The Sun’s July 23 article, “A group accuses contractor of providing substandard medical care to Santa Barbara County inmates,” contains many unfounded allegations regarding Corizon Health, which provides medical care to Santa Barbara County inmates.
Regarding the quality of care that Santa Barbara County inmates receive, we pride ourselves on using evidence-based medicine that meets the highest standards of care. Our treatment plans are solely created by physicians; we ensure anyone who needs specialist care receives it, and we have nothing to gain from providing less care than our patients need, especially because such practices would lead to deteriorating patient health and only drive up the cost of care.
On behalf of the more than 50 Corizon Health staff members in Santa Barbara who work in sometimes dangerous conditions to care for the most vulnerable among us, the suggestion that we would skimp on treatment to make a profit is offensive and shows a complete lack of understanding about how our contract is structured. In fact, Corizon Health is not responsible for outside medical services costs under our agreement with Santa Barbara County, so we have no financial incentive to prevent our patients from receiving outside care.
Regarding the allegation that we prevent continuation of outside prescriptions, here are the facts: During intake, we interview each inmate and obtain a list of health conditions and medications; our staff then orders any prescribed medications (including psychotropic medications) and ensures the patient receives those medications. We absolutely do call outside pharmacies and doctors to verify medications and ensure continuity of care. However, since outside medications may be doctored and we do not have the capability onsite to verify the contents of a pill container or vial of liquid, to protect our patients’ safety we do not allow inmates to bring their own drugs into the facility. Many hospitals also do not permit patients to bring in outside medications.
Despite the difficult operating environment and the fact that our patients enter our care far sicker than the general public, in many cases our patients’ health care outcomes are significantly better than those of the general public. In fact, compared to the Centers for Disease Control’s chronic disease indicators, Corizon Health patient outcomes in cancer mortality, cardiac-related mortality, and diabetes are often significantly better than the general public.
With respect to lawsuits, any physician will tell you that malpractice suits are a fact of life for most doctors in America today. And it’s important to note that the existence of a suit is not necessarily indicative of quality of care or any wrongdoing. Of the lawsuits filed against Corizon Health over the past five years, 88 percent have either been dismissed or resulted in a judgment in our favor.
Regarding continuity of care and re-entry services, we coordinate with local public health clinics and social workers in Santa Barbara to ensure continuity of care for our patients. We are one of the few companies that does not want repeat customers, and we are working hard nationwide to offer resources and support to each of our patients preparing for release back into the community.
Finally, I must speak up on behalf of our employees. For anyone who wants to know more about the heart and soul of this company, I would encourage them to read The Washington Post’s profile of one of our physicians, Dr. Sylvia McQueen—whose father, brother, and sister were all incarcerated and who has devoted her adult life to serving patients behind bars. I would encourage them to speak with Dr. Harold Orr, a talented physician and ordained minister who serves as our chief clinical officer for the Western region and who traveled to Haiti seven days after the 2010 earthquake, without a supporting agency, to offer medical aid. I could offer many more examples.
We understand some people feel very strongly about this issue and we appreciate those who, like us, want to ensure every inmate receives the care he or she is constitutionally mandated to receive. We appreciate the opportunity to share our perspective on this topic, and we hope to continue to have the privilege of serving the people of Santa Barbara County for many years to come.
Dr. Woodrow A. Myers, M.D., is chief executive officer of Corizon Health. Send comments to the interim editor at clanham@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jul 30 – Aug 6, 2015.