The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #49575

Thomas Lincoln, MD, CCHP¹, Thomas Conklin, MD, CCHP-A², Robert Tuthill, PhD², Cheryl A. Roberts, MPA³, Sofia Kennedy, MPH⁴, James Vivian, PhD², Jeffrey Scavron, MD⁵, and Theodore M. Hammett, PhD³. (1) Brightwood Health Center, Baystate Medical Center & Hampden County Correctional Center, 380 Plainfield St., Springfield, MA 01107, (413)794-8375, silklinc@massmed.org, (2) Health Services, Hampden County Correctional Center, 627 Randall Road, Ludlow, MA 01056, (3) Public Health Applications and Research, Abt Associates Inc., 55 Wheeler Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, (4) Abt Associates, Inc, 55 Wheeler Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, (5) Brightwood Health Center, 380 Plainfield St, Springfield, MA 01107

Jail health care providers have a striking opportunity to impact medical, infectious, mental, and substance-related illness in the community. A cooperative program between a county jail, four community health centers, and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health arose in part out of the Community-Oriented Primary Care process. This public health model of correctional health care allows the same provider to care for patients in jail and in the community after release and emphasizes five essential elements: disease detection, effective treatment, patient education, prevention, and continuity of care. The Hampden County Correctional Center with Abt Associates Inc. has undertaken a three-year evaluation to assess whether the model changes risk behaviors (e.g., substance use) and health care utilization, and identify barriers and facilitators to accessing health care in jail, immediately after release, and in the community.

Inmates with chronic medical or serious psychiatric conditions were eligible for the evaluation and participated in interviews related to health seeking and risk behavior. Preliminary analysis of study participants at intake in the jail (n=184), and at one month (n=89) and six months (n=61) post-release show common significant barriers and facilitators to accessing services.

Final data and analysis will be presented on 198 baseline, 113 one-month, and approximately 130 six-month interviews.

Learning Objectives: From this session the participant should be able to

• Describe an innovative structure for a jail and community health program.
• Identify 5 facets of a public health model for correctional health care.
• Analyze facilitators and barriers to maintaining health care after jail in this program.
• Discuss issues in creating similar programs in other communities.

Keywords: Jails and Prisons, Community-Based Health Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.