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Survey of Health Care in Large Urban Jails

NCJ Number
141429
Journal
Large Jails Network Bulletin Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (August 1989) Pages: 2-7
Author(s)
M Kellar
Date Published
1989
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Findings from a survey of 16 large urban jails demonstrate the importance of inmate medical services and the need for jail administrators to properly plan and execute a comprehensive health care policy.
Abstract
The 14-question survey was sent to administrators of 16 randomly selected institutions outside Texas housing over 1,000 inmates and to 5 administrators representing jails in Texas with a population of over 1,000. The survey was conducted by Harris County, Texas, as part of implementing a program to upgrade inmate health care in the county jail. After receiving surveys from 14 administrators (67 percent), the medical administrator of the Harris County jail contacted respondents by telephone to discuss the issues in greater depth. Ten of the 14 jails surveyed house inmates in multiple facilities. Comprehensive health care is generally provided at a single location. Inmates who require more than routine nursing and physician rounds are transported to the main medical unit. Results indicate a wide variance in the number of onsite physicians, from a low of 1 physician per 2,700 inmates to a high of 1 per 125 inmates. In all jails, prisoners have access to comprehensive medical services through various arrangements with county hospitals. Medical costs range from a low of $500 per inmate per year to a high of $2,666. Critical issues cited by respondents include AIDS, rising health care costs, overcrowding, professional staff shortages, and mental health issues. Inmate medical services provided by physician's assistants, registered and licensed nurses, psychiatrists and psychologists, and dentists are examined, along with the availability of nonemergency services such as optometry and radiology. 1 table