, before they knew it, Torres would be gone and they would still be there. Same thing will happen soon for the "Circle of Trash", and their cohorts.
DeleteMaybe if you join the "Circle', you might get a 15% increase like Renee Turner and Inez Gonzalez. Do the math and you will see it's public record.
DeleteWant to talk about shady? How about when Torres was there and she made our ASD Director pay the price for not hiring Bernice's choice for a position in Grants, she put him in the time out corner, did an ASD re-org, let's Bernice answer to Jim "Mr. Happy" Green, who we know had input in all of this, puts more ASD Bureaus under Bernice, thus using this to justify making her an A/O II @ a range 90. She gets her $42.00/hr., then proceeds to place some of her "Circle Jerks" in positions of supervision. The $100,000.00 question for Brad and HR is how do YOU justify her keeping this money for doing less since her pets are doing what she was supposed to do, supervise these Bureaus. To top it off, she is now back under the very same ASD Director she burned. That part is kind of funny. Payback anyone. I know I wouldn't forget. This whole story is true and is definetly the definition of CORRUPTION and INJUSTICE. Yet she remains in ASD continually causing chaos and termoil. Why?
DeleteI heard Jim Green telling Bernice that Richard Crespin said she didn't have a accounting back ground. See they even know that so how does someone end up running all these departments without that education. Can HR answer that question, better yet can Brad answer that for us. Why is it that people like this get justified and then they get the increase and then they take out some of the job duties but yet they keep the same pay. What ever happen to our desk audits that they did, nothing ever came out of that as a matter of fact we even got more job duties with no increase or no re-class. I think we all need a desk audits again, what do you think HR?
DeleteYou have to remember that we have a spinless HR where the majority of the employees in there have the customer service skills of a rock. Teresa has no shame and will turn her back the other way to get ahead even if she knows that the HR transaction is illegal. Richard is right, she went from auditing purchase documents to running Accounting overnight. talk about night and day. It's the same thing as when Jim Green was put to oversee PHD programs. His background is supposedly auditing. He probably wouldn't know the difference between a condom or a toothbrush. He worked with someone special to me, back in the Highway Department days, as an auditor on the road and was constantly burning the State on travel perdeium. He along with a guy named Steve Archibuque made his (R.I.P.) and other employees lives miserable. This was in the late 80's, I guess some personality traits never change. To sum it up, yes HR knows Bernice is unqualified, but she has managed to BS her way at DOH and convinced people that are as crooked and unqualified as her that she can do the job by having those qualified do the work for her, while she takes the glory. In exchange she will bully those that they (Torres, Green, and Brad) want bullied or run out of ASD. I know Torres is no longer there, but she had a hand in this big time. Remember, it takes time to bring bad people down, but evtually it happens. Think Osama Bin Laden. Be patient.
DeleteWell I hope it happens soon before she gives Renee another raise you know this is her 3rd raise and she has only been with the Department 4 years. She got a 15% coming from DFA to purchasing under Bernice and then was in that Department for maybe a year or less then Bernice moved her into Grants with another 15% or more then reclassified her position recently in Grants and that was another 15% what do you think about that HR.
DeleteNot to burst your bubble or anything, but, the sad reality is that Bernice and Renee will probably thrive at DOH until the end of their careers. They may not answer directly for the injustices they have caused. It might be their children or grandchildren that may ultimately pay the price for their doings. Don't let them disturb your world because you are probably living a better existance as a human being than they are. They will probably sit around during the holidays at home or their rented homes and wish they were at the Runnels Building while you are around loved ones that truly care about you. That is what life is about. Comfort yourself in the thought that no one leaves this life without answering for their misdeeds, right Bernice, Duffy, Mike, Renee, Valerie, Jim, Ivy and the rest of the garbage that DOH has produced.
DeleteStill keeping an eye on this. IF anyone has any new info please email me. We will keep up the fight.
Delete-JP
The latest casualty of the ASD/Circle of Trash is Allan Rivera. Looks like Ivy screwed with him soo much that she broke him and he is no longer employed. Looks like Bernice has a good student. You still have a few years to work Ivy, remember, "What goes around, comes around." Hope you feel good about yourself.
DeleteAllan Rivera is a decent kind gentle soul. He is a hard worker and friendly employee. Ivy shame on you, God is watching. Your faith should extend beyond that one hour of mass. I will pray for your soul and the souls of the Circle.
DeleteSocorro, you are a lot better person than me. I think about all the good friends and DOH coworkers of the past that have been dealt injustice by the Circle of Trash and all I can say is God why do these pieces of crap get away with it? I comfort myself with knowing that there is more to the universe than just this silly place. I know in their black hearts that Bernice, Mike, Duffy and the rest of the Trash justify their actions and say they had a good reason for what they did, but what is wrong is wrong and God sees it. To say I'm still a little bit pissed with the way Bernice, Mike and Duffy treated me would be understated. In my heart I know I am a better person than them and I will thrive while they rot within. Allan do the right thing and fight these people for wronging you. You my friend are better than Ivy or the rest of this trash will ever be.
DeleteHealth Worker, if we give into to hatred we become just like them. We can't become what we know to be evil. The result would be that our lives would become as miserable and unfulfilled as theirs. Then we too, would bully, cheat and bear false witness against our coworkers to fill that void. Be thankful you have been given a good soul and care about your coworkers.
DeleteInteresting observation. Bernice, Duffy, Mike and Ivy all have no one to share their lives with. They all can't help but shit on those that are close to them and they flee.
DeleteTwo thumbs up on that observation. Interesting, correct and to the point.
DeleteSend any info about ASD my way. The issues in ASD even extend into Sequoyah. I haven't taken my eyes off of these issues. The only way we can fix it is if people talk about it and share what they know. That is how we can piece together the full picture. We need to clean house.
DeleteOn this Thanksgiving eve, let us DOH employees give thanks that Torres is gone, now if we could only get rid of the "Circle of Trash" that would be the perfect holiday gift, one never knows.
DeleteJust a little reminder. It is violation of State Law to video or photograph the inside of a State Facility (especially if the facility involves patients) and then post it in a public venue without written consent from the State. I would also like to add that Hacking a server to reveal the identity of anonymous posters' names is also a crime. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteHow many staff injuries and exposures were there since this letter was posted? You like numbers, anita....look at those statistics! Still feel like your doing the right things?
ReplyDeleteNot to mention the increase in residents fighting one another - a rare thing usually!
DeleteDr. Mirin is a contract employee, not a state employee. Why has he been able to come into SATC and change the program, call staff "uneducated and unqualified" and target those he doesn't like and actually have them fired? This is simply unacceptable. Why doesn't he do what he is paid to do - provide medication management-on a contract basis - until SATC either brings back its REAL medical director or gets a new one?
ReplyDeleteDid anyone ever contact the state auditor's office about Mirin's suspicious contracts?
ReplyDelete"If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito." - Dalai Lama
ReplyDeleteThis is a public call to the Governor and Attorney General to remove Dr. Mirin from Sequoyah and any other contracts with the state for unethical practices, shady contracts and investigation for medicaid fraud. We no longer want his dirt to soil the good state agencies that provide services for disenfranchised populations.
ReplyDeleteI second that!
DeleteWhat has the union done to help you guys at SATC?
ReplyDeleteThe union? This is what they have done:
ReplyDeleteSo true! The union has done NOTHING for us. Instead, individual employees (union and non-union) have stepped up, costing them their jobs or risking their jobs. Many, many actions could have been done by the union, but weren't.
DeleteYea union - where have you been? Feel free to step in anytime. Santa Fe must be laughing.
DeleteThose people ain't done s***t for us.
DeleteIf you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.
ReplyDeleteDesmond Tutu
People like Brad McGrath, Anita Westbrook, Babk Mirin who think they are above the law will get their due. I am sure of it.
ReplyDeleteThe letter broke my heart. I am an extended member of the "dysfunctional family" ;-), as I worked at SATC, before the wicked witch came in. I hear and feel yours and the boys` pain. To those that dedicate your lives to your job for the right reasons, please don't loose your passion. So know you won't, but stay strong. I hope that there's is hope for SATC continues to have the legacy and safety it once had and better. Good luck and God bless you.
ReplyDelete