Technical Assistance
COCHS provides a wide range of services at the interface of correctional health and community services. Multiple jurisdictions have requested our assistance in improving the healthcare delivery within in their correctional facilities.San Diego County, California: 2020
COCHS has been selected by San Diego County to conduct a best practices assessment for the County Jail. This project will be led by Dr. Homer Venters, Presiden of COCHS with Michael Dubose, CEO of COCHS, and will focus on practices by security and health staff that reduce mortality and morbidity in the jail setting. Dr. Venters and Mr. Dubose will review relevant data from San Diego, meet with stakeholders, compare local practices to national best practices, and produce a report that provides recommendations for improving facility systems that are critical to morbidity and mortality.Former Rikers Island medical chief to lead study of San Diego County jails
San Diego Union-Tribune
Sheriff, supervisors should better define jail healthcare goals, study says
San Diego Union TribuneChatham County, Georgia (Savannah): 2015 - 2019
Chatham County, Georgia (Savannah) contracted with COCHS to develop a request for proposal (RFP) in order to select a new healthcare vendor at the Chatham County Detention Center (CCDC). Included in the RFP was a requirement to obtain a new electronic health record that would interface with the local health information exchange (HIE), Georgia Regional Academic Community Health Information Exchange (GRAChIE) --now ChathamHealthLink. After selection of the new healthcare vendor, CorrectHealth, Chatham County requested that COCHS monitor the new healthcare vendor's delivery of contracted services and assess penalties for non-compliance. COCHS conducted monthly on-site visits at CCDC to determine the overall status of the new vendor’s processes, implementation of policies and procedures, maintenance of appropriate levels of staffing, and timely dispensing of medications. In addition, COCHS provided assistance in the county obtaining electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR) for CCDC.
Health IT Protecting Our Most Vulnerable at the County Jail
HIMSSFor sheriffs, healthcare for inmates can be a burden. For one doctor, it has been the opportunity of a lifetime
AtlantaDeath and politics roil a Georgia jail
ReutersNassau County, New York: 2016 - 2017
In 2016 the Attorney General's Office in the State of New York, through NASSAU County Counsel, contracted with COCHS to provide on-site technical assistance to assess and provide on-going monitoring of the healthcare provided by the contracted provider. COCHS was required to provide recommendations for improved healthcare delivery and continuity-of-care. COCHS engagement involved using pre-established performance indicators for the purpose of establishing compliance/non-compliance with contract requirements and deliverables and associated penalties for failure to meet established pay for performance (P4P) thresholds. To accomplish the objectives, COCHS met with correctional management and healthcare staff to perform ongoing auditing and monitoring. COCHS provided weekly on-site monitoring of the healthcare and subsequently performed monthly monitoring independent of the County monitor.Nassau Hires Jail Medical Monitor After Alleged Neglect
Long Island PressVermont Department of Corrections: 2013 - 2015
The Vermont Department of Corrections contracted with COCHS to determine how best to design a pay for performance (P4P) contract for correctional healthcare services. In 2011, the state legislature passed “The War on Recidivism Act” (Act 41), aimed at stemming the growth of the state’s correctional population. Among its provisions, Act 41 authorized a study into how the Vermont Department of Corrections (DOC) could best provide quality health services to inmates for less cost. COCHS interviewed multiple stakeholders throughout the state on how best to meet the needs of justice-involved individuals. COCHS used this feedback to develop the criteria for developing a P4P request for proposal (RFP). Included in this RFP was specifications for an EHR to replace the department's existing system.
Development of a Performance-Based RFP for Correctional Health Care Services in Vermont
COCHSTask Force on Behavioral Health and the Criminal Justice System, New York City: 2014
COCHS provided consultation to Mayor Bill de Blasio's Task Force on Behavioral Health and the Criminal Justice System. COCHS worked with team members from the GAINS Center to create a sequential intercept map for New York City. For each sequential intercept point, COCHS and team members identified opportunities to divert individuals away from the criminal justice system and how these opportunities might be funded by Medicaid. COCHS expertise identified legal and regulatory barriers for Medicaid funding.
New Jersey Office of the Attorney General: 2009 - 2010
In 2010 the Attorney General's Office in the State of NJ contracted with COCHS to provide on-site technical assistance to 4 jurisdictions throughout the state to improve health care for people incarcerated in and released from custody in county jails. COCHS engaged with these jurisdictions to assess the status of and make recommendations on the healthcare delivery and re-entry services. COCHS conducted monthly on-site visits with corrections officials, healthcare providers and community stakeholders to determine the overall status of each entity's role in these processes and to facilitate the delivery of appropriate and timely health care and improved continuity of care for individuals incarcerated in these jurisdictions. COCHS had a direct impact on in each jurisdiction; namely, improved, unobstructed access to health care, creation and implementation of a wide range of health care protocols, policies and procedures that were not in place at the time of COCHS' engagement.