Is SHP Right For You?

A significant number of positive responses to the following questions should lead to further exploration of the benefits of a SHP contract relationship.

1. Has the county ever outsourced inmate medical care in the past, or is it presently outsourced?
   1. If yes, have you encountered significant problems in any of these areas?
      1. Accountability for managing costs incurred outside the jail
      2. More than expected cost for medications or supplies
      3. Unacceptable coverage for medical professional liabilities- for example, insurance coverage limited to the doctor or nurse, with no coverage for the provider organization
      4. Unreliable staffing coverage by nurses or doctors, high turnover
      5. High number of inmate grievances regarding medical care
      6. Lack of backup coverage and/or lack of on-call medical advice for officers when nurses not available
      7. Unpredictable price increases
2. Do you use a method for packaging medications that limits errors?
3. Do officers repackage medications and administer these to inmates?
4. Has the county ever encountered large variation in the cost of inmate care from year to year?
5. Have there been any difficulties in recruiting nurses for the jail staff?
6. Have there been any large jury awards or settlements involving jail medical care?
7. Is the county operating under a court order or consent decree involving the jail?
8. Does the current program have a physician visiting the jail to see inmates to avoid transports and to allow nurses to work under protocols?
9. Is there a medical professional on-call to assist officers during those hours when a nurse is not on-site at the jail?