that had a contract with the local jail to see their patients. I briefly took that caseload on when the provider that had that caseload resigned. I hated everything about it. I worked for a federally funded clinic. It's funny how trump and musk talk about all the waste and fraud that happens with federal contracts. Truth be told, so many federally funded clinics, cannot keep staff because they are overworked and underpaid. The jail contract they had was a prime example, you had to see many patients in a short amount of time. A disservice to the patients and the provider.
The judge getting "chewed out" is emblematic of the problem - Jails are also short staffed. Putting someone on suicide watch, takes away staff from " "their usual business".
As a provider, I don't want the jail guard questioning me about my medical judgment because they are short staffed.
When it comes to mental health or any medical care for that matter in jails, its contracted to either federally funded clinics like my previous employer - where providers truly want to make a difference but are overwhelmed with immense patient loads or for profit companies that don't give a shit.
Either way, too often, incarcerated folks end up getting the shitty end of the stick.
My heart breaks for his family. I straddle both sides as a provider and someone with family members with serious mental illness, including schizoaffective d/o like Bip. It is quite challenging. I'm a strong advocate for injectables for patients with Bipolar, Schizoaffective, Schizophrenia. They often don't know when they are not well. Getting them to take a pill during this time, is challenging. These days, injections can be every 3 months - newest one is every 6 months. Just twice per year. Of course they cost thousands of dollars so getting insurance to cover is another issue. But the cost of incarcerating someone, lost income for that person and family and to victims if they commit a crime against a person, far exceeds the cost of the medication.
Mental health courts can be helpful - for care on the outside - Every court should have one.
I have a new client, clearly was not well when they were recently arrested. Unfortunately - the county where it occurred, only has mental health court for teens up to 17 yrs old and this client just turned 18. A sure way to have a steady stream of adults incarcerated instead of them getting the care they need.
= new reply since forum marked as read