A letter to the editor from Dr. Lance Washington and Lisa Washington, RN/BA/BSN
Dear county officials,
My husband and myself are both healthcare professionals in this community and were quite disheartened after learning about the lack of nursing coverage at the Howard County Jail that is occurring from the hours of 10 p.m.-6 a.m.
We also understand there is going to be an executive session to discuss this matter. However, in the interest of how tax dollars are being spent and access to care for those in our community with limited resources and finances, we think the public should be aware of a few things and request the following information.
- How many inmates were transferred to hospitals last year during the time period when no nurses were on duty?
- What cost were incurred for these hospital stays?
- What were the top five reasons for inmates going to the hospital?
- How many suicides or attempted suicides occurred at the jail last year?
- In terms of mental health, what are the nurses doing to help inmates, i.e. group sessions, counseling, or other trainings?
- When inmates are transferred or released, what services, medications, or resources are they set up with?
We appreciate your time in looking into this matter.