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| Inmate Health Care Chief Named |
| By The News Journal |
| Published: 11/21/2005 |
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The Delaware Department of Correction has hired longtime HIV/AIDS educator and advocate James Welch from the Department of Public Health, to serve as the health services administrator for the state's prison system. Welch, a registered nurse, currently serves as the Department of Public Health's HIV/ AIDS/STD director in a program he created 20 years ago to coordinate prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS and other diseases. "Jim will oversee the DOC's day-to-day medical operation," said Ed Synoski, the Department of Correction's deputy chief of the Bureau of Management Services, which oversees the department's medical services contracts. "He will conduct chart reviews and audits, oversee the contractual and policy work of the medical vendors, assist with the medical grievance process and coordinate and oversee outside medical consults," Synoski said. "Jim fills the first of several positions in the department's new medical services unit. We are looking forward to welcoming Jim to the department and believe he will play an integral role in improving the quality of medical care to the offender population." Welch's transfer to the Department of Correction takes effect Nov. 28. He will be paid $74,000 a year. "I'll be working with the DOC to look at their current medical provider, to answer questions and conduct chart audits, and on improving services," Welch said, although he was unsure what his authority would be on policy. "I'll be working with the correction's commissioner." Correction Commissioner Stanley W. Taylor Jr. did not return calls seeking comment about the new position. In a series of meetings with lawmakers earlier this month, Taylor listed hiring a public health administrator as one of his "ongoing improvements." Taylor said he intends to spend $150,000 in the coming year to contract with local physicians for second opinions on inmate medical cases. He also said he wanted to add two medical service positions. Reaction to Welch's appointment was mixed. "He has been a great advocate for civil rights in Delaware, and will carry out the responsibilities really well," said Drewry Fennell, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Delaware. "I am glad that someone with that level of expertise and experience with HIV and AIDS was chosen." Welch, Fennell pointed out, is a former ACLU of Delaware board member. "I am confident he can do a wonderful job, provided he is given sufficient authority to do so," Fennell said. Taylor announced the creation of Welch's position during a public hearing last week called by lawmakers to examine a series of articles in The News Journal highlighting AIDS-related inmate deaths and suicides during the past four years, and allegations by inmates of poor medical treatment for cancer, meningitis and hepatitis. Prompted in part by the series, the U.S. Department of Justice has launched a preliminary inquiry into the Department of Correction's management and inmate health care. Welch previously has played a behind-the-scenes role in the inmate health care debate -- lobbying in 2002 against allowing Dr. Keith Ivens to remain as the prison system's medical director when Correctional Medical Services (CMS) of St. Louis, Ivens' employer, was replaced by another medical contractor. In July, Taylor brought CMS back to Delaware with a $25.9 million no-bid contract to manage inmate health care. In a sworn deposition, Kathy English, the former deputy bureau chief of management services for the Department of Correction, said Ivens was a frequent source of inmate complaints. English testified that Welch expressed "informal concerns" about the physician and told the incoming contractor to not allow Ivens to continue as medical director. Welch later told The News Journal he never offered any criticism of Ivens. "All I can say is he performed appropriately. I am not a physician. I can't give a professional opinion of his level of care," Welch said at the time. "His orders were appropriate." Maryanne McGonegal, secretary of Common Cause of Delaware, said Welch should have done more to improve inmate care. "Why wasn't he active before?" McGonegal asked. "That's his job. Why now? Why wasn't he doing this before?" It's important for Welch to have the authority to hire and fire, and speak out about poor conditions, McGonegal said. "If he says the wrong things, will he be kicked out?" McGonegal said. "I am not sure of the purpose of the transfer -- other than to make them look good. We'll wait and see. Jim is a good person, but I think this is a Band-Aid." The Rev. Christopher Bullock, pastor of Canaan Baptist Church in Wilmington, is one of the founding members of the Delaware Coalition for Prison Reform and Justice. "The DOC doesn't need to be hiring new people," Bullock said. "They need to be firing people. This appears to be another effort to cover up and conceal the real issue." |
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