Page 20 - Delaware Medical Journal - April 2016
P. 20
An Introduction to the Medical Services
of the Delaware Department of Correction
V incent F. Carr, DO, FACP
IntroductionThe Department of Correction in Delaware
pre-trial detentioners brought to the facilities by the individual
after trial. The Delaware Department of Correction is somewhat unique in that there are only six states with this type of combined housing; the other states being Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Rhode Island, and Vermont. In most other states there are jails maintained by city or county jurisdictions that hold pre-trial detainees and the state maintains a prison system for convicted inmates with lengthy sentences.
Historically, the medical services were provided through the Delaware Department of Correction, Bureau of Management. In
2003 the Bureau signed a contract with First Correctional Medical Services (FCM) to provide medical services to the inmates in the state facilities. Two years later Correctional Medical Services (CMS) was contracted to provide the services. Subsequent contracts had been with Correct Care Solutions (CCS) and the current contract provider is Connections Community Support Programs.
In July 2009 the Bureau of Correctional Healthcare Services (BCHS) was established as a separate Bureau within the Department of Correction with the responsibility to provide for the medical, dental, mental health, and substance abuse treatment of the offenders housed in Level 4 and Level 5 facilities of the Department. The philosophy of the Bureau is to approximate, within the security constraints and public safety, the medical care a person could readily access if they were not incarcerated.
