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Electronic Letters to:
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eLetters: Electronic letters published:
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Collaboration between Public Health and Corrections in New York
- Lester N Wright (MD, MPH), Guthrie S. Birkhead, MD, MPH, Director AIDS Institute, Director Center for Community Health, New York State Department of Health (11 December 2005)
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Lester N Wright (MD, MPH), Deputy Commissioner/Chief Medical Officer, New York State Department of Correctional Services Health Administration, Guthrie S. Birkhead, MD, MPH, Director AIDS Institute, Director Center for Community Health, New York State Department of Health
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LNWright{at}docs.state.ny.us Lester N Wright (MD, MPH), et al.
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To the Editor: The focus given by the Journal to Corrections Health in the October issue is timely and important. While there are many challenges, we would like to highlight some of the positive outcomes that can occur through collaboration between Public Health and Corrections Health. We focus here on specifics related to communicable disease control in New York State since they are the focus of several of the articles. While TB has been a major problem in corrections, the rate of new cases of tuberculosis disease in New York State inmates has fallen over the last decade from several times that in the community to lower than the New York City rate for the past two years. This has been done through very aggressive testing, case finding and directly observed treatment of both disease and of latent infection. New York State Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) instituted a program in 2004 to offer Hepatitis B vaccine to all medically eligible inmates during their incarceration. Since it is easier to find and offer vaccine to people while incarcerated than it is in the community, this presents a significant public health benefit to the community. We are also planning a pilot to enter hepatitis B vaccination data into a statewide immunization registry to ensure that needed doses can be administered after release from prison. Together DOCS, DOH and the Division of Parole have established a Hepatitis C “Continuity Program” under which inmates can be started on treatment for Hepatitis C even if they are to be released from prison before their treatment would be completed. Under this program, clinics operated by NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation and Designated AIDS Treatment Centers throughout the State have agreed to accept inmates who are released prior to completion of treatment so that their treatment can be completed without interruption of care. NYS DOCS in partnership with Albany Medical Center has developed an inmate peer education video that is used to instruct about blood-borne infections and encourage testing for Hepatitis C and HIV. When evaluated, this video produced significant increases in inmates consenting to testing. This complements other videos about HIV and the importance of adherence to HIV treatment. NYS DOCS and DOH provide directly and through contact with community based organizations confidential and anonymous HIV testing to inmates, train inmate peer HIV educators and develop continuity plans for the care of inmates with HIV who are being released. As pointed out in this issue, corrections settings provide a great opportunity to offer public health services to high risk populations. There are some success stories which indicate that working together we can make a difference in the health of our communities. Klein, SJ, O'Connell, DA, Devore, BS, Wright, LN, Birkhead, GS. Building an HIV Continuum for Inmates: New York State's Criminal Justice Initiative. AIDS Education and Prevention, 2002: 14 (Supplement B), 114- 123. Klein, SJ, Gieryic, SM, O'Connell, DA, Hall, JY, Klopf, LC. Availability of HIV Prevention Services Within New York State Correctional Facilities During 1999-2000: Results of a Survey. The Prison Journal, 2002: 82 (1), 68-83. |
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