Advanced Correctional Healthcare

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Medical Information

Company

As a physician owned and directed company, Advanced Correctional Healthcare, Inc., (ACH) has expert knowledge of medicine and how it relates to the correctional environment. ACH believes it is critical to have a complete understanding of the patients, the environment, and the appropriate treatment methods to provide high quality, humane medical and mental health care designed to meet the needs of the jail population while adhering to the 8th and 14th Amendments.

The ACH team has the expertise to develop and deliver a managed health care program that is right for your facility. ACH believes strong partnerships with the Sheriff, Jailer, Jail Administration, along with the correctional and medical staff, are the key to a successful program. Understanding the needs of each facility allows ACH to develop a program that achieves goals, while delivering health care services appropriate for jail facilities. The ACH "partnership" approach to the delivery of services results in the highest level of medical care with complete client involvement and satisfaction.

History

ACH was established April 18, 2002 by Dr. Norman R. Johnson. By December 31, 2002, ACH had signed 9 contracts. Through reputation and referral, ACH's clientèle quickly grew to 89 contracts in 2007. That same year, ACH was listed as one of INC. 5000's fastest growing health care companies. While growth is important, we have always prioritized the standard of care. To date, ACH is proud to serve more than 200 clients in 17 states and maintain a 97% client retention rate.

While we are very proud of this, our goal isn't to just add another client to our growing list. For us, it's about doing what's right. With each new client, we get the opportunity to help more people by providing exceptional health care services that are second to none.

Medical Programs

Advanced Correctional Healthcare works with each client to analyze their current health care system, inmate population, health care concerns and issues, along with facility goals. Based on this information, ACH will develop a program customized to meet your goals while providing high quality health care.

Medical Programs Can Include:

Physician Services
Nursing Services
Pharmaceuticals
Hospital Services
- Inpatient
- Outpatient
Mental Health
Specialty Services
Dental Services
Laboratory
Radiology
Emergency Transportation
Medical Waste
Medical Supplies
Management Services

The ACH corporate medical team and site medical director are available to assist with patient needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Our medical professionals can be reached by cell phone for easy and immediate access and return phone messages in 15 minutes or less.

To assure a quick response, each client is provided a Physician Call Schedule which includes the contact information of three medical professionals available to assist with medical needs or concerns. This guarantees every client has access to a medical professional 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Mental Health Services

ACH ensures mental health services are available for all detainees who are found to be in need. All mental health services will be delivered in accordance with National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) standards and strongly based on the recommendations put forth in the Department of Justice's "Criminal Justice/Mental Health Consensus Project Report." ACH has certified addiction-specialized physicians on staff who work closely with the site physicians on field training and patient consultation.

With the closure of many community mental health services, the jails are becoming more responsible for the care of the mentally ill. ACH is aware of the burden and responsibility this places on sheriffs, jailers, or jail administrator and the County. To minimize the risk and provide the highest standard of services possible to the mentally ill, ACH has created a mental health program.

Evaluation, prevention, and intervention
Multidisciplinary treatment plans
Suicide prevention initiatives
Medication management
Staff training
Inmate education regarding mental health issues and the role of psychotropic medication and non medication-based interventions
Aiding Security Staff in regards to program assignment and classification/housing decisions
Post-release mental health services (i.e., helping the client maintain contact with the mental health system - continuity of care)

In addition, our physicians have 24/7 cell phone access to Melissa S. Caldwell, PhD, Director of Mental Health Services at ACH.

Correctional health care providers should be conscious of the dangers of labeling patients with a severe mental illness that is based more on impressions than adequate evidence, says Dr. Caldwell. She discussed this topic in an edition of the National Institute of Corrections' quarterly publication.

Read the article: Avoiding the Over-diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder in Correctional Populations.

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