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The Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD) along with physicians and advanced practice providers at Unity Health Care in Washington, D.C., held a press briefing on Tuesday calling for improvements in working conditions at the federally qualified health center (FQHC).

During the briefing -- which was held outside the D.C. Jail, one of the locations where Unity provides care -- UAPD also announced the filing of unfair labor practice charges against Unity with the National Labor Relations Board.

A group of about 150 physicians and advanced practice providers at Unity unionized with UAPD in December 2023.

Stephen Kaufman, JD, who is serving as lead negotiator for UAPD, told MedPage Today in advance of Tuesday's briefing that the reason for the charges is that they believe Unity is not bargaining in good faith.

"We're really concerned about the safety and continuity of care for patients," Kaufman said.

As an FQHC, Unity provides care to some of the city's most vulnerable people. It has and serves nearly 90,000 patients.

Providers spoke during Tuesday's briefing and expressed ongoing concerns about working conditions and patient care as collective bargaining efforts continue.

"The biggest issue we have been dealing with thus far is safety," said Chante' Whitaker, PA-C, a physician assistant who works at Unity inside the D.C. jail, during the briefing.

This has included threats from patients that have gone unaddressed, as well as certain doors not locking, allowing patients to enter areas they should not have access to, Whitaker said.

James Tracy, CRNP, a family nurse practitioner who works at Unity's Upper Cardozo Health Center, also spoke during the briefing.

"My goal is to take care of the most complicated and the most vulnerable patients in Washington, D.C.," Tracy said. However, "during the course of our day in the clinics, we do not have enough time" to see our patients, complete the expected paperwork, and do all of the things that patients need to have done, he said.

Drew Martin, DO, a family medicine physician who works at Unity's Parkside Health Center, said during the briefing that though he believes in Unity's mission to provide care to the sheltered, incarcerated, and disadvantaged, he worries about an ongoing departure of providers.

Unity did not immediately respond to a request for comment from MedPage Today.

The FQHC is scheduled to be back at the bargaining table with UAPD by the middle of this month.

The recently-organized physicians and advanced practice providers at Unity are among a growing group of healthcare professionals nationwide who are seeking to improve patient care and working conditions through a resurgence in unionization activity.

For instance, physicians and advanced practice providers at telehealth company Bicycle Health, and anesthesiologists with Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, both unionized with UAPD earlier this year.

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