Personal well-being was the theme of the day at San Quentin’s 16th Annual Health Fair. A diverse array of professionals from the healthcare industry ventured inside the walls of San Quentin to educate the incarcerated about physical and mental health. “Everybody matters and their health should be valued,” said nurse Mike, a volunteer, “I’ve worked with underprivileged populations before and I believe that every person deserves the right to health education.” The event was sponsored by TRUST (Teaching Responsibility Utilizing … [Read more...] about Professional healthcare workers showed up at San Quentin
Health Care
WALL CITY, VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2:An antidote to grief and pain
What can compassion do? Squelch rumors, train volunteers, and provide support at the California Institution for Women In 2015, women at the California Institution for Women (CIW) in Corona were traumatized by a sudden and unexpected death of a women in the Housing Unit who was very dear to all of us. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) housing, medical and responding staff all handled this death efficiently and sensitively. The Program Office called me, a program leader in our newly begun Compassionate … [Read more...] about WALL CITY, VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2:An antidote to grief and pain
Imago Dei routs the Warriors … but our very own G. Derrick is the star
George Derrick and Leonard King From a wheelchair on the sidelines, Leonard King got to watch veteran San Quentin Warrior Allan McIntosh put up 32 points but still fall short to Imago Dei, 119-102. King got to attend the game because Inmate Disability Assistance Program worker George Derrick, who also plays for the Warriors, used part of his day off to stop by the fourth floor of the infirmary and picked him up. “George is a good per- son; he’s made getting out here really easy,” King said. “It’s a mental struggle losing something you … [Read more...] about Imago Dei routs the Warriors … but our very own G. Derrick is the star
Significant improvements in prisoner health care expected from streamlining and automating CDCR medical data system
California Correctional Healthcare Services staff The prestigious HIMSS Davies Award of Excellence was given to the California Correctional Healthcare Services for developing an automated risk classification system in an effort to improve care and reduce unnecessary hospitalizations, according to a Healthcare IT News article. In past years, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation relied on paper as a basis for maintaining and storing inmate patient records—a system that was “unwieldy” and prone to losing papers. As … [Read more...] about Significant improvements in prisoner health care expected from streamlining and automating CDCR medical data system
Prison nurseries: incarcerating newborns with their mothers
Pregnant women face heart-wrenching consequences when they are incarcerated: not only must they give birth under harsh conditions, but then, most likely, they will be forced to surrender their newborn into the hands of others. Prison nurseries offer some of these women a chance to keep their babies with them, but is that always in the child’s best interest? “Incarcerating babies may strike many as unconscionable,” child welfare advocate Naomi Schaefer Riley said recently in a National Affairs article. “We must grapple with the ethical … [Read more...] about Prison nurseries: incarcerating newborns with their mothers
Alabama prison failed to identify suicidal inmates
An investigation has been launched into suicides by Alabama prisoners, NPR reported. “The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) has the highest suicide rate in the nation, with most such deaths occurring in solitary confinement and solitary-like units,” according to a case summary in the legal fight. The lawsuit was filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program. There have been over 200 suicide attempts requiring hospitalization between the filling of the case and January 2019, NPR … [Read more...] about Alabama prison failed to identify suicidal inmates
Louisiana prisoner denied life saving medical treatment
Three Louisiana prisoners are suing the state, claiming inmates have been denied life-saving drugs be- cause of cost, The Advocate reports. They contend the Hepatitis C medication is 95 per- cent effective in curing the virus, but multiple prisoners died before inmates were treated with the drug in 2016. The drug originally cost upwards of $100,000 when approved in 2014, The Advocate reported Feb. 9. The price has since dipped to about $10,000. “We’ve never refused medical treatment or care because of cost,” said prisons secretary … [Read more...] about Louisiana prisoner denied life saving medical treatment
WALL CITY: VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1, The Benefits Of the Flu Vaccine
By Lisa Santora MD, MPH Lisa M. Santora, MD, MPH The flu is not just a bad cold. Every year nearly 40,000 people in the United States die from the flu and more than 200,000 are hospitalized each year because of the flu. During the past couple of years, we have seen an increase in inmates transferred from San Quentin to local hospitals due to the flu. Sadly we have also seen San Quentin inmates die from the flu. The most common complication from the flu that leads to death is a bacterial infection of the lungs, or bacterial pneumonia. … [Read more...] about WALL CITY: VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1, The Benefits Of the Flu Vaccine
Hygiene products more readily available for incarcerated woman
Department of Health seal Female hygiene products are becoming more avail- able to incarcerated women, thanks to what is called “the menstrual equality movement,” according to corrections.com. The new policy for federal prisons was adopted in 2017. It requires all federal prisons to provide free Tampons and other hygiene products to female prisoners. A bill in Congress to apply the change to all states failed, the story reported. “It’s all part of what is called the menstrual equity movement,” said Chris Tricozzi, vice president of … [Read more...] about Hygiene products more readily available for incarcerated woman
Santa Clara jails to improve conditions after lawsuit
Santa Clara County has agreed to improve jail conditions for disabled prisoners. The action came in response to a lawsuit filed by Disability Rights Advocates, Prison Legal News reports. “It’s important that persons with disabilities have the accommodations that they need to function safely in a jail setting,” said DRA staff attorney Michelle Iorio in a press release. “We are glad that Santa Clara County will make the changes necessary to ensure that programs and facilities at the Jails are more accessible for inmates with mobility … [Read more...] about Santa Clara jails to improve conditions after lawsuit