Home      Login

Abstract: 

As most jurisdictions have realized with an ever growing population, medical demands have greatly changed and increased. We also have recognized a decrease in availability of qualified medical professionals who desire to work in a correctional facility for less than competitive wages. Albany County is not unique to this dilemma. We began experiencing staffing problems in our medical unit during the mid to late 1990s and we did everything imaginable to fully staff and operate our medical unit, with limited results. Medical problems increased and our regulator, the New York State Commission of Corrections began directing us to areas of operation that required improved or increased service. With their technical assistance we made many attempts on our own to obtain qualified staff. Experiencing difficulties, even with advertising in local newspapers, area medical colleges, word of mouth and union assistance, we had to look outside the box to address this problem.

Keywords: Prison Health Services, planning committee, staffing structure, Moore, labor unions, Termination

Affiliations:  1: Albany County Correctional Facility.