Clayton County, Iowa

What's New in County 22 - January 2012

CLAYTON COUNTY SHERIFF PROUD OF QUALITY, COST EFFECTIVE HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR DETAINEES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER

This month in “What’s New in County 22” I thought I would inform everyone on our health care services for inmates.  I am committed to providing quality health care services for the inmates of the Clayton County Law Enforcement Center. That’s why I am proud of the healthcare program I put in place two years ago for the inmates with its focus on raising the standard of inmate care while containing costs, despite an economy where expenses keep increasing. Prior to this program the sheriff’s office had to pay for any sick inmates that were not covered by insurance because they were in our care.  With its current program, the jail has cut costs for its medical program by more than half compared to what we were previously spending, saving nearly $30,000.
My program focuses on improving the quality of care delivered in the correctional setting, as well as enhancing the overall health of detainees through the use of appropriate medications and counseling. With this mission at the forefront, chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and hypertension, are better managed upon the inmate’s release into the community. In fact, the program has been shown to provide better healthcare to those incarcerated than by seeing their regular physician. This is a major advantage in the care of chronic disease and for tracking infectious disease in the community.

With an average daily population of 15 inmates, detainees of the Clayton County Law Enforcement Center receive physician and nursing services, as well as a number of other services to benefit the medical operation. Thanks to the care provided by onsite medical professionals, the program has reduced the need for officer transports to the local hospital. Therefore, officers are able to focus more on their primary responsibility of providing security in the county.  The jail also has access to a discount pricing program through its inmate healthcare provider. It’s the largest purchasing organization in the country and includes thousands of manufacturers and distributors. The program offers discounts on everyday items used by the jail -- such as food, cleaning supplies, inmate housing needs, capital equipment, and office supplies.The jail has saved thousands of dollars using this program.  The provider, Advanced Correctional Healthcare (ACH), offers healthcare services to 211 clients in 17 states. ACH is the largest provider of inmate medical services for county jails in the United States.  I first heard about ACH from a sheriff in southern Iowa and I’m happy we checked into it.  The main reason I like ACH is that as long as our jailers follow their policy and procedures, they cover our liability insurance if something were to happen.  If you would like to learn more about ACH, check out their website at advancedch.com

            On a side note I would like to thank the Moser families from the Guttenberg area for their generous donations to our Clayton County K-9 fund.  Their Christmas family auction raised a nice sum of money which will go towards “Bear” and our K-9 fund.                                                                        
 
If you have any questions, or comments, feel free to contact me anytime, e-mail me, or stop by to see me.
 
Thanks and be safe,
 
Sheriff Mike Tschirgi

Last Updated on Thursday, 01 March 2012 09:56