Correctional Facility Psychiatric and Competency Restoration Services
Over the past few decades, numerous studies and surveys have documented a rise in the incarceration of the mentally ill. The Bureau of Justice Statistics estimates that there are three times as many mentally ill people in prisons than in mental health hospitals, and the rate of mental illness in prisons is two to four times greater than in the general public.
Approximately 20% of state prisoners and 21% of local jail prisoners have a history of a serious mental health condition. The statistics are worse for juvenile offenders, as estimates show that up to 70% of youth in juvenile justice systems have at least one mental health condition. and at least 20% live with a serious mental illness.
Correctional facilities face the challenge of trying to improve psychiatric treatment for inmates given the nationwide shortage of mental health professionals. Many correctional facilities struggle to recruit prescribing psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners to work on-site, particularly for facilities in remote locations. The alternative option of transporting inmates to external locations for psychiatric care is an even greater difficulty due to the accompanying security risks and associated costs.
Reduced Costs and Risk with Correctional Telehealth Services
Inmates requiring psychiatric care pose a higher risk in correctional facilities due to their increased likelihood of self-harm or conflicts with detention officers and other inmates. Many facilities lack the ability to conduct immediate risk assessments, which can result in serious consequences, as seen in cases like Sandra Bland. For new inmates, timely evaluations are crucial to determine whether they require special accommodations or monitoring.
It is essential for staff to have 24/7 on-call access to psychiatric services for immediate professional medical guidance on inmate care. On-demand correctional psychiatric support enables staff to effectively assess inmates who may pose a risk to themselves or others due to mental illness.
Reliable access to on-demand, professional telepsychiatric services also frees up detention officers and gives them more time to manage the general safety and security needs of the facility. Medical or counseling services can be provided on a one time or ongoing basis. When you integrate a correctional telepsychiatry service into your programs, your facility and staff reap multiple benefits. This will include being able to:
- Provide rapid access to psychiatric services for inmates
- Reduce risk management issues and costs associated with undertrained medical staff monitoring inmates with psychiatric service needs
- Improve the facility environment by more expediently managing inmates who may be disruptive due to mental illness
- Remove costs associated with transporting inmates to an external facility for treatment
Get Correctional Psychiatric Services with FasPsych
FasPsych provides fast, virtual access to licensed psychiatrists and psychiatric advance practice registered nurses (APRNs) for correctional facilities in need of psychiatric evaluation and medication management services. Our correctional psychiatric services will:
- Deliver accessible, quality care to inmate populations in any location.
- Work with you to develop a flexible appointment schedule, such as full time, part time, or on demand.
- Ensure our prescribing providers can integrate with your electronic medical records, use signed template notes, and access an in-house e-prescribing application as needed, or work with you to implement a suitable prescribing application and process.
Our goal is to provide flexible, reliable mental health and competency restoration services. We work closely with you to establish a telepsychiatric program that meets the specific needs of your correctional facility. Contact us to discuss potential solutions.