LINCOLN- State Sen. Carol Blood has recently stepped in on behalf of workers and patients at the Lincoln Regional Center, saying that the rise in assaults, equipment needs, and mandatory overtime at the facility all add up to unsafe conditions. The Bellevue-based senator challenged Gov. Jim Pillen to act swiftly in alleviating these concerns, claiming that it's "getting very dangerous."
On Monday, Pillen's office received a letter from Blood detailing all of the issues at the facility, which acts as the state's psychiatric hospital. A spokeswoman from the governor's office acknowledged the issues, and said that a "response will be provided to [Blood's] office in due course." Blood cited a recent correspondence between her office and the mental health specialists at the facility as reason for sending the letter to the governor. The specialists, or 'techs' as they are called, told Blood that conditions at the facility were less than sufficient.
A union representative for the mental health specialists at the Regional Center described the facility as a "corrections facility meets hospital," and said different and better training is necessary if the techs are to defend themselves from potentially violent patients. Mike Chipman, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 88, which represents the techs, said he's seen a substantial uptick in techs seeking hospital attention as a result of poor working conditions. "Nobody should have to be a punching bag," said Chipman.
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