JCH&L Occupational Health Providing Services at Jefferson County Jail

JCH&L Occupational Health staff members are now providing services for inmates at the Jefferson County Jail.

Jefferson County Sheriff Nick Georgi approached JCH&L about the possibility of bringing local services to the jail because he felt health care services for inmates could be more effective and economical from local health care providers.

“Providing services for inmates at the Jefferson County Jail helps to ensure better continuity of care for the inmates when they are incarcerated and after they are released,” said Lori Ohlde, director of home health and occupational health at JCH&L.

JCH&L occupational health staff began providing contracted services at the jail on Aug. 1. Occupational health staff see new inmates when they are incarcerated, visit all inmates weekly, keep medications stocked at the jail up to date, and work with jail staff or special needs. JCH&L Nurse Practitioner Megan Knutson visits the jail twice a month.

“We are able to monitor the general health of inmates, and have been able to discover some health concerns that needed to be treated early, such as high blood pressure, so the concern didn’t develop into an emergency,” Ohlde said. “We are happy to be able to provide excellent health care services to those who reside at the jail.”

Georgi said he appreciates having services provided locally, and knowing that if an emergency does arise, the inmates’ medical information is already available to JCH&L health care providers. Previously, the jail contracted with an out-of-county company for medical services for inmates.