Fenty Lays Off Docs At Youth Rehab Services

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

In what the District of Columbia Nurses Association (DCNA) calls “yet another wrong-headed move by the current Mayor and his administration,” the Department of Youth Rehabilitative Services (DYRS) recently announced lay offs of all doctors and physicians' assistants, leaving registered nurses as the only medical care givers at the troubled agency. Just two Nurse Practitioners and five other registered nurses will have to provide medical care for hundreds of children in the DYRS system, according to Edward J. Smith, Staff Attorney for DCNA. “Once again, the Mayor and his newly hired leaders have taken drastic action jeopardizing the lives of children without even talking to health care professionals who understand the issues,” Smith added. The DYRS serves more than 800 children at any given time. DCNA – which has endorsed Vince Gray for Mayor -- represents approximately 200 registered nurses employed by the District of Columbia and 2000 RNs and other health care professionals working in the District.