Medical Observation in Jails

Why is medical observation in jails essential?

Generally speaking, people who were arrested and admitted to jail tend to have high rates of chronic disease, mental illness, and substance abuse. Jails often act as their first consistent source of health care. Due to these health issues, the most common cause of death in jail is suicide, followed by drug overdoses and health problems. Unfortunately, jails are not hospitals, thus they were not initially designed to fulfill hospital duties. Due to these health issues, the most common cause of death in jail is suicide, followed by drug overdoses and health problems. Inmate safety should be a jail's upmost priority for legal, moral, and social reasons. While in jail, inmates are often exposed to communicable diseases, violence, and poor nutrition, further exacerbating previous issues. As most inmates will reenter society, adequate healthcare can improve their physical functions and enable reintegration and involvement in productive activities. Without proper care, inmates will likely repeat past behavior and become recurring jail admits.

What are the barriers to medical observation in jails?

The biggest barrier to proper medical care in jails is money. Most jails are underfunded, and are not given enough money to provide adequate medical care. For example, in 2015, the Los Angeles County Jail system had a budget of $1.3 billion dollars. That's a lot of money. But it's not enough to provide adequate medical care for the roughly 18,000 inmates that are housed there on any given day. The jail system has to be very selective about what medical services they provide. Inmates who are deemed to be "high risk" for medical problems are given priority for treatment. This means that inmates who have a chronic condition like diabetes or heart disease are given priority over inmates who have a sudden injury or illness. Inmates who need urgent care will be seen immediately, but inmates who need long-term care may have to wait for days before they see a doctor.Inmates with mental illnesses are also given priority for treatment because they are considered high risk for suicide or self-harm. This means that mentally ill inmates may get to see a psychiatrist within hours of being booked into jail instead of waiting weeks or months like other inmates might have to wait. Jails also struggle to provide medical observation because of the high turnover of inmates and the lack of resources. Correctional facilities also tend to be overcrowded and understaffed.

How can technology help jails achieve improved medical observation operations?

Mobile technology is increasingly being used to improve the efficiency of medical observation operations in jails. Mobile technology can help jails achieve improved medical observation operations by providing a platform for real-time data collection and analysis. The use of mobile technology, such as tablets, smartphones, and other mobile devices, allows jail staff to collect and analyze data. This allows jail staff to better understand the needs of inmates and to make informed decisions about their care. Mobile technology can be used to collect data from a variety of sources. For example, jail staff can use mobile devices to collect data from the inmate's medical record, such as allergies and medications. Jail staff can also use mobile devices to collect data from the inmate's cell, such as the temperature and humidity levels. Jail staff can also use mobile devices to collect data from the inmate's health status, such as vital signs and symptoms.