Multimedia Reporting (Kuhr-Musser)

At a County Commission meeting on February 8, 2006, the Douglas County Commission approved a new plan that will add two more certified medication assistants to the medical staff at the Douglas County Jail. As a result of this change, there is now a larger medical staff, and longer hours.
the Visiting Nurses Association, and the Under Sheriff of Douglas County, Kenneth Massey. “I did not want my guards having to pass medications while the nurses were off duty because there is risk involved,” said Massey.
Before the contract change went into affect, when many members of the VNA (Voluntary Nurses Association) were off duty, prison guards would give out prescribed medications to the inmates. “The jail staff would pass the meds in the evening, and they were given an orientation and an in-service on how to pass meds safely. However, as anybody knows, today there is new medications that come out everyday that run the risk of interacting and causing side affects,” said Judy Bellome, director of the Visiting Nurses Association. She said that she feels much more comfortable now that certified or licensed persons are now more available to pass the medications.
Along with the addition of two more certified medical assistants, nurse hours have also been altered. The nursing staff now works forty-hour weeks and weekend hours have increased. “We start at 6:30 in the morning on weekends because if you have 40 to 50 medications to set up, it may take sometimes an hour or more just to prepare the medicines,” said Bellome.
This contract change caused a significant budget increase for Douglas County. “There is an approximate $60,000 increase as a result of this contract change, this is because of the costs of more paid hours and employee additions to payroll,” said Craig Weinaug, County Administrator.
While it was a rather large county budget increase, the VNA believes that it will save money in the long run and protect inmate’s health and well being. “To me it is a matter of risk management because it would be much more costly to the jail and citizens of Douglas County if there were some kind of law suit over a medication given incorrectly,” said Bellome.
However, Douglas County Commissioners also believe that it is a matter of doing the right thing. “Let’s say we did make a mistake and somebody’s health was damaged, we have a responsibility to provide health care to people who are incarcerated,” said Weinaug.
The Douglas County Jail, established in 1999, housed about 100 inmates when the medical clinic was first assigned, and it now houses over 200. “This was something that needed to happen and Ken Massey and I have been talking to the Sheriff about it for a few months,” said Bellome. “I am glad that a change is in progress,” she said.
In both Shawnee and Wyandotte County, jails are ahead of Douglas County when it comes to these issues. In both counties, a medical jail staff is on duty for 24 hours each day, seven days a week. “I know we don’t have a full time medical staff, but I wouldn’t say that the Douglas County Jail is understaffed,” said County Commissioner Bob Johnson.
However, change may still be on the brink for Douglas County. “I think a 24 hour, seven days a week staff is a possibility for Douglas County when the inmate population increases,” said Bellome.