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| IDOC and CMS Offering On-Site Mammogram, CT and MRI Service for Indiana Offenders |
| By Indiana Department of Corrections |
| Published: 05/07/2010 |
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Indianapolis, Indiana (May 6, 2010)- The Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) and Correctional Medical Services (CMS) have partnered for an initiative that will provide additional, key medical technology services on-site at state prison facilities. As part of the program, mammograms, MRIs, and CT scans will be available on a regular basis at several Indiana correctional facilities. Providing these critical services within the walls of the prisons will allow for more convenient access for patients and staff, while reducing security risks and taxpayer costs associated with transporting inmates for off-site medical visits. “Already this initiative has eliminated more than 300 off-site trips to medical facilities, while bringing the care offenders need closer to them,” said IDOC Commissioner Edwin G. Buss. “During this difficult economic time, this is one of the ways in which we are most effectively managing taxpayer resources while enhancing public safety.” According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 26% of women in the United States are diagnosed with Breast Cancer, making it the most common form cancer among women. Studies conducted by the National Cancer Institute show that breast cancer screening with mammograms reduces the number of deaths from breast cancer for women ages 40 to 69, especially for those over age 50. IDOC currently has approximately 300 women who meet these criteria. IDOC officials anticipate that the availability and proximity of these tests will increase their utilization and detection of offenders’ medical issues. To achieve the most efficiency, the tests are scheduled every six months. The first mammograms were conducted in October 2009 at all IDOC female facilities, including Indiana Women’s Prison, Rockville Correctional Facility, and Madison Correctional Facility. The second round will be conducted during the week of May 3-7. Before, about 25 female offenders would be sent off-site each month. Now, instead of only averaging 25 mammograms every month, CMS is able to average over 150 tests during the course of only one week. The on-site program holds many advantages for the State of Indiana. The IDOC has estimated that they will save approximately $150,000 in transportation costs and by keeping the offenders on-site, custody is able to provide for the security of the facility more easily. IDOC and CMS also instituted regional on-site CT and MRI services at four Indiana prisons in 2009.Wabash Valley, Westville, Plainfield, and Miami correctional facilities, currently provide CT/MRI services to their offender populations and to neighboring facilities as well. When physicians order such tests for offenders, if possible, health care staff members make appointments for the patients to have those tests conducted at the prison. Since its inception last year, over 200 CTs and MRIs and over 140 screening mammograms have been administered on-site. “When providing medical services to incarcerated individuals, there are always challenges,” said Dr. Michael Mitcheff, Medical Director for CMS Indiana. “It is rewarding to see a successful program that not only contains cost but also increases efficiency and maintains security. CMS is proud of our continued partnership with the IDOC.” |
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