SP Accretion Adds 100 New Union Siblings to 328.

—guest post by Brian Saville Allard —

Simulated (or Standardized) Patients (SPs) are the lifeblood of the human simulation department on the 3rd floor of the RLSB (and four smaller units statewide). An ever evolving field, this position began decades ago as independent contractors brought in on a case by case basis, working out of repurposed rooms in Emma Jones Hall.

In 2014 OHSU opened the RLSB (then the CLSB) and the SPs were hired on as non-union employees with a temp classification. Their wage was raised from $15/hr to $20/hr. Later a secondary position of Senior Simulated Patient was created and experienced SPs were able to apply for this at a higher rate of (static) pay.

In 2023 a new SP Program Manager was hired. Emma Vick was promoted from an AFSCME position, and one of her first priorities was getting the SPs reclassified into the union. This finally came to full fruition (after three years of negotiation) in mid July this year when all 100+ SPs across five state-wide campuses were officially accreted into the union and reclassified as Flex employees, joining the 25 full time trainers, admins, and techs in the Simulation department as our siblings.

Currently Simulation Union Steward Brian Saville Allard is working with Steward Leadership and AFSME staff to onboard, orient, and educate these new AFSCME family members on their union rights, including annual ATB raises, shift differentials, Weingarten rights, and Just Cause.

This is the power of union organizing! 100 people now have better pay and better protections while they perform this highly skilled and specialized labor of simulating patients, providing feedback, and giving our learners a safe environment in which to practice their skills as they learn.