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DURHAM -- City Council members signaled Thursday that they're now willing to shut down their government's in-house medical unit and give its work to an arm of Duke University Health System.
The move would take effect on March 1 and save taxpayers an estimated $183,461 a year, Finance Director David Boyd said during a council work session.
Council members still need to formally approve the closure, but they indicated that that decision is coming on Feb. 15 when they next meet to transact business.
"In light of the economic times, we have to save money, and certainly this operation provides an opportunity to save money and we need to do it," Councilman Howard Clement said. "To me the primary question was timing. I'm going to support what's recommended."
Clement was alluding to the council's reluctance last fall to act on the proposal, which at the time would have cost three employees their jobs during the holiday season.
One of those employees has since found another job. Administrators are trying to find jobs for the two that remain, either on the city staff or with another employer.
The so-called Employee Health Services staff has been the go-to place for city workers who require medical attention for a couple of decades.
Among other things, EHS conducts pre-hiring check-ups of potential workers, provides the initial care of workers injured on the job and certifies that employees who have recovered from injuries or illness are fit to go back to work.
But Durham is alone among the state's 10 largest city and county governments in keeping that work in-house, so administrators propose to farm it out to Duke Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
That office now handles similar tasks for all of Duke University and hundreds of other companies, said Dr. Dennis Darcey, its chief physician.
Boyd said officials priced out options for retaining the in-house unit. All are more expensive than outsourcing, partly because administrators would need to find and pay a doctor to supervise it.
Outsourcing also promises quicker turnaround times on some services, because Darcey and other physicians will be on hand to do or sign off on the work, Boyd said.
The only downside administrators see, other than having to find new jobs for or lay off the unit's two remaining employees, is that the Duke operation is based on Slater Road at the edge of RTP near the Sheraton Imperial hotel.
They pledged Thursday to do what's necessary to ensure that employees have easy access to the facility.
"We will not have any barriers," Deputy City Manager Wanda Page said.
Employee Health Services receptionist Connie Crutchfield said she and her remaining colleague would prefer to be given another year to show they can operate the unit in a "more cost-effective" way.
She also said officials should do more to prepare the two for interviews for jobs in other city departments.
Council members sympathized, but made it clear another reprieve is unlikely.
"I appreciate your courage in standing up for your job," Councilman Farad Ali said. "We want employees who want to be here. I am sorry that the business model doesn't work well financially for the city because we've got to be responsible."
He added that he will "pray" the two workers find other positions.
