This exploratory correlational study of prison systems in the U.S. identifies legislation related to transitional health care for ex-offenders and transitional health care activities in U.S. prison systems. State statutes were reviewed and self-report mail surveys were distributed to chief medical officers of state prison systems. Other variables measured were incidence of HIV/AIDS, TB, hepatitis, mental illness, substance abuse, pre-release facilities, administration of transitional health care planning, coordinating agencies/individuals, and budget allocation. Surveys returned from 62% of the states indicate that legislation and programs for ex-offender transitional health care vary widely. Ex-offenders who have a higher incidence of TB, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, and mental illness underutilize health care services. Poor health promotion/disease prevention practices can impact the health of this vulnerable population and strain local and national health care systems. Ex-offender managed health care can increase access, decrease acute care episodes, decrease the spread of communicable disease, and reduce the financial impact on local, state, and federal health care systems. The nurse's dual perspective of community and offender needs provides an opportunity to develop and coordinate transitional health care programs in collaboration with government policy makers, chief prison medical officers, public health coordinators, corrections departments, and community service providers.
Purpose of the Presentation: The purpose of this presentation is to identify specific prisoner health care needs and current prison health care reentry programs which can assist nurses and other public health care providers in the development of managed reentry health care models.
Learning Objectives: The learner will be able to: -Describe the types of pre-release health care reentry programs or planning activities currently used in US prisons. -Explore the role of the nurse in the development and/or interdisciplinary coordination of transitional health care programs within correctional settings.
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