As sudden, devastating wildfires swept the Los Angeles area at the beginning of the year, UCLA CIR members immediately responded to ensure patient and physician safety.
Initially, with news of the fires spreading, UCLA administration had left its workers totally in the dark about plans for patient and worker safety. Unlike their employer, UCLA residents wasted no time, organizing through CIR and securing an emergency town hall with the administration in only 24 hours. At the town hall, physicians thoroughly questioned UCLA on their inadequate response, plans for further communications, safety, staffing, evacuation, and compensation, and made concrete demands of management.
Through the emergency meeting, CIR doctors secured commitments from the administration on improving access to PPE and to provide clearer, direct communication to housestaff during future crisis situations.
CIR leaders at UCLA are continuing to address management on the issues raised by the fire response and plan to hold the administration accountable to the commitments they made during and following the January town hall.
