inmatern726

Thank you for answering my questions. I appreciate the input, and will let you know how everything goes at the meeting Wednesday.

Hi, hope I am doing this correctly. I have been an RN for 20 yrs, the last 3 in correctional nursing, the previous years in a level 1 trauma center ER. I am now the "manager" of medical in a county jail, with inmate population of 350. I work days, another RN works evenings, and our doctor is there 5 mornings a week. That is it for employees. One of us is on call at night and weekends. We are employeed by the sheriff's dep't., and are members of their union. Here is my question: We have a new sheriff, just elected in November. He is trying to make me come up with a list of questions that the officers can ask the inmates to help us determine if their medical needs are valid. He is doing this to try to save money on having us come in when we are on call, or having to send an inmate to the ER for further evaluation. He also seems to think that we have very limited liability toward the inmates' health care. Outside of just calling him an ignorant fool (don't think that would go over very well!!), any direction you can give me would be most welcome. I am looking particulary for malpractice cases that inmates have won, and documentation of what happens when medical professionals rely on lay persons assessments. sorry so long, but thanks in advance for any help. If it matters, I am in Illinois.