Metro Jail, Nashville, Tennessee
September 24, 2007 Fairview Observer
Two years after Correct Care Solutions won a $36 million contract to
provide medical care for Metro's jail inmates, some prisoners are filing
lawsuits alleging their treatment has been inadequate. The lawsuits are
being filed at a time when the cost of providing medical care to inmates
in Nashville is rising. The budget last fiscal year for inmate medical
care was $7.8 million, but this year, the budget is $9.4 million. Most
of the money goes to Correct Care Solutions, while about $250,000 pays
for salaries and benefits for three Metro employees, officials said. The
budget increase is because of inflation, spending in offsite care and
growth in Metro's average daily inmate population, city health officials
said. "We feel very good about the care we are providing," said Patrick
Cummiskey, spokesman for Correct Care Solutions. "The fact that we have
a couple lawsuits, that's just typical of this industry." Despite the
lawsuits — a total of five in state and federal court collectively
seeking $4.8 million in damages — Metro officials are pleased with
Correct Care Solutions, noting that the provider ushered in changes to
improve inmate medical care since winning the contract in 2005. Metro
switched providers after a diabetic inmate died while the city was
contracting with Prison Health Services, a company that had held the
Metro contract since 1995. Allegations against the new provider range
from delays in treating broken bones to failing to provide heart
medication. A contract monitor for the health department reviewed the
case files and found no reason for concern, said Cathy Seigenthaler, the
health department's director of correctional health services. "We're
satisfied with what they're doing, and we're glad to have them,"
Seigenthaler said.September 12, 2005 Tennessean
Metro government officials are hoping that a two-year-old Nashville company with
a virtually flawless record of service will be the cure for inmate health-care
problems at the city's main lockup. After less than three years in business,
Correct Care Solutions won a $36 million contract to provide medical care to
Metro Jail inmates beginning Oct. 1. The contract comes after a year during
which the jail's previous health company, Prison Health Services, was accused of
providing substandard care to diabetic inmates after the death of one prisoner
and serious illnesses of two others. Of particular concern was the Jan. 19 death
of inmate Ricky Douglas, who was found unconscious in his cell hours after
pleading for medical attention he didn't receive. Subsequent investigations
found many problems with the training of jail health workers and the mishandling
of prisoner records. The company's chief executive is Jerry Boyle, a former
president and CEO of Prison Health Services who left in 2003 to form the new
company. But the company's work has not gone entirely unchallenged. In Norfolk,
Va., the family of a 35-year-old female inmate is questioning the care she
received before her July 11 death. Relatives said the woman complained for days
that her pneumonia was not being adequately treated and that her condition was
not improving. In Durham, N.C., a judge ruled earlier this year that a triple
homicide suspect did not receive adequate medical care after a dispute over
whether jail staff withheld medication that the prisoner's family had purchased
and provided. It was unclear what role Correct Care Solutions would have played
in obtaining the medication from jail guards. In Santa Fe, N.M., an attorney
complained to a District Court judge that her client's life-threatening medical
needs were not being met. A company that operated the jail, and subcontracted
medical service to Correct Care Solutions, backed out of its contract there,
citing challenges in providing adequate medical services. Correct
Care officials said the problems in New Mexico involved the private prison
management company and were not a reflection of its service.
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