Donna Roberts is TK Health's Chief Nursing Officer. Her 20-year nursing career includes work in medical-surgical unit, cardiac telemetry, surgical practice, and correctional nursing. Her experience in corrections includes overseeing Continuous Quality Improvement and administering health programs for facilities as large as 1,800 inmates. Donna is responsible for ensuring the efficient operation of every facility we serve. She also has Certified Correctional Health Professional (CCHP) status with NCCHC.
You know that nursing is rewarding, and you want to help people. But dang, it feels stressful some days! Emotional strain and constant demands can quickly take a toll and create compounding daily stressors for nurses. The good news is that you can manage nurse… Read More »Nurse Stress: How To Handle It
Thousands of people are booked into jails every day. Of them, more than 60% meet the criteria for substance use disorder. That means a significant number of people arrive at the jail in the early stages of withdrawal and with serious medical needs. Without prompt… Read More »Treating Withdrawal in Jail
Healthcare in jails depends on strong clinical teams, thoughtful coordination, and a shared commitment to each patient’s well-being. Providers regularly deliver care through in-person services. Increasingly, telehealth is expanding access to care by adding another way for patients to connect with providers. Through secure, remote… Read More »How Telehealth in Jails Is Expanding Access to Care
Traumatic brain injuries affect many jailed people, with studies estimating that 87% of jailed people have experienced a TBI at some point in their lives. Some arrive with a prior injury that shapes how they think, feel, and respond to stress. Others experience a traumatic… Read More »Caring for People With Traumatic Brain Injuries in Jail
Living with a chronic disease is challenging in any setting. Those challenges can feel even more overwhelming when someone with a chronic illness is in jail. Patients may worry about missed medications, unmanaged symptoms, or whether their health needs will be understood and met. Loved… Read More »Dealing with Chronic Disease in Jail
Less than 10% of jail populations are women, but the number of incarcerated women is growing more rapidly than that of men. Many people arrive in jail with complex health needs that have gone unmet for years. They’ve often experienced gaps in care, chronic illness,… Read More »Treating Women’s Health in Jails
Infectious diseases can spread quickly in jails, where people live in close quarters, often after arriving with untreated health needs. People in jail have higher rates of infectious diseases than the general public, making jails a place at high risk for outbreaks. These realities make… Read More »Fighting Infectious Diseases in Jails
Providing healthcare in jails is a big responsibility. Many patients arrive with complex health conditions and past experiences that can make it challenging for them to trust others, even people who are trying to help them. Empathetic care becomes a powerful way to help people… Read More »The Power of Empathetic Care in Correctional Healthcare
People deserve access to care that supports safe healing and recovery. At TK Health, that belief guides everything we do, including how we care for patients with substance use disorders in jails. Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) is the use of FDA-approved medications to treat opioid use… Read More »Expanding Access: How Medication-Assisted Treatment Supports Recovery in Jails
Jails are on the front lines of the opioid epidemic. An estimated 63 percent of people in jail have a substance use disorder, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Many of them are living with opioid use disorder, a medical condition that affects more… Read More »Understanding Opioid Use Disorder and Its Impact in Jails