View the entire newsletter for more articles: 2018 – NJAC County Biz – April
Inmates at the Camden County Correctional Facility are being provided with enhanced, individualized medical care under a new program that offers residencies to doctors who are interested in learning about correctional health care.
The program began in September and presently has three residents affiliated with Cooper University Health Care learning to treat inmates who present chronic and acute conditions. The residents will gain an awareness of both the commonalities and differences unique to practicing medicine on individuals in a correctional setting versus those in a hospital or other medical environment, with particular emphasis on the physical and psychological needs of the inmates.
It was proposed by Dr. Jenny Melli, an internal medicine and primary care physician with Cooper University Health Care.
“There is a strong need for training like this that focuses on vulnerable and underserved populations,” said Dr. Melli, who is also an assistant professor at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. “In addition to the knowledge gained by the residents about providing this type of care, it also increases their sensitivity to the needs of this population and provides a greater understanding about their lives.”
Dr. Melli and Warden Karen Taylor said the program will encourage inmates to seek primary care upon their release, which will be offered by Cooper.
“Many of them have chronic medical issues and need to be assisted with developing a long-term solution to address those problems,” Warden Taylor said. “When they go back into the community, they will hopefully be more likely to seek treatment, maybe even seeing the same doctors who served them while they were here.”
The program is optional for inmates, but has been very well received, said Warden Taylor.
“Our medical department has always done a terrific job,” she said, “but this really goes above and beyond, and our inmates are choosing to embrace this program and accept the opportunity for more personalized care.”
Medical care to inmates is provided by CFG Health Systems, LLC, which is excited to mentor the residents on how to provide effective treatment in a correctional setting.
“This provides a valuable opportunity for the residents, and also has tremendous benefits for the detainees,” CFG Medical Director Dr. James Neal said. “This is a very different clinical experience than what most residents have undertaken. It is also a great opportunity for a disconnected population to have access to outstanding care.”
Camden County Freeholder Jonathan Young Sr. said “it is imperative for the county to personalize care to inmates because we believe this will directly correlate to a smoother re-entry process and cut down on recidivism.”
“Many of the individuals entering the jail have behavioral health or substance abuse challenges that need to be assessed and treated when they enter our institution,” Freeholder Young Sr. said. “Personalized care will set these inmates on the right track for a sustainable future that will be critical to creating a functioning lifestyle outside our facility.”