This document discusses the potential benefits of virtual healthcare in corrections settings. It notes that over 2.4 million individuals are held in US jails and prisons on a daily basis, with the majority in prisons or local jails. Healthcare spending for incarcerated individuals was over $10 billion in 2011. Virtual healthcare could help reduce costs by decreasing transportation for off-site appointments and increasing access to care. If implemented effectively, it may lead to improved health outcomes, greater patient and provider satisfaction, and cost savings through reducing unnecessary emergency visits and hospitalizations. The document advocates that many correctional systems have already started using some telehealth but could expand its use further.

1. Virtual Healthcare in Corrections
October 18, 2012
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2. Correctional Healthcare
• Average Daily Population 2.4M -Jails and
Prisons nationwide
• Of the 2.4 M ADP
– Prisons 57% of population
– Jails 34% of ADP
– Feds 9% of ADP
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3. Healthcare Spending
• Healthcare Spend in 2011 - $10.2B
– Outsourced $4.4B
– State Operated $5.5B
• 32 states have some sort of outsourcing:
– 13 states are totally converted to one vendor
– 6 states have multiple vendors
– 6 states have a handful of sites converted
– 6 states use university teaching models (MA, CT,
NJ, GA, OK, TX) for part or all of the state
– 1 state is managed by a hospital
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4. Chronic Disease
• Most prevalent chronic diseases among 34-39
year olds in prison:
– Overweight 47%
– Obese 24.7%
– Hypertension 24.7%
– Arthritis 23.1%
– Asthma 13.9%
– Hepatitis 12.9%
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5. OUTSOURCING DRIVERS
• Budget Pressures
• 32 Year Record of Cost Efficiencies
• Healthcare Expense Volatility
• Productivity / Flexibility
• Compliance / Accreditation
• Accountability
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6. Literature Review
• Is Feasible
• Increases Access to Care
• Enables Specialty Consultation
• Yields Positive Clinical Outcomes
• Allows Reliable Evaluations
• Satisfies Patients and Providers
• Educates and Empowers Parties Using It

7. Benefits
• Decreased Security Risk to Public
• Reduction of Security Hours (Off-site, On-site)
• Decreased Transportation Costs
• Increased Access to Care
• Decreased Waiting Times for Healthcare
• Increased Offender Satisfaction with
Healthcare
• Education, In-services/Training and Meetings
• Increased Provider Pool

8. Impact on Improved Healthcare Delivery
• Improve access to care for remotely located
patients
• Shift appropriate visits from high-cost settings
• Reduce cost of managing chronic patient
populations
• Reduce unnecessary hospital readmissions
• Lower number of days spent in hospital
• Improve patient outcomes
• Create higher satisfaction among patients and
providers
• Time, Cost, Access, Convenience, Compliance 8

9. Advantages
• Patients
– Access to Care
– Continuity of Care
• Providers
– Greater Flexibility for Living and Practice
– Interest Focus
– Decreased Travel Time, Isolation
– Improved Efficiency, Productivity; Full Time Positions
• System
– Larger Talent Pool
– Improved Safety
– Decreased Transport
– Fewer Access Driven Emergencies
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10. Cost Savings
• Reduction in Inmate Transportation
• Reduction in Time and Money for
Practitioner Travel to Remote Sites
• Travel and Time for Administrative
Meetings
• Training and Education for Employees
• Reduction in Inmate Litigation
• Medication
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11. Transportation Savings
• Emergency Room Trips – 40%
– 94,180/$158 million
– 40,000/$60.3 million
• MD Visits
– 691,000/$302 million
– Avoid 543,000/$201 million
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12. Prisons/Jails
• Many states have some form of telehealth
• Not used fully or to capacity
• Alabama and Georgia
• Jails – five states
• Next stage – nearly virtual care!
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13. Global Partnership for Telehealth, Inc.
914 Memorial Drive
Waycross, GA 31502
Dr. Jeffrey Kesler
Jeffrey.kesler@gatelehealth.org
Phone: 912.285.0902
Web: www.gatelehealth.org
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