NCJ Number
207659
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 66 Issue: 6 Dated: October 2004 Pages: 96-98
Date Published
October 2004
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes the primary health care services offered at seven correctional residential facilities operated by Talbert House, a nonprofit social services agency in Hamilton County, OH.
Abstract
Under a grant from the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, Talbert House purchased equipment and supplies, renovated some of the sites, and determined how clients would access each of the seven clinics. An infrastructure was developed to document services, monitor financial operations, and obtain access to medication. The agency also developed shared service arrangements with a variety of community providers and recruited staff, with the latter including the hiring of advanced practice registered nurses to work with the three doctors serving in the project. The doctors were a primary care physician, adult psychiatrist, and child psychiatrist. Major elements of the project included quick assessment and diagnosis of clients onsite, the rapid and efficient treatment of routine illnesses onsite, and continuity of care through collaboration with community providers. Outcome measures of success were onsite access to primary care for at least 2,000 clients annually at the 7 sites; a 30-percent decrease in the use of emergency rooms for nonemergency primary care; a 30-percent reduction in the costs of off-site medical care; and a 20-percent decrease in the amount of behavioral treatment missed due to offsite nonemergency medical care. This article discusses some of the lessons learned, the sustainability of the project, and the benefit to clients. 4 notes