H
Offender Health and Wellness
ealthcare of our offender population is
an important area of focus for the agency. In FY 2015, the agency expanded
the mission at Helms Facility located in Atlanta.
The facility was remodeled to serve as a satellite for chronic dialysis patients, with the potential to accommodate six male offenders. Augusta
State Medical Prison (ASMP) has been the only
site with capacity of 60 patients, and current occupancy of 58, prior to the expansion at Helms
Facility. All female dialysis is administered at
Pulaski State Prison. Furthermore, Phase 1 of
the remodeling of the medical services unit at
the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson, Ga. was completed. The project included the renovation and conversion of
approximately 10,000 square feet of existing
infirmary and open dormitory areas into a consolidated 15-bed infirmary unit and adjacent 15cell unit to house acute care and crisis stabilization car units. Total project cost is $3,660,000 and is anticipated
to be complete by May 2016.
Dental health for our offender population was expanded within the existing Applied Learning Experience, to
include additional regional dental hygiene educators in more GDC facilities to provide dental hygiene services
to inmates, while helping to train future Georgia hygienists. Some of the students made the decision to join the
GDC healthcare team.
Revisions to prescription drugs, healthcare services, provisions for needed services, policy adjustments, as well
as reprieve consideration was conducted during FY 2015 to include:
• Expansion of criteria of medical reprieve consideration to include recommended Hepatitis C treatment
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Report FY 2015