People jailed in the U.S. have a constitutional right to receive medical care, and the counties housing them are responsible for providing that care. However, jail officials face significant obstacles, including budgets and expertise, when it comes to providing this care. Many jails turn to correctional healthcare companies to address these challenges and others.
What Are Correctional Healthcare Companies?
Correctional healthcare companies provide physical and mental healthcare to incarcerated individuals. Counties contract with these companies to ensure inmates receive correctional healthcare that complies with legal and ethical standards. Contracting with a private company keeps the jail from having to staff and operate a medical clinic.
Correctional healthcare companies typically offer a wide range of services, including:
- Routine Medical Care: Preventative care, treatment for chronic conditions, and management of acute illnesses
- Mental Health Services: Counseling, crisis intervention, and psychiatric care
- Substance Use Disorder Treatment: Counseling and Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)
- Dental Care: Regular check-ups, emergency dental treatments, and hygiene education
- Pharmacy Management: Supplying medications and ensuring proper administration within facility guidelines
- Emergency Response: On- and off-site coordination with hospitals for critical medical situations
What specific services correctional healthcare companies provide varies, depending on the jail’s contract.
By outsourcing healthcare to these companies, law enforcement officials benefit from a partner experienced in providing care in correctional environments. These organizations help jails meet their legal obligations under the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment, and streamline healthcare services to maintain safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
“Partnering with a correctional healthcare company like TK Health allows corrections officials to focus on what they do best while not having to worry about whether those in their care are receiving the medical services they need,” said Flint Junod, CEO at TK Health. “Our goal is to provide a high level of care to people in custody while being fiscally responsible to the counties we serve and, therefore, the taxpayers in those areas.”
The Unique Challenges of Correctional Healthcare
Providing correctional healthcare comes with unique challenges that the involved parties must consider. These challenges include:
- Overcrowding and Resource Limitations. The number of people in jails, along with staffing issues in some locations, makes it taxing for sheriff’s deputies to recognize the need for medical care and ensure treatment.
- Prevalence of Chronic Illnesses and Mental Health Issues. Inmates are more likely than the general population to experience illnesses and mental health issues and be coping with addiction, elevating the need for care for complex issues.
- Security Concerns and Restrictions on Care. Medical care in jails is provided with security in mind. In some cases, security protocols may limit the availability of certain types of care, and medications are tightly controlled.
“It takes a special type of medical professional with a heart for helping others and an understanding of the unique environment to work in jails,” said Donna Roberts, chief nursing officer at TK Health. “Our nurses and other medical staff know how to handle the challenges that come with correctional healthcare and thrive in this unique environment.”
Key Benefits of Using Correctional Healthcare Companies
Correctional healthcare companies provide a range of benefits that make them essential partners for detention facilities. From improving inmate care to enhancing operational efficiency, these companies help address the unique challenges of providing healthcare in correctional settings.
Specialized Expertise
Correctional officers typically aren’t medical professionals and have limited training in responding to these needs. Correctional healthcare companies employ medical professionals trained to work within the correctional environment.
The staff, many of whom are correctional nurses, are experienced in handling the high prevalence of chronic illnesses, infectious diseases, and mental health disorders among inmates. They are also adept at managing security protocols, ensuring staff and inmate safety during medical care.
Cost-Effective Solutions
A study by The Pew Charitable Trust found that the average cost of healthcare is almost $6,000 per inmate each year. Managing healthcare internally can be expensive and inefficient for jails. Correctional healthcare companies streamline this process by offering tailored, cost-effective solutions.
These companies help correctional facilities ease the taxpayer burden through efficient resource allocation and bulk purchasing of medical supplies and medications. They also reduce the risk of costly taxpayer lawsuits by assisting the county jail with compliance with legal and healthcare standards, minimizing liability for the jail.
Improved Health Outcomes for Inmates and Community Health
Unfortunately, incarcerated people often have a myriad of mental and physical health concerns that have gone unmet. Correctional healthcare companies provide timely and consistent care that improves overall health outcomes.
Early diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions reduce complications and improve quality of life. While mental health and substance abuse programs help inmates stabilize and prepare for reintegration into society.
Overall, access to good correctional healthcare programs benefits community health by helping some of the sickest people who previously didn’t have access to healthcare. Many of their health needs are identified or met when they return to their communities.
“We care for the most vulnerable population. Oftentimes, the only medical care they receive is while they are incarcerated,” Roberts said. “We focus on physical and mental health while stabilizing acute needs and work to establish continuity of care upon their release to the community.”
Contracting with TK Health
TK Health provides correctional healthcare services to about 150 jails throughout Oklahoma and the region. Our partners are everywhere from Texas to Kansas and Colorado to Tennessee. Our team oversees the day-to-day healthcare operations in jails with populations ranging from 25 to more than 2,000 inmates. And, we pride ourselves on being able to deliver individually customized services unique to each client, regardless of facility size or complexity of services.
Want to learn more about partnering with TK Health for your correctional healthcare needs? Contact us at [email protected].
