Psychiatrists employed by San Joaquin County have formally expressed no confidence in Dr. Nia Lozano, the medical director of the county’s behavioral health services, citing concerns about her leadership. The doctors, represented by the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD), sent a letter to the county Board of Supervisors outlining their concerns.
After months of raising concerns about Dr. Lozano’s leadership during her three-year tenure, the psychiatrists have identified the following issues:
- Compromised Patient Care: Decrease in patient care quality due to concerns about delayed treatment and patient safety because of inadequate response to patient needs.
- Operational Inefficiencies: Ineffective strategic planning and poor implementation of necessary changes.
- Compliance and Ethical Issues: Dismissive of standards of care and medical-legal issues. Physicians are not able to follow the standard of care practices.
- Low Staff Morale: A hostile work environment due to lack of support, poor communication, and a tendency to criticize and escalate minor issues.
The UAPD requests the county Board of Supervisors take appropriate action to ensure that physicians can deliver the best possible mental healthcare services to San Joaquin County residents.