Medical Services at the Mendocino County Adult Detention Facility

Contractor provides a program manager who is a Registered Nurse (RN) 40 hours per week, 24-hour coverage by a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN), a psychiatric technician for 20 hours per week, a physician for12 hours per week (on call 24 hours per day) and a psychiatrist (on call 24 hours per day). 2. Contractor staffing is adequate to meet requirements of the contract and, according to professional standards, the staff is qualified. The work load varies from relatively light to heavy but does not, according to respondents, become overwhelming. 3. The 1997-98 Grand Jury report called for an increase in physician coverage from three to five days a week, to meet CMA standards. Since then, CMA standards for physician coverage have been reduced. Contractor meets the new standard. However, Sheriff’s Department and Public Health Department officials have recommended that coverage be increased. 4. Interviews of Contractor staff indicate that morale appears to be good and the individual workers are pleased with the jobs they do. Medications Finding Questions arise about medication. Procedures are in place which would seem to ensure that prisoners needing medication do, in fact, get what they need, but prisoners continue to complain about the lack of or delays in receiving medication. Contractor gives assurances that they make all possible efforts to determine what medications prisoners require, either by noting what they have on their person when booked, by contacting personal physicians or by calling pharmacies. Contractor does comply with legal restrictions on delivery of certain drugs to known drug abusers, assuming the possibility of potential abuse or use of the drugs as currency; that is possibly a factor in some of the complaints received.

Contractor staffing is adequate to meet requirements of the contract and, according to professional standards, the staff is qualified. The work load varies from relatively light to heavy but does not, according to respondents, become overwhelming.

The 1997-98 Grand Jury report called for an increase in physician coverage from three to five days a week, to meet CMA standards. Since then, CMA standards for physician coverage have been reduced. Contractor meets the new standard. However, Sheriff’s Department and Public Health Department officials have recommended that coverage be increased.

Interviews of Contractor staff indicate that morale appears to be good and the individual workers are pleased with the jobs they do. Medications Finding Questions arise about medication. Procedures are in place which would seem to ensure that prisoners needing medication do, in fact, get what they need, but prisoners continue to complain about the lack of or delays in receiving medication. Contractor gives assurances that they make all possible efforts to determine what medications prisoners require, either by noting what they have on their person when booked, by contacting personal physicians or by calling pharmacies. Contractor does comply with legal restrictions on delivery of certain drugs to known drug abusers, assuming the possibility of potential abuse or use of the drugs as currency; that is possibly a factor in some of the complaints received.